Photo Restoration Pricing

There are many low cost photo restoration vendors to choose from but as they say “you get what you pay for.” At HeritageTree, I specialize in vintage family photographs that clients cherish because they represent a special loved one, an important ancestor, a historical family relative, a photo op with a celebrity, or a very special moment in time. If the client is looking to restore many photos in a family album, HeritageTree would not be the best choice.

Photo restoration pricing can vary based on several factors, including the extent of damage to the original photo, the level of expertise required, and the time investment needed to restore the image. My base rate for photo restorations are $50/hour. Here's a breakdown of the key considerations that influence the pricing for photo restoration services:

1. Extent of Damage

• Minor Damage - If the photo has minimal damage, such as small scratches, dust, or minor fading, the restoration process is relatively straightforward and will cost less

• Moderate to Severe Damage - Photos with significant damage, such as tears, creases, missing portions, or severe discoloration, require more time and skill for restoration. Consequently, the pricing will be higher for such cases

2. Complexity of Restoration

• Simple Edits - Basic restoration involving tasks like removing stains, fixing color balance, or eliminating minor blemishes generally incurs lower costs

• Advanced Edits - Complex restoration work, such as recreating missing parts of a photo, reconstructing facial features, or repairing extensive damage, requires a higher level of expertise and time, leading to higher pricing

3. Resolution and Size

• High-Resolution Photos - Restoring high-resolution images may demand more effort and precision, affecting the overall pricing

• Large Prints - If the original photo is a large print, the restoration process may take longer, impacting the cost

4. Special Restoration Skills

• Specialized Restoration - If the restoration involves specialized skills, such as colorization, historical accuracy, or detailed reconstruction, the pricing may reflect the additional expertise and time required

5. Turnaround Time

• Urgency - If a client needs the restored photo within a short timeframe, expedited services may incur additional charges

6. Additional Services

• Prints and Copies - If the client requests physical prints or digital copies of the restored photo, additional fees may apply

• Customization - Any additional customization requests, such as sepia tone application or artistic enhancements, could influence the final cost

7. Scanning Difficult Photos

   • Attached Photos - In some cases photographs may be glued to photo albums or stuck to glass frames which can be saved but incur more cost

   • Extremely small prints - these can restored to a good quality but take time and cost more

   • Negatives - Converting negatives can be done but will take more time and cost more

   • Shipping Costs - Returning non-digital photos will require return shipping cost passed on to the client at cost.

It's important for both the client and the photo restorer to communicate effectively, discussing the specific requirements and expectations before agreeing on a price. Additionally, I offer tiered pricing packages based on the hours required and the complexity and of the restoration needed.

All photo restoration projects come with a free initial consultation to discuss project scope, select the appropriate techniques and estimated project cost. I only accept a few projects at a given time to protect my high quality standards. All Initial project proposals will come with an estimated start and finish date.

Digital photos or high resolution scans are preferred. Large file (up to 100GB) uploads or downloads are no problem. A link to upload will be sent with the proposals. If you are scanning the photos either on a multi-feature printer with a scanner or a dedicated flat bed scanner, try to scan at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi (dots per square inch). Quality scanners can scan up to 12,800 dpi but rarely is greater than 2,400 dpi necessary. Quality scans can be made at many postal shops or printers. For more details on scanning, I have a scanning guideline sheet available upon request.

At the conclusion of the a project, digital files of the restored photographs will be provided for download. If printing photographs, framing, mounting on materials other than paper, etc. are requested, I will send them to a professional printing service to forward to you at completion. All costs associated with these services will be passed through to the client at cost.

All the photo restoration services are detailed in the HeritageTree Agreements and Services and Fees documents available upon request.