PHOTO RESTORATION IS AN ART...

Don't Pay $$$ for this…

ORIGINAL PHOTO 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. At right is my restoration, and I think you'll agree, as the client did, that it's quite an improvement! See More Before and After Samples

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 studio in the Tucson Mountain foothills, and 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 well 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 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. 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.

Contact me if you have some precious memories you would like restored. Your images can also be archived on a CD, DVD, or other recordable media for safekeeping. 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!

Ellen Fountain
Fountain Studio