MichiganRob said:
Wow! Nice work, this posting hit me right between the eyes because this is exactly what I always wanted to do but could never figure out how to get into my own business doing it
and of course being able to afford to go into business. Here are a couple of my restorations
HH
MichiganRob
Wow Rob!!! That is some really great work you did there! The clarity in that first photo is amazing! You should do it!!!
As for that wedding photo... that is really great!!! I ran into the same problem, well, similar, with my hubby's grandmother's photo above. Someone cut the corners...so I just cropped to the edges of the photo and had to reconstruct the corners. As for the background, I made it solid, then added some darker color to make it look as close to the original as I could. And the blanket she is sitting on...in the old day when I did this for friends, I would have cropped it out...but I said NO MORE!!! So, I worked and worked on it and I think it turned out pretty darn good, however, I see things I would do differently and I will most likely go back and work on it today to correct what I don't like! LOL
I'm just going to do this as my side job. Heck, if I did a couple of photos a week...I'd be very happy!!! I know there will be some that will take more than a day to do (esp if I am working my regular job!)....
I did some for a friend of mine recently. Her and her husband went to Sears to get a photo of them taken and she checked the prices there. This is what she wrote me back:
"......went to Sears to get our pictures taken and I picked up a flyer advertising their photo restoration.
You are so RIGHT!!! They charge an arm and a leg! I quote: Repair of up to 3 minor scratches, color restoration of transformation is "only" (yeah right!) $49.99. Repair of 4-5 scratches and/or tears is "only" $69.99 and repair of 6 or more scratches and/or tears, missing portions and other damage caused by water, mold, etc. is "only" $99.99!!!!!!!!!
I am totally amazed. You did all that and more. I am impressed...."
That work you did on the wedding photo...you could have easily made 70-90 bucks on that one (based on Sears)!
I was telling her I had researched the net as well as local business that do restorations to determine my price (which I will under bid!). I would love to post her pics on here, but I did not ask for her permission yet...so you could see what I did with hers.
My mother in law finally found the family bible she thought she had lost and that photo of my husband's grandmother was in it. My scanner is not hooked up, as my laptop is Vista and my old scanner is not compatible to it UGH! But I will hook it up to my PC (XP). So, I've learned to take digitals of photos and I think they have turned out pretty darn good!!
I also like to save my files as .TIFF files...the resolution is so much better than .JPG...however, when sending through email or putting on postings.... .TIFF is not recognized and you loose some resolution from .TIFF to .JPG.... depending on the photo, depends on the loss. You should use .TIFF files for your most valued and important documents, .JPG/.JPEG are recommended for photos and .GIF for clipart... as a general rule
I have photo printers.....so I can print out a print....but I will recommend to any future clients that they take their restored photo, along with the original and get negatives made. I had a bunch made at RITZ camera (it really wasn't that expensive)... so this way, I will always have them preserved! And NEVER store your negs with your photos.... for many reasons. My sister followed my advice. She had all her negs in a separate location and her basement flooded! If it wasn't for her negs, which were not damaged...she would have no pics of her sons growing up!!! She use to do her scrapbooking in her basement...that is why her photos were down there. Thank goodness though, the albums she completed where upstairs on the shelf! She is really good at that! LOL...me? Forget it! LOL...
I would also like to get a set-up for making negs of old photos!
So Rob, go for it! From what the courthouse told me....it will cost me $10 for my first year business license (home business) and if I want to register a logo, a one time fee will be charged of $10....and it will ALWAYS be my logo / company name! After a year, they send someone to your home and review your books....see if you reached the goal you initially set out. Your first year will be the base for what your second year license will be. She explained to me the difference and for a home business...it is NOT expensive!!! There was a lot she went into detail about, but I'm really nervous LOL...
I think the part I am worried about is getting the clients....and then making them happy!
Bran.....Thank you very much! Alot depends on the photo....if I want to add a touch of color. I also save the file after restoration, but before color. On old photos, mostly of people...I like to add a little bit....just to bring out certain objects....sometimes colors can add to a photo. I am working with my colors though...when doing B&W...I am testing different shades of color, what looks best, etc. When I give a photo back to a person, they will have many to choose from. Like about my friend I mentioned above...I gave her variations of her photos to her...and then she could choose which one she likes!!! There is one I am proud of.... it's of her grandmother as a little girl, I matted and framed it and then added two smaller pics of the same women (a teen and as a women) to each corner...blended it in. I really like how that turned out!!!
I have been doing this for some time, and my friends, whom I have done photos for, as well as my sister, keep telling me I need to start a business! They are so funny! LOL...anyways...I am always learning new techniques and ways to make a photo really stand out and look good! As with Monty's I mentioned.... that one is such a challenge, but I continue to work on it.... to perfect my techniques!!!
RR........Monty's photo....wow...just trying to get the faces rescontructed....oh heavens! What a challenge and I love a good challenge! I think he will like his new nose!!! LOL and I too....when going to antique shops... this one place in Norfolk in the back where they kept all the yearbooks and such...they had a box of photos. Going through them I asked how much...and they wanted a dollar for each photo!!! I may go back and give her a bottom price for all those photos in the box....with doing genealogy in my area.... I am sure alot of those old B&W's are of folks that lived here! It really breaks my heart when I see something that was once a cherished momento tossed! All my genealogy stuff and old photos and such will be donated to the Mormon LDS Family History Center when my time comes. Of course, my kids will get their copies....but I don't want to see my hard work tossed aside because someone did not care like I did! So, I will make sure it's perserved for ALL! They (Mormon) are very good in keeping records. I was going to donate to the National Archives, but once I found out they have an attic full of stuff just sitting there and it takes an arm and a leg to see or even go through anything... forget it.... it's for my future generations and the LDS Family History center will do exactly what I wish!!!
Oh Don Jose.... you sure know how to get to a woman!!! LOL.... Back at cha' Babe (no ... hubby was not looking
)......
Cyn....yes, I have to work on that a bit.... stop being so critical of myself... when talking to my sis last night... she made a comment on a photo I did for her and I said, "Yep, I'm good, I know it and to heck to those who think not!" LOL.... she said, "Yes you are!!! You better get your license!" Navy Pride.... Proud to have experienced it and Proud to carry it on!!!!
Thank you ALL VERY MUCH..... today's the day.... oh vey!
... like I said, just experimenting.
Anyone have any ideas? Thanks ahead of time! 
