How to submit images to Picture the Past

People frequently ask us how they can submit their own photographs for inclusion on the 'Picture the Past' website. We are always delighted to hear about new images that we can include. The following guidelines are intended to answer some of the questions we are most commonly asked.

Can I send my photographs to you?

Yes, We’re happy to receive images for inclusion on the website.

First of all, we need to check that we have permission to display any new images on the website and so we need you to fill in a form to give us your permission and also so that we can check the copyright of the images. Please complete and include this form each time you send new images to us.

Download Image Use & Reproduction Agreement

Once you’ve completed the form, you can either scan the photos yourself and send the images to us on a CD or DVD, or you can post the original photos to us so that we can scan them.

Can I post my photographs to you?

Yes, but if you choose to post photographs to us, we strongly recommend that you send them to us by registered post because we can’t take responsibility for any items that are lost in the post.

Please package securely and post with a signed consent form to:

Picture The Past
Heritage Digital Limited
Cromford Mills
Cromford
Derbyshire
DE4 3RQ

Download Image Use & Reproduction Agreement

Can I scan my photographs?

Yes. To preserve your image effectively we need to make sure we start with a good quality digital scan. We therefore request that the resolution of any digital images is at least 300dpi and the scan is preferably sized at around A4 (roughly 30cm x 21cm or 10" x 8") irrespective of the size of the original. Images can be saved as Jpegs with minimal compression. Generally speaking, a Jpeg with a file size of around 1.5MB to 2MB is ideal.

We also accept high resolution TIFF files.

How can I send digitised images?

Please send digitised images to us on a CD or DVD together with a signed consent form.

Download Image Use & Reproduction Agreement

Do you want modern photographs?

Yes. We don't have many images from the 1930s to the 1960s so we are particularly interested to hear about any from that era. However, we welcome any images, even modern day ones which can be used to show how an area has changed over time.

What extra information can we send to you?

To be of real value, any photograph needs information to explain it to the viewer. It is therefore really helpful if you can provide the following for each photograph:

Town/Village
Location or Street
Date of Image
Photographer
Description
Additional notes

Please send this information as a text file, a spreadsheet, a letter or in an email so that we can add it to our database.

Please email us at info@picturethepast.org.uk if you have any further questions or would like to discuss the above in greater detail.