I have a photograph from a few years ago and I want to upload it to my computer. I don't have a scanner, so should I take a picture of the photo itself with a digital camera?
you can do that - I have - the quality will be degraded somewhat. A lot of drug stores and photo and camera stores also have scanners - not sure what the cost is - I have made copies of photos that way, as well as putting some on discs ...
It's usually easy to find someone with a scanner. A lot of printers are now "all in ones" and include very good scanners.
If you really want a high quality scan check out Scan Cafe. Probably not worth it unless you have a lot of images to convert. I have a film scanner, a flatbed scanner and an all in one with a scanner, but I have used Scan Cafe for hundreds of old slides and negatives that I wanted to digitize but didn't have time to do myself.
There are photography/camera shops that you can take your photos to and have them scanned.
They will make a disc for you.
Walmart may even have the ability to do this...
well I cheat a bit ....I take the picture and take a picture of the picture with my digital camera ...some times its good sometimes it not but that has to be me not the camera a steady hand is needed and thats not me but with a tripod?