Thanks to you all for making 2010 a great photo restoration year and here’s looking forward to another challenge packed 2011!

During the last year, we have noticed many more photo restoration companies coming online and the competition is stiffer than ever. With your help, we will continue to strive and push forward.

During the past year, we have restored some interesting photos, from record attempts in aviation and cycling, historic moments from the Titanic and we have been on TV and ongoing negotiations for the restoration of some historic war photos.

I personally have some advice for those of you visiting the blog for the first time.  Are wondering how to assess this company as someone who can help restore your photos?

When choosing your restoration company, do they have a landline phone number? do they only list a mobile or not an all but hide behind a “contact us” web form? No email address is visible? Why is that?

contact_by_email

If the company is working full time in photo restoration why would they use a “form” for you to contact them? Surely they would be at a workstation restoring photos? Therefore they would have a phone next to them, wouldn’t they?

Be wary of those that don’t have a landline phone number as they are more likely to be part-time and are not an expert in photo restoration!

Is the company you are interested in undercutting everyone else you have looked at? More likely they are failing as a business and are desperate to get the work. If they only charge a small amount for their restoration be sure to know where the restoration work is being carried out.

We don’t undercut prices, we value our services, watch for those that do, they may be hiding something

Its perfectly possible the work is being farmed out to eastern countries where labour is cheaper. That’s ok if you like the restoration style in this part of the world, which is airbrushed and soft, exaggerated colours and smoothed over the skin, so much so it looks like porcelain. Contact is likely to be slower as well and if you need any adjustments to your photo and the time zones are very different be prepared for a long wait for a response.

Sticking with local companies to your country will not only boosts your economy but gives you the speed of turn around and workmanship. That is of course if they are a full-time restoration artist. Knowing you can contact your artist in working hours and that they respond swiftly to your requests is both reassuring and professional.

If you want a photo restoration and don’t know where to start, check out my main photo repair page for more details or my page of photo restoration services for how I can help you and how you can hire me.