We now have the ability to sharpen up those out of focus faces that many old photographs suffer from. Sharpening face detail restores lost detail and brings back the true skin tones and all aspects of face detail
Here’s the difference
Archive for Photograph Restoration
This photograph was taken on 3rd of February 1962, when Colin and Jan were just 21 and 19 years old. As soon as we saw the photo we were instantly struck by how heart-warming it was, their faces a perfect picture of happiness!
Since 1962 Colin and Jan went on to have four children and four grand-children, and it was their grand-daughter Emily who contacted us in January as she hoped to give her grandparents a restored version of their precious photograph for their 60th wedding anniversary.
Jan says “We got married at the church that was once part of Hanworth Palace owned by Henry VIII. I walked through the door on the arm of my dad and felt part of the history of it all. Hiring the Daimler on the day of our wedding was a luxury I had not known before. The car arrived to take us the short distance to the reception. It was such a happy day I don’t think we noticed the cold February weather.”
Emily tells us that her great-grandfather (Jan’s dad) was the gardener at Hanworth Palace, and when her granddad Colin first visited her Nan, who lived in the grounds, he mistakenly thought he had struck gold, believing Jan’s family owned the estate!
On 3rd February 2022, Emily presented her grandparents with the photograph that we had restored and framed and kindly sent us these photographs of their reaction…
Photographs Forever has recently had some mentions on Boom Radio. Boom is a new radio station which I found a couple of months ago and am really enjoying. There are many presenters we know from other radio stations like Bob Harris and David Hamilton and the music played is just the music that we like (if you were around in the sixties, seventies and eighties).
Nothing like a bit of nostalgia!
Boom represents the spirit of a generation. A UK radio station targeting baby boomers – now aged in their late 50s, 60s and 70s. – who still feel young and seize every opportunity life offers.The presenters they grew up with play the songs with which they share a deep emotional connection. Radio enjoys a special place in people’s lives – and Boomers love it, with 93% of us tuning in. I really recommend it so take a listen.
Here are a few of the presenters that have mentioned Photographs Forever with the sound clips
DAVID LLOYD
After almost retiring, Boom Radio was the dream of David Lloyd. He began in commercial radio in Nottingham as a teenager, fulfilling a dream he’d nurtured since appearing on BBC local radio reading a poem aged 6. He rose through the ranks to manage radio stations in Leicester, Lincoln, Leeds, Birmingham and LBC and Virgin in London – departing only for a brief sojourn in media regulation – and he’s passionate about the project.
NICKY HORNE
For a generation, his was the daring voice on Capital Radio, as the host of ‘Your Mother Wouldn’t Like it’. Nicky was also heard on Virgin and the BBC. Now, surrounded by his own record collection, he broadcasts daily from his lair 4-6 weekdays, playing a wide selection of music, including some treasured album tracks.
‘TWIGGY’ ROGER DAY
Radio has been Roger Day’s life. ‘Your Thinner Record Spinner’ was born in Cheltenham, and began his career in offshore pirate radio, firstly on Swinging Radio England before transferring to Caroline. As the pirate stations were banned, he spent a short stint at Radio Luxembourg before famously compering a Beach Boys Tour – before a dramatic spell at Radio Northsea International. Back on land, he was the first presenter as Piccadilly Radio launched in Manchester and, more recently he’s been heard regularly on BBC local radio. At Boom, he says he’s come home – and he’s having the most fun he’s had since the 70s.
Yes, Photographs Forever was on BBC One TV, Morning Live at 9:15am on Thursday 11th November.
We were featured as part of a Remembrance Day programme where I discuss the importance of photograph restoration and we follow the restoration and colourisation of a sentimental army photograph from 1914 belonging to my customer Nigel. I then present the restored photograph to him for the first time, live on camera. Nigel also explains the story behind this historical photograph and just how much the restored photograph means to him and his family.
Here is the link if you’d like to watch our segment of the programme.
Do you ever have difficulty thinking of a gift for someone special? A gift they will truly appreciate?
Our bespoke, premium quality photobooks are the perfect gift that your family and friends will love – one that is bound to give lasting pleasure.
A PHOTOBOOK IS AN IDEAL GIFT FOR….
Christmas
Birthday
Wedding Anniversary
Special Occasion
Photographs really are one of the very few things that are both precious and truly irreplaceable. We usually store them away in a cupboard, drawer or the attic and never look at or appreciate them as often as we should.
A collection of your favourite photographs, beautifully presented in one of our high quality lay-flat photobooks makes looking at them a pleasure every time.
As well as considering old family photographs, don’t forget that you probably have thousands of photographs on your mobile phone that may never see the light of day!
Choose the best ones and fully enjoy them in a photobook.
We can help you at every stage of the process, including scanning and collating your photographs, optimising them to reduce fading and correct the colours, putting the photobook together with titles and captions and even sending you an online virtual proof of the book, for you to approve before it’s printed.
Our new lay-flat VIP photobook offers a truly professional finish. The photographs in it are photographically printed on heavy weight 440gsm photographic lustre paper and then sewn bound for added permanence. The outer cover can also be printed. This is a substantial book that is far superior to many other photobooks you may have seen.
The seamless lay-flat albums use a unique stitched binding which allows for the continuous flow of images over a spread, with no central image loss. See further details HERE
Take the first step now! It’s so easy to proceed in simple steps.
To see these steps CLICK HERE
This is a testimonial we received as a result of a photobook we produced recently:
“We had the idea of a family history photobook and turned to Photographs Forever for help and advice. Over the last year we have worked with Richard and his daughter Amy to restore and edit around 175 photographs and create an illustrated family history. The photo restoration work was never in doubt but what really struck us this time was the quality of the design and layout of the album, combining very old sepia toned photos with modern, colour digital prints together with a significant amount of explanatory text. One friend described the finished product as “a work of art” and the whole family is mightily impressed. We now have a wonderful photographic record for posterity and are very grateful to Richard and team for making this possible and for the never-ending patience throughout the project – Many thanks Richard”
Graham J.
We have just started advertising Photographs Forever on Radio Caroline to increase the awareness of the importance of preserving our memories with photographs.
Like me, I’m sure many people remember the heyday of the pirate radio stations in the mid 60’s and the way they revolutionised popular music by playing and plugging singles all day every day as there was very little pop music on the BBC at the time. BBC were then forced in 1967 to create a new pop music station which became Radio 1.
A month or so ago the family were holidaying overlooking the Blackwater Estuary in Essex and noticed a stationary red ship which I soon realised was Radio Caroline. I was intrigued to listen to the station and found I liked much of the music played and decided that if I enjoyed it then maybe so would other people of a similar age (and younger of course).
Radio Caroline is now a 24/7 album station featuring music from across the decades up to and including new music.
Broadcasting on 648 AM, on DAB and around the world online at radiocaroline.co.uk
You can listen to the Photographs Forever advertisement below
There is also the Caroline Flashback station which concentrates on playing pop singles from the 60’s and 70’s. Lots of the songs played are ones we remember but not always the same oldies so often played on other oldie stations.
Click on the links above and take a listen to the Caroline stations.
Let me know what you think
Due to the increasing demand I am receiving for photograph restoration, I’d like to keep you informed of some changes I’ve introduced within the company to make sure we can stay as efficient as possible.
My daughter Amy (Haines) has now joined Photographs Forever. She has been helping me part-time over the last 7 years and, having recently finished her degree at university, is now working with me full-time. Amy (Lees) has moved into a new role and Selina (Payandee) is now my Administration Assistant.
Amy Haines
Selina Payandee
Introducing our professional framing service to complement and further enhance your restored photographs has proved to be very popular with my customers. This means we are able to offer a complete service, transforming your damaged and fading photographs into to a high quality framed photograph you will truly enjoy forever. Here is the link to more details and the advantages of our frames.
Our photobooks are also increasing in popularity and another great way to enjoy your favourite photographs by printing them in a book that will not fade or deteriorate. The photobooks we provide are good value and much higher quality and specification than those ordinarily found in the high street. Here is the link to more details of our photobooks with a step by step guide to help you to organise your photographs and make your photobook a reality.
CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE VIDEO OF THE TWO BOOKS COMPARED
Here is a photobook we completed recently which duplicated an existing album that was lovingly put together just after World War 2. The new photobook is virtually twice the size of the original and is now in a form that will literally last forever and can be handed down through generations to preserve precious family history.
If you would like any more details, information or advice in relation to your photographs or how I can help please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I look forward to hearing from you.
2020 has been a very unusual year in so many ways for all of us. One factor that has occurred to many of us is the importance of the family and close relationships as we have had time to reflect.
I will be moving to a smaller house soon and, as I have to get rid of quite a lot of ‘stuff’, it has occurred to me that when I look around the house to decide what’s precious, there really is very little that I couldn’t live without. Except photographs. Photographs are one of the very few things that can’t be replaced and they are therefore possibly our most important and valuable possession.
Because we have all had more time on our hands than usual, photograph collections that have been overlooked for years have finally been finding the light of day and getting them scanned and either optimised or fully restored has enabled these very special photographs to be enjoyed so much more.
So, if you haven’t checked out your own photograph collection yet, there is no better time than the cold dark winter months. Apart from anything else, it is actually a very enjoyable exercise. So make that diary note to do it. You’ll be glad you did.
There has been a very big increase in the number of photographs I have received because going through the masses of old family photographs is a job that is so often put off by many people due to lack of time and for these past few months have provided the time and the environment to tackle the task. It’s always much more fun than people expect. And the rewards are huge.
I am now very excited to be able to offer you a top quality bespoke framing service. This means I can offer custom size prints, mounts and frames to show off your restored photographs in the best way possible so they can receive the attention and admiration they deserve.
The most popular moulding is the solid wood satin black or mahogany with single or double mounts.
Satin Black Frame
Mahogany frame
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I can also provide multi aperture frames – the one below is 20in x 16in with two landscape format 8in x 6in prints and two portrait format 5in x 7in prints. There are several multi aperture options available and the frames can be any size you choose. Heavier mouldings are available for larger sizes.
I can even show you what your photograph will look like before you order including all the relevant dimensions. This is particularly useful if you want a specific frame size to fit a specific space in your house.
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A representation of your own photo with dimensions added
This photograph was in a really bad state as you can see below.
Ann M was very happy with the result. She told me “My Mum’s picture has pride of place on the mantelpiece and is a great talking point for everyone who comes in! My brother and sisters back in Ireland have been astounded and delighted with the copies I sent them. It has given us all so much happiness.”
