How Estimating Works

In a nutshell.  

Some restoration services have flat rates, others count damage areas and every little thing they do as extra. For some clients, this explanation is enough. The average photo brought to us, falls into three ranges Light Range of $40-$60 Medium Range $70-$90 and Heavy Range $100. and up.   If you need a closer estimate, we can not give you one without seeing the photo first.  Keep in mind that we do not outsource our work and the originals are in a safe environment. You may have the options of waiting for them to be scanned and keep the originals.   If you want a closer estimate and you enjoy reading ...go on and read about what we have to consider when we estimate from the topics below. You may find it very interesting: 

Contents of this page.

Archival Quality Prints Prices

Be an Educated Consumer

Bulk Rates

Custom Gift Prices

Estimating Color Prices

Military Tribute Discount

Money Back Guaranteed

Options for badly damaged photos

Rough Estimates

Scanning Services and Any Type of Electronic file to CD's

Understanding Color Issues

Why some photos cost so much

Rough Estimates

The three photo samples below demonstrate light, medium and heavy damage.  It aids in determining a rough estimate, choose which one your photo maybe classified as.  For those who like to read and want to know more, keep scrolling.

$40-$60 Very minor damage mostly to the background or border and minor coloring issues.

$70-$90 Most damages to the faces are in the $70 to 90 range. No damage to faces but still plenty of damage in general.

$100 and up The works.  It needs all of the above plus recreating what is missing.

(NOTE: Don't forget to factor in the hard copies and CA Taxes)

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Colorizing Estimating

(NOTE: Prices above do not include hard copy.)

1).  This type of coloring is more like a special effect. the background is one color  and only the subject is colorized to bring it out and not necessarily a realistic color.

2). Is colorizing the simply but more artistic and more detailed.

3). The third range is colorizing every single detail of a detailed photo.

Understanding Color Issues

When bringing back the color to these faded photos, your expectation of color is subjective.  What one person calls cherry red, someone else calls orange.  What color is on your screen and what color comes out on your paper are different.  You will never achieve the exact color you remember.  There are many reasons why coloring in a photo are subjective.  Just to name a few, there is the influence of the color lighting in a studio or outdoors, even the color of the clothing worn effects the coloring of the skin or eyes.  It is very difficult to tell the true color of someone's eyes in a photo and really doesn't matter when the photo is on a wall 5 feet away, you get the idea.

The objective to coloring these types of photos are to be able to display again, not necessarily to match your remembrance or obtain perfect skin or eye color.  The essence of the person is still captured.

For more information on color see our "Colorizing" section.

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Options for Badly Damaged Photos.  

Always remember these are e s t i m a t e s.  

(NOTE: Prices above do not include hard copy and CA taxes.)

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With some restorations like these samples, the client can make a choice.  As with any restoration, such as the restoration performed on a classic car, or an old house, the total cost is determined by the desired end result of our clients. One photo is rarely just enhancing or just repairs, many techniques are used with all photos. The intent of this sample is an attempt to give you a simple estimate. Some client prefer it their vintage photos old and torn looking, with no change to the coloring, only repairing the worst damage or making it whole.

Once you figure about how much the restoration is, add the price of the prints plus copies and Tax.

Archival Quality Prints

Many chain stores offer do it yourself printing and prints run through some automated system which allows them to print in one hour.  This is fine if you understand that most digital prints and or film developed almost always need some form of attention.  You get no touch-up what so ever and only Luster or Gloss photo paper are offered. This is not good because some photos are salvageable if only a human was looking at them. It's like getting a human on the phone instead of some electronic voice, it has it's limitations.

All our photos are Matt unless other wise requested.  We feel matt is the most attractive and best for vintage photographs which is the majority of our work.   We don't compete with chains stores.  We give personal attention to each photograph and that is priceless. Most people only need a few copies of any given image so we feel our prices are reasonable. If you need more than 10 copies we will drop our print prices in 1/2 to further encourage printing with us. 

* Our work is a form of art, once the image is recreated it becomes our creative property. We completely understand that prints can be found for pennies elsewhere, however our prices for hard copies are reasonable. Due to loss of revenue when an electronic file is purchased, this policy was adopted.

Here's the estimating formula:

Restoration price

 + Print Price

 + Shipping (optional)

 + restored photo to CD (optional)

 + expediting/rush fee (optional)

 + CA state tax (out of state no tax)

 

= Total Cost

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Why Some Photos Cost So Much

Looking at the original, it appears to have only yellowed and only a few spots and stains on the sky.  However, after removing the yellow you can now see the overall filth and blotches.  This will take more time then first thought.  With these types of yellowed photos, this is usually the case.

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Money Back Guaranteed

We guarantee 100% satisfaction with our work.  If you are not satisfied, we will try to make things right.  If you are still not happy after all is said and done, you have a money back guarantee with the return the photos within 15 days. 

The Exception - Sometimes as in  this case seen here below.  If we tell you that your photo can be restored to a better state than it is but in our professional opinion you may not be please and you still want to go forward.  We tell you up front that we do not give you your money back after putting so much time into the photo. 

Too much general damage. At times the end results can only be as good as the detail that is there to work with in the first place.  If the photo is not in focus before, neither will the after be.  Too much damage results in the photo appearing more like a drawing. Depending on how you feel about the particular photo, this may be acceptable. Our client was satisfied.

If your photo looks like this we don't expect success.

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Bulk Rates = Savings you can't get in chain stores.

All things are Negotiable, there is no negotiating like this with any other company.  We cater to genealogist, scrapbookers and anyone who has inherited the responsibility of rescuing their family photos. When someone comes in with just one photograph we have a minimum of $40.00 but if you set everything you would like done on the table we can help you get it all done. We consider and quote the worst and all other photos with minor repairs we practically give away.  So it's to your benefit to get all your photographs together at one time.

 Make an appointment to see what we can do for you.  619-397-7600 8AM - 8 PM PST.

Be an Educated Consumer

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