What is Capture Australia?

Capture Australia is a photo digitisation service that scans printed photos and albums using proprietary glare-removal technology. We work with a network of partner shops in Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra and Brisbane. Customers drop off their albums or loose prints at a local partner shop, and the shop handles the scanning before returning the originals safely.

Where do I get my photos scanned?

Capture Australia operates through partner shops in Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra and Brisbane. You bring your albums or loose prints to the nearest partner location, leave them for scanning, and collect them once the job is done. Visit captureaus.com/where-to-scan to find your closest shop and its opening hours.

What technology does Capture Australia use to remove glare?

Capture Australia uses a proprietary 8-layer glare-removal process. The scanner captures multiple exposures of each photo through the album plastic sleeve, then processes those layers to strip out glare and reflections. The output is a clear, detailed digital copy, produced without ever removing the photo from the album.

Do my photos need to come out of the album?

No. The scanning technology works through album plastic sleeves and pages, so your photos stay exactly where they are throughout the process. There is no risk of tearing, bending or damaging the originals at any point.

What sizes of photos does Capture Australia scan?

Capture Australia scans printed photos across a wide range of sizes. Small wallet prints, standard 4x6 inch and 5x7 inch photographs, 8x10 portraits and larger prints up to and including large format scanning of framed portraits and artworks, with a capture area of up to 45cm x 70cm. The proprietary scanning equipment is physically installed at each partner shop, built specifically to handle this full size range without removing photos from their sleeves, albums or frames. The same 8-layer glare-removal technology applies at every scale, so the digital output is sharp and consistent whether the print is a pocket-sized snap or a large framed portrait or artwork. Slides, negatives and film require different equipment and some partner shops like Photoland, Camera House and Retromedia offer these services. The wider Capture group covers those formats outside of Australia at capture.com and capture.hk.

How are my digitised photos delivered?

Once scanning is complete, your photos are delivered as high-resolution digital files on a USB drive or via a secure online downloadable link. Confirm the delivery method with your partner shop when you drop off your photos.

Is Capture Australia listed in Google Photos?

Yes. You can find Capture Australia in the Google Photos app import function. In the Google Photos app or website, tap the '+' button, select 'From other places', then choose 'Digitise physical photos' to find us. After we deliver your files via USB or downloadable link, you upload them to your Google Photos account yourself through the app on your own device.

Is the scan quality consistent across all partner shops?

Yes. Every partner shop uses the same Capture Australia proprietary scanning workflow and glare-removal technology, so the output quality is consistent regardless of which location handles the job. Each photo goes through the same multi-layer processing at every shop.

How much does photo scanning cost in Australia?

The cost depends on your situation: the partner shop you use, the size of your collection, whether you need express turnaround, and whether any additional manual steps are involved, such as archival full-page captures or handling unusually fragile prints. Our semi-automated scanning workflow keeps the baseline cost low, because the technology does the heavy lifting on each photo rather than requiring hour-by-hour manual labour. Different partner shops run their own promotions from time to time, and larger collections can qualify for better rates. The best way to get an accurate figure is to contact your nearest partner shop with a rough count of your photos and albums.

What should I do with old cameras?

You have four main options: display it, repurpose it, sell it, or donate it. Old film cameras and vintage models often make great display pieces or DIY projects, and rare bodies or lenses can be worth money to collectors even when they no longer work. Old video cameras and camcorders can hold sentimental family footage worth transferring off the tape before you part with the camera. Old digital cameras with little resale value are usually best donated to a school, charity or op shop, or sold second-hand if they still work. Whatever the camera type, check what it's worth to you and to others before deciding.

Create an Australian Graduation Memory Book to Keep

Creating an Australian Graduation Memory BookPreserve your graduation memories with a bespoke memory book using Capture Australia's digitisation services.

Celebrating Graduation Down Under

In Australia, graduation is a significant milestone that marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. What better way to commemorate this occasion than with a personalised graduation memory book? Capture the stories, photos, and cherished moments that have shaped these years.

What is a Graduation Memory Book?

A graduation memory book is an invaluable keepsake that highlights a graduate's school years. It typically includes photos, handwritten notes, report cards, awards, and heartfelt messages from family and friends.

Inspirational Ideas for Your Memory Book

First and Last Day Photos: Display the transformation from kindy to Year 12.
Letters from Loved Ones: Personal reflections from parents, grandparents, or siblings add depth.
Event Memorabilia: Include tickets from vals, socials, sports events, or formal invites.
Friendship Pages: Encourage schoolmates to leave notes, doodles, and inside jokes.

Writing Prompts for Lasting Memories

Words bring photos to life. Consider these prompts:

"My proudest moment in school was..."
"This teacher made a big difference in my life because..."
"If I could relive one day from school, it would be..."
"A letter to my future self:"

Preserving Memories with Capture Australia

Many families tuck their most precious graduation memories away in photo boxes or dusty albums. At Capture Australia, we specialise in scanning photos from albums using our proprietary glare-removal technology, so your memories last for generations to come.

Creative Extras for Your Book

QR Codes to Video Clips: Add a digital touch by linking to graduation speeches or performances.
Class Playlists: Curate a soundtrack of your final year with defining songs.
Before-and-After Snapshots: Display childhood pictures alongside recent portraits.
A Timeline of Milestones: Create a visual timeline of important school and life events.
Future Goals Section: Dedicate space for post-graduation dreams and aspirations.

Choosing the Right Format: Physical, Digital, or Both

Before you start collecting photos and mementos, decide how the finished memory book will live. A physical, printed album has a tactile charm that suits family bookshelves and makes a lovely gift for grandparents who prefer to hold something in their hands. A digital memory book, on the other hand, is easy to share with relatives interstate or overseas, and it's far simpler to duplicate for siblings who each want their own copy. Many families choose both: a beautifully printed hardcover for the graduate's bedroom, and a digital version stored safely in the cloud as a backup. If your source material is a mix of printed photos, school newsletters, and old report cards, scanning everything first gives you the flexibility to build either format from the same digital files.

Involving Family and Friends in the Process

A graduation memory book becomes far richer when it isn't a solo project. Ask grandparents, aunts, uncles, and close family friends to contribute a photo and a short note about a memory they shared with the graduate. You can also invite teachers, coaches, and mentors to add a line or two, particularly if they played a meaningful role during the school years. Setting a simple deadline and sending a group message or email with clear instructions (for example, "one photo and 2-3 sentences") keeps contributions manageable and consistent in length. Collecting these pieces early, well before the graduation ceremony, also takes the pressure off assembling everything in the final busy week of the school year.

Organising Years of Photos Before You Begin

Most families discover that graduation memories are scattered across shoeboxes, old photo albums, phone galleries, and forgotten USB drives. Sorting through 13 years of school life can feel overwhelming, so it helps to work chronologically: start with kindergarten and early primary school, then move through the middle years and into the senior years. If your older photos are stuck in albums or fading due to age, professional scanning can rescue them before they fade any further. Capture Australia's album scanning and glare-removal technology is particularly useful here, as it lifts photos safely from sticky album pages and restores clarity to sun-faded prints without damaging the originals.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making a Memory Book

A few simple missteps can take the shine off an otherwise beautiful project. Leaving everything until the week before graduation is the most common one. Start collecting content at least a month in advance. Another mistake is including too many similar photos on a single page, which can make the layout feel cluttered rather than curated; choosing a handful of standout images per life stage usually tells a stronger story. Finally, don't forget to leave blank pages or sections for the graduate to fill in themselves later, such as space for university acceptance letters or a first payslip, so the book can continue growing as a keepsake well beyond graduation day.

Creating a graduation memory book is more than just compiling photos and pages; it's about celebrating growth, friendship, and unforgettable milestones.

Let Capture Australia help you preserve these moments with our professional digitisation services, whether you're near Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra or Brisbane. Find a local partner and shop -> Find a Capture partner shop near you