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 Don't Pay $$$ for this… |
At left is an
actual result after restoration done somewhere else for
a client of mine. The client was very disappointed with this restoration
work, and justifiably so. What's wrong here? The structure of
the face, neck and upper chest has been lost [it looks flat].
The "restoration" of the dress looks like a cartoon.
The hair has lost its shine, and there isn't any difference texturally
between the hair and the bow. The client also compained that the
shape of the mouth was altered from the original. |
 When you can get quality work like this! |
What makes my photo restoration/retouching work different than what you can get at most other photo restoration places? I am a painter who also has training and skills in computer graphics, photo imaging, and digital illustration. My fine art background (B.F.A and M.A.degrees) and excellent drawing skills give me an advantage over someone who only has computer software knowledge. And...I love restoring these precious images! I know how important my own family photos are, and I treat your photos as if they were my own. I work out of my home studios in the Tucson Mountain foothills and on Bainbridge Island, Washington. Every bit of digital restoration work done on your photos is done by me - it is never outsourced. I don't accept more work than I can do for my clients in a reasonable amount of time, and you are given proofs to approve before the final prints are made.
I do
nothing to your original photo except
scan or photograph it if needed. All retouching and restoration work is done
digitally. My photo restoration work is not simply "cleaning
up" dust and scratches from your photo by slightly blurring the image.
It is labor intensive. It involves a careful analysis of the original image,
a high quality scan of the original, and then adjusting value contrast and/or
color intensity to bring out the best image. It involves painstaking work to
digitally remove mold spots, water spots, damage or foxing, digitally mending
cracks and tears, bringing out details that were lost where possible, adding
texture where needed to keep the photo from looking flat, and in the case of
color images, correcting them to restore faded, age or heat damaged photos or
slides to like new images. It can involve
going over every square inch of each photo at a 400% or greater magnification
(and sometimes down to individual pixel level) and looking for every flaw that
needs to be removed, and every detail that needs to be enhanced.
Annoying backgrounds can be softened to focus attention on the main subject,
or removed altogether. Old black and white photos can be given a sepia-toned
look to add another layer of antiquity to their appearance, or given a "hand
colored" treatment that was popular with many old photos before the advent
of color photography. Several photos can be composited or put together with
new backgrounds and other special treatments to make a new single photo that
enhances each combined image. Odd sized photos can have a border treatment added
so that they will fit standard frame sizes. Almost anything you can think of
to do to a photo is possible—just ask. You always get an e-mailed proof
to approve before your prints are made, and can request additional refinements
to the photo after you've seen the proof. I want happy customers!
Rates for photo restoration are charged by the hour, and the rate is $30/hour. The condition of the original and any special treatments desired will determine the cost. Time is billed in quarter-hour increments.
Click here for additional samples that will give you some idea of how much you can expect to pay for restoring your images. A firm price quote can only be given after I have seen the original image and talked with you about what you want the final version to look like, how many prints you want, on what paper and at what size(s). You can also look at the FAQs page for additional information. A handy order/information form you can print and send with your photos is available.
If you are out of the Tucson area and need to mail photos to me, please click here for information on how to ship, what to send, and other information about the restoration process. Since I work from two locations, you will need to email or call me for the correct shipping address to use when sending your photos by mail/UPS/Fedex or any other way besides e-mail.
Contact me if you have some precious memories you would like restored. Your original digital scan(s), unretouched, along with your digitally corrected images will be written to a standard CD and included with your restored prints. I also keep your restored images on file if you prefer to have me make any reprints in the future.
Printed samples are available on request, just e-mail me. You may also call 520-743-7841, or write for information at the address at the top of this page. I'm looking forward to working with you!
Do you want a digital scrapbook made and written to CD or DVD? I also offer this service. Ask me!
Ellen Fountain
Fountain Studio
Digital and printed scrapbooks from your photos |
iMemories - photo and video transfer to DVD |
123Inkjets - compatible printer inks and toner |
