Here are two restorations I completed recently.
A distracting background changed for a more appropriate one
….and a very small, badly damaged oval photograph that’s now been printed 12″ x 9″
Here’s what my customer Sheila B said “Thank you Richard for restoring the very old and battered photo of my mum you made a beautiful job of it I’m so thrilled forever grateful”
I recently restored and manipulated an image of Cookie the Pekingese at Crufts so that he could continue to have a presence.
Here’s the original photograph and the finished version
Here’s owner Pauline’s story:
Back in January of this year, the day I feared most came along and I had to say goodbye to Cookie after the most amazing 14 years. Although small in actual size, his presence was huge and the kitchen, despite having other Pekingese around, felt so empty. I wanted a picture of my boy in his prime, here he is in the show ring at Crufts in 2009 where he was awarded a 2nd place in a very strong class.
The original photograph had to be cropped a great deal and did not have the resolution I needed for the splash-back project, but with Richard’s magic, he got us there.
Now Cookie (or Corges Mr Cocky – his KC Show name) is back in the kitchen, with the vantage point he always wanted, he can see what is cooking!!
My customer Karen E tells the story of this (now restored) photograph
“This photograph was taken on a day when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Poplar during the Blitz. My father as a boy is standing in the right upper window with his mum on his right and his best friend beside him.
My father remained in Poplar throughout the war with his father who was a stevedore in the docks and his mother who was a seamstress. Their house suffered damage in the war when an incendiary device came through the roof and landed on his parent’s bed, luckily it did not ignite and they managed to wrap it in the bedding and throw it out of the window!”
Here’s the original photograph I received:
Merry Christmas to everyone – before and after! Here’s looking forward to 2017 being a great year.
With Christmas now on the horizon here are some ideas for a unique gift that’s ideal for those who can be tricky to find something a bit different.
Here just a few examples of the many ways I can transform your photographs….
If you have a photograph that has faded in its frame, it can be restored and re-coloured.
Two or more photographs can be combined and you can choose the people you want in the finished photo
Family groups can be ‘adjusted’ to include or exclude people!
Couples can finally be together in the same photograph.
Snapshots of pets can be made into portraits or montages
Treasured photographs that have suffered years of damage can be restored to their original state.
Combine a favourite photograph with a more interesting background.
Create a family montage from a selection of favourite photographs
Not sure which photos to use but can see the potential?
A Photographs Forever Gift Voucher of any value could be the answer.
I received this message from Irene after I has restored her photograph and I was quite touched –
“Thank you so much for your recent work which was excellent as usual. The photograph you restored fits beautifully into the frame and looks wonderful surrounded by a verse from one of my favourite songs. No apologies for the sentimental nature of the words! I’ve sent you a copy so you can see the end result.
There were some lovely surprises with the negatives. Some photographs I have never seen before and others have not been seen by the family for years. I have no idea who the people playing football are! I have included several of the photographs in my writing – which is nearly finished by the way.”
Always very gratifying to receive this kind of message.
There is no better way to remember all the great times in life than through the photographs you have from the past, present and future. Previous generations have very few photographs compared with the number we have today. Photographs are so important yet they often remain locked inside our phones or packed away in a box.
So make the most of your photographs. Here are 8 tips….
Here is the original photograph, then the restored and colourised version. I knew what colour the Union Jacks were – all the rest were my best guess!
Photograph Before Restoration
Photograph After Restoration and Colourising
Here is an example of a good gift idea – portraits of the family pets.
This example of the history of the family cats, the portraits were made as a gift for the owner from existing snapshots. The scale of the cats’ heads were matched and the busy backgrounds eliminated so that their faces could be seen clearly.
Restored Cat Portraits
A few days ago I received this touching story from Jane H following my restoring this photograph
Photographs Forever photograph restoration
“Our daughter said that as soon as my husband saw the photo of his mother that you managed to create from the old somewhat dilapidated little old photo, he would probably cry. I wondered if I ought to give it to him on some other day rather than his 86th birthday if it would upset him. However I did eventually give it to him yesterday on his birthday.
With my help he unwrapped it as he only has the use of one hand. He said nothing at all just kept staring at it. At last I realized he had tears in his eyes as he hadn’t realized there was any kind of photo of his mother who died many years ago. He put it on the table next to his chair and just kept picking it up and putting it down still unable to say anything. However as soon as other people begun to arrive to celebrate his birthday he insisted they come and look at the photo he is so proud of.
As he is disabled in a wheelchair he has carers twice a day to help. The first thing he did was to hand them the framed photo explaining in his own way that it is his mother. Our daughter was also quite emotional when she saw it remembering her old cockney grandma. I told her she was right her father had cried but only with emotion and happiness.
He is amazed that you were able to restore such a small, damaged picture into a perfect photo of his mother who he was so close to as she brought him up alone. He now has the picture on a table where he can see it at all times. We have numerous framed photos of family but until now he had nothing. I just wanted to thank you so much for the trouble you took in restoring the photo and giving him such pleasure.
Thank you again. I have told everyone who has seen it who restored the photo so don’t be surprised if you hear from a few next year!!”
