Four cassette formats, one published tape rate
Photosmith lists VHS, VHS-C, Hi8 and MiniDV under Home Video Tapes at $30/tape. Read the format printed on each cassette rather than identifying it only by its size or the camera you remember using.
Count the tapes in each group and keep a short list of their labels. The published rate gives you a starting point for budgeting, but confirm the final quote, applicable taxes or extra charges, any recording-length restrictions, and the expected completion time. Those details are not established by the listed tape price. Mention tapes that are damaged, have visible mold, or previously played badly, and ask whether they can be assessed before work begins.
MP4 downloads change what you need to prepare
The video transfer page says all files are MP4 and delivered via download. Plan for downloading files and saving them somewhere you control. Ask how the download is provided, how long it remains available, and whether each tape becomes one file or several. Also check whether any alternative delivery method is available if downloading is difficult for you.
Before submitting tapes, assign each a simple reference such as Tape A and photograph its handwritten label. Keep the numbering on your inventory so you can match returned files to originals. Avoid covering existing labels or opening cassette cases yourself. If a relative remembers which tape holds a graduation or a holiday, record that clue now; an uncertain description is still more useful than a folder of unexplained filenames.
Film reels and photographs need separate decisions
Photosmith separately lists 8mm, Super8 and 16mm reels at $40/reel for up to 100 feet, with each additional foot priced at 20¢. These are reel-film charges, so keep them separate from the $30/tape home video rate when asking for an estimate.
Its scanning page also lists slide scanning and Eco / Batch photo scanning. The page describes archiving scans as JPEG files at 300 dpi, equivalent to the original size. If you want photographs to accompany a video, explain whether they are for family viewing or a larger print, and ask which scanning option suits that purpose. The scanning page says originals will be returned safely; confirm the arrangements for your tapes separately, since that statement appears in the scanning service description.
Check a complete download before putting tapes away
Once you receive the files, download the whole delivery and compare it with your inventory. Open every video, listen to the sound, and sample the beginning, middle and end. Check that you can locate the scenes you expected, while remembering that an original recording may contain blank stretches or imperfect camera work. If something seems missing or a file will not play, note the filename and playback position so you can describe the issue clearly.
Keep the tapes while you review the results and decide on long-term storage. Maintain an untouched copy of the delivered files and a second backup in a separate location. Descriptive names can help, but preserve the connection to your tape numbers. Ask relatives to identify people and occasions before treating guesses as facts; approximate years are often enough to start organizing a collection.
From downloaded files to a private family archive
Memrial is a separate private family archive for digital memories after conversion. Photosmith handles the listed transfer service; Memrial does not convert physical tapes. You can upload photos and home videos, arrange albums, invite relatives, and add comments or stories. The free allowance is 2.0 GB shared across the archive, with no card needed. Check video file sizes when deciding what to upload first.
Timeline uses exact or approximate dates to help you find memories by year. For example, you could place an undated family picnic around the summer everyone remembers and refine the date later. Live Watch Parties synchronize an uploaded home video, with the host controlling play, pause and seek while relatives nearby or far away use voice or text chat. The free plan includes 3 hours per month and up to 6 participants.
For a family reunion, Event Memories offers a secure occasion contribution link. Contributors sign in but do not need archive membership, and their photos and videos collect in the event album. Closing the link retains the memories already gathered. That gives older converted footage and new pictures from the occasion a shared setting, while your separate file backups remain part of your preservation plan.