Have boxes of old photographs sitting in the loft, under the stairs or tucked away in cupboards?
You're certainly not alone.
Thousands of families across the UK have treasured printed photographs that haven't been looked at for years. Unfortunately, photographs fade over time, become damaged through handling, or are even lost altogether through floods, fires or accidental damage.
Digitising your photographs is one of the best ways to preserve your memories forever.
The question many people ask is:
Should I pay someone to scan them, buy a scanner, or simply hire a professional photo scanner?
For most people, photo scanner hire offers the perfect balance of affordability, speed and quality.
In this guide, we'll explain everything you need to know before hiring a photo scanner in the UK, including why the Epson FastFoto FF-680W has become the scanner of choice for thousands of families.
Why More People Are Choosing Photo Scanner Hire
Buying a professional photo scanner can cost several hundred pounds.
For many households, that's difficult to justify when they'll only use it once.
Hiring allows you to enjoy exactly the same professional equipment without the large upfront cost.
Instead of paying hundreds of pounds for a scanner that may spend years in a cupboard afterwards, you simply rent it for the period you need.
This makes photo scanner hire ideal if you:
- Have family photo albums to digitise
- Have inherited boxes of photographs
- Want to preserve wedding photographs
- Need to archive old family memories
- Want to create digital backups before photographs deteriorate
Why Choose the Epson FastFoto FF-680W?
Unlike traditional flatbed scanners, the Epson FastFoto FF-680W has been specifically designed for scanning photographs quickly.
Rather than placing photographs onto glass one at a time, you simply load a stack into the automatic feeder.
The scanner then feeds each photograph automatically.
This means you can scan hundreds—even thousands—of photographs in a fraction of the time.
Key features include:
- Automatic document feeder
- Scans both sides of photographs in one pass
- High-resolution image quality
- Wireless and USB connectivity
- Restores faded colours
- Removes red-eye where possible
- Creates both archive-quality and sharing-quality copies simultaneously
How Fast Is It?
Speed is where the Epson FastFoto really stands out.
Traditional flatbed scanners often take around 30–60 seconds per photograph.
That may not sound too bad until you realise you have 5,000 photos.
At one minute per photo, that's more than 80 hours of scanning.
The FastFoto can scan a photo in around one second.
That transforms weeks of work into just a few evenings.
If you have:
| Number of Photos | Approximate Time |
| 500 | Around 15–20 minutes |
| 1,000 | Around 30–40 minutes |
| 3,000 | Around 2 hours |
| 5,000 | Around 3–4 hours |
| 10,000 | Around a weekend |
Of course, sorting your photographs beforehand will usually take longer than the scanning itself.
Why Not Use a Flatbed Scanner?
Many home printers include a scanner.
While they're excellent for documents, they're not designed for large photo collections.
With a flatbed scanner you must:
- Open the lid
- Position one photograph
- Close the lid
- Scan
- Wait
- Remove it
- Repeat
Thousands of times.
It quickly becomes frustrating.
A dedicated feed scanner automates almost the entire process.
Is Hiring Better Than Using a Photo Scanning Service?
Many people search online for professional photo scanning companies.
While these services can be convenient, they also involve posting irreplaceable family photographs away.
Some people understandably feel uncomfortable doing that.
Hiring your own scanner means:
- Your photographs never leave your home
- You stay in complete control
- You decide the image quality
- You can organise folders exactly how you like
- You can rescan any photograph instantly
For many families, this peace of mind is invaluable.
What Can the Epson FastFoto Scan?
The scanner handles much more than standard photographs.
It can scan:
- Family photographs
- Wedding photographs
- Holiday photos
- School pictures
- Polaroid-style prints
- Postcards
- Newspaper cuttings
- Receipts
- Documents
- Children's artwork
This makes it ideal for creating a complete digital family archive.
Is It Difficult to Use?
Not at all.
One reason our customers love hiring the Epson FastFoto is its simplicity.
The setup process usually takes only a few minutes.
Simply:
- Connect the scanner.
- Install the Epson software.
- Load your photographs.
- Press Scan.
That's it.
No technical knowledge is required.
At DIYPhotoScan, we also provide a straightforward quick-start guide to help you get up and running quickly.
Why Rent Instead of Buy?
Let's compare the options.
| Buy | Hire |
| Costs several hundred pounds | Much lower cost |
| Used once | Only pay for the time you need |
| Needs storage | Return it when finished |
| Can become outdated | Always use current equipment |
| Large upfront investment | Affordable rental |
Unless you're planning to scan photographs professionally, hiring is often the more practical choice.
Our Rental Process
Hiring from DIYPhotoScan has been designed to be simple.
Step 1 – Book Online
Choose the rental period that suits you.
Step 2 – Fast UK Delivery
We deliver your scanner ready to use.
Step 3 – Scan Your Photos
Digitise your memories at your own pace.
Step 4 – Easy Return
Pack the scanner back into its original box and return it using the prepaid DPD return service or optional home collection.
Who Uses Our Service?
Our customers include:
- Families preserving memories
- Genealogists
- Local historians
- Schools
- Churches
- Museums
- Photographers
- Collectors
- Businesses archiving historical images
Whether you're scanning 300 photographs or 30,000, renting makes the job significantly easier.
Tips Before You Start Scanning
You'll get the best results by spending a little time preparing.
We recommend:
- Sorting photographs into date order.
- Removing staples and paper clips.
- Separating damaged photographs.
- Wiping away loose dust.
- Creating folders before scanning.
- Naming folders clearly.
Preparation can dramatically speed up the entire process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I hire a scanner for?
Most customers choose a 7-day rental, which provides plenty of time for sorting, scanning and organising thousands of photographs.
Can I scan both sides of a photograph?
Yes. The Epson FastFoto automatically captures both sides in one pass, preserving handwritten notes and dates on the reverse.
Is the scanner suitable for beginners?
Absolutely. It's designed to be easy to use, even if you've never scanned photographs before.
Do I need special software?
The required Epson software is free and easy to install. We provide guidance to help you get started.
Can I hire a scanner anywhere in the UK?
Yes. DIYPhotoScan offers nationwide delivery across mainland UK.
Why Choose DIYPhotoScan?
At DIYPhotoScan, we specialise exclusively in Epson FastFoto photo scanner rental.
Unlike general equipment hire companies, we focus on helping people preserve their memories.
Our customers benefit from:
- Genuine Epson FastFoto FF-680W scanners
- Nationwide UK delivery
- Flexible rental periods
- Straightforward online booking
- Easy returns
- Helpful customer support
- Clear instructions
- Affordable pricing
Our aim is simple: to make scanning old photographs as quick, easy and stress-free as possible.
Start Preserving Your Memories Today
Every photograph tells a story.
Whether it's a family wedding, a childhood holiday, grandparents you've lost, or your children's early years, those moments deserve to be preserved.
Hiring a professional photo scanner gives you the speed, quality and convenience needed to protect those memories for future generations.
Instead of leaving boxes of photographs hidden away, transform them into organised digital collections that can be shared with family and safely backed up.
If you're ready to start, DIYPhotoScan makes it easy to hire an Epson FastFoto scanner anywhere in the UK and begin scanning within days.