Damaged photo restoration: what to know before you start
If you are looking into damaged photo restoration, you are probably holding a photo that is torn, stained, creased or stuck to something. It may be the only copy you have. And you may be worried that it is too late, or that you will make it worse.
In nearly every case, a photo like yours can be restored, and it starts at $38 per photo. This guide covers what to do with the photo today, what can and cannot be repaired, how to take a good picture of it, and what it costs.
First, keep the photo from getting worse
When a photo is hurt, the first urge is to fix it. Many people try to repair damaged photos themselves with tape or glue. Please don't. You do not need to, and it is one less thing that can go wrong. If there is already tape on it, that is all right. Leave the tape where it is.
A few more things to leave alone. Do not try to peel a photo off glass or off an album page it is stuck to. Do not wipe or rub at stains or mold. Do not press a curled or brittle photo flat by force. And do not throw away any loose pieces, even the small ones.
What helps is simple. Keep every piece together in one place. Keep the photo dry, flat and out of direct sun. Hold it by the edges. Then take a picture of it soon, just as it is today. You do not have to fix the paper yourself. A picture of the photo as it is now is what we work from.
What can be repaired
Damaged photo repair covers more than most people expect. A crease running right across a face. A corner torn off. A brown water line along the bottom. Mold spots. A photo in four or five pieces. A picture faded until you can hardly see who is in it. Our artists repair damage like this every day, and each photo is carefully restored with skill and attention to detail.
Even missing pieces can be rebuilt. An experienced artist patiently rebuilds them from what is left around them. If you are not sure about your photo, call or email us before you order.
You can help by leaving a note for your artist when you order. Tell them anything you want them to know, such as who the people are or a detail you remember. If you are not sure your photo can be restored, call or email us and ask before you order. And if we cannot get it right, you get your money back.
How to take a picture of a damaged photo
You do not need a scanner or a computer. Your phone is enough. Put the photo on a table in good light. Near a window is fine. Hold your phone straight above it and move in until the photo fills the screen. Check that there is no glare on it and that your own shadow is not falling across it.
If the photo is in pieces, fit them together like a puzzle, without tape. If it is curled, do not force it. Just get it as flat as it will safely go. If it is stuck behind glass or to an album page, leave it where it is and take the picture as it is. If the glass shows a reflection, tilt the phone just a little until it is gone. Take two or three pictures and send the clearest one.
If you would rather not do it alone, we can help you with the picture. If you would prefer to mail the original in, write to us and we will sort it out with you. But you do not have to. People often ask whether we can fix damaged old photos from a phone picture. Yes. A phone picture is all we need, and your original never leaves your house.
Why worse damage does not cost you more
The price does not depend on how damaged your photo is. What you choose is your artist: $38 or $58 per photo. You pick when you order. A photo with one small crease and a photo torn in four cost the same with the same artist. Both artists include unlimited free changes.
You see the exact total before you pay. Any extras are ones you choose yourself. Colorization, for a black-and-white or sepia photo, is $19 per photo. Printed copies start from $10. There is also a discount when you restore three or more photos.
You see it before anything is final
Your damaged original is never changed. We work from the picture you send, and what you receive is a restored copy. The photo you are holding stays exactly as it is. We email you when your restored photo is ready. You look at it, ask for changes if you want any, and download it.
Changes are free, and there is no limit on them. If we cannot get it right, you get your money back. You choose the speed when you order. Most orders are ready in 2 to 5 business days, and there is a 24-hour option if you are in a rush.
Once you have your copy, you can save it, share it with family, and order prints in sizes from 4x6 to 16x20 inches. Nothing is printed until you have said yes to the restoration. Damaged photo restoration starts with one small step: a picture of the photo you already have, taken with your phone, just as it is today.