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.

The Best Father’s Day Gift for the Dad Who Wants NothingDiscover the perfect Father’s Day gift for the dad who says he wants nothing. Give him the priceless gift of digitised memories. A heartfelt way to preserve and relive family moments from decades past - thoughtful, personal, and truly meaningful.

The Best Father’s Day Gift for the Dad Who Wants Nothing

Some dads say they don’t want anything. Others mean it (mostly). But even the most practical, low maintenance, or hard-to-impress father has something worth holding onto: memories. The best Father’s Day gift for the dad who wants nothing isn’t found in a shop, it’s found in a memory, the spark that brings back a wonderful time and place. Instead of second-guessing his shirt size or buying another barbecue accessory, you can give him something unforgettable: a chance to see the people and moments that made him a dad.

Whether it’s a thoughtful gift from a daughter, a son honouring childhood memories, or a family tribute to a lifetime of love, the right gift doesn’t need to be big. It just needs to capture what matters.

What Most Dads Really Want: To Feel Remembered

Every Father’s Day, we wonder what to give the dad who already has everything, or says he needs nothing. The answer isn’t found in a store. It’s tucked inside a forgotten tape, a dusty album, or a shoebox of photos no one’s looked through in years.

That’s what makes digitising old memories one of the most meaningful, practical, and personal gifts you can give to your dad, or anyone you really care about. You’re not just sending a product. You're reviving the story of who that person really is.

For the dad who never asks for anything, give him everything.

Real Ideas That Make Dads Smile

Photos of His First Father’s Day – The joy of holding you for the first time
Photos of Footy Matches or Backyard Cricket Games – The crack of the bat, the cheers in the background
Photos From the Family Road Trip – That blurry servo lunch photo everyone laughs about
Camcorder Footage of Your First Words – Or maybe your sibling’s unforgettable dance moves
Old Family Photo Albums from His Parents’ Era – A chance to reconnect with his own childhood

These are the types of memories that make a simple gift feel like something much bigger. Looking for a gift for grandpa too? Our guide to 25 heartwarming gifts for grandpa covers personalised and memory-based ideas for him as well.

Why This Works for Every Type of Dad

Still wondering how to choose a Father’s Day gift that feels personal but doesn’t take weeks to plan? The Photo Scanning service from Capture makes it effortless.

Long-distance dad? Send it straight to his email, with no postage delay.
Tech-challenged dad? Everything's simplified. Just share the download link for him to click.
Sentimental dad? He’ll love reliving the moments you’ve preserved.
Minimalist dad? It’s one of the best small gifts for dad, delivering big meaning.
Service dad? Such a powerful way to recognise his contribution to the country and community.

Whether you’re celebrating a new dad, stepdad, or the man/men who raised you, the result is the same: he gets to see the story of his life unfold again, this time in digital clarity.

Digitising Memories Is Easy with the Capture Photo Scanning Service

Just reach out to us for any questions, or simply drop off your photos at our trusted partner shops and Capture Drop-off locations in Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra or Brisbane. Real shops, real people and no danger to losing your valuable loose photos of any size, mixed sizes or photo albums in the post or via courier. Our technology scans through plastic and glass, eliminating glare and reflections, extracting and improving the perfect images, modernised and ready for any creative way to share or re-make, or reprint.

Memories Make the Most Unique Gifts For Dad

Every father has a story, but not every story is saved, visible or surfaced easily. That’s what makes this kind of gift so powerful. It’s not about buying something new. It’s about preserving what’s already his, and helping him pass it down through generations.

Maybe he hasn’t seen his wedding photos in 20 years. Maybe no one’s seen that Gold Coast family holiday album in decades. Or maybe he’s mentioned the old albums reels in the attic but never knew what to do with them. He can show his grandkids what you were like as a toddler, finding resemblances and uncanny idiosyncrasies. He can send a link to long-distance relatives, other friends and families and help others relive memories, where others may find themselves in a picture. He can keep a lifetime of stories as easy as 1-2-3 with our photo scanning service.

Giving your dad digital access to those memories isn’t just nostalgic. It's generational. With all the gifting opportunities, the first step is to scan your photos, and then they can go onto mugs, or frames, wall art, collages, or photo books! Take the first step and find a Capture partner shop near you to get started.

#CaptureWhatMatters

For another different type of heartfelt tribute built from photos, see our dog memorial gift ideas.