No Risk Photograph Restoration -
Free Advice Call 01825 740986

Archive for tracing family records

Ancestry.com – The Perfect Place to Create Your Family History

20 November 2024

Ancestry.com is a leading platform for exploring family history and genealogy, providing a variety of benefits that make it a top choice for individuals wanting to discover their roots.

You can currently have a 14 day free trial so you can see how useful it is for yourself. CLICK HERE

Here are the 15 most compelling reasons for using Ancestry.com:

1. Extensive Historical Records

Ancestry.com boasts billions of records, including birth, marriage, death, census, immigration, military, and more.

The platform provides access to records from numerous countries, making it easier to trace international family connections.

2. User-Friendly Interface

The website is easy to navigate, making it simple for users, even beginners, to start building their family trees and accessing historical data.

Step-by-step hints and suggestions help guide users in finding relevant information without feeling overwhelmed.

3. DNA Testing Services

DNA provides users with an ethnicity breakdown, offering insights into their genetic origins and heritage.

The service connects users with potential relatives based on shared DNA, helping to uncover extended family members and new branches of the family tree.

4. Family Tree Building Tools

The platform offers tools to create detailed family trees that can include photos, stories, and historical records.

Users can collaborate with family members to build and expand their family tree together.

5. Record Hints and Smart Matches

Ancestry.com suggests potential matches and relevant records for individuals in your family tree, simplifying the research process.

This feature helps users quickly discover new information and verify their research with confidence.

6. Educational Resources and Guidance

Ancestry.com offers tutorials, articles, and videos to help users become more proficient in genealogical research.

Users can join forums and groups to get advice and share discoveries with others interested in genealogy.

7. Integration with Historical Context

The platform provides background information on historical events and trends relevant to specific time periods, giving users a richer understanding of their ancestors’ lives.

Maps, old photographs, and newspaper clippings enhance the storytelling aspect of family history.

8. Mobile App Access

The Ancestry mobile app allows users to continue their research from anywhere, making it convenient to access records and update family trees.

Users can scan and upload family photos directly from their smartphones, preserving them digitally.

9. Preservation of Family Heritage

Ancestry.com allows users to compile and preserve their family stories, photos, and documents in one secure place for future generations.

Family trees can be shared with loved ones, ensuring that the collected history is passed down and enjoyed by the entire family.

10. Comprehensive Subscription Plans

Ancestry.com offers various subscription levels, allowing users to choose plans that fit their research needs and budget.

Higher-tier plans provide more extensive access to global records and databases.

11. Access to Original Documents

Users can view original documents and historical images, making the research experience more authentic and trustworthy.

Seeing the actual records can help verify details and provide deeper insights into family history.

12. Support for Adopted Individuals

Ancestry.com can be particularly helpful for those trying to find biological family members through DNA testing and shared matches.

The platform can aid in providing information that leads to emotional closure or a deeper understanding of personal heritage.

13. Continuous Updates and Expansions

Ancestry.com frequently updates its databases and adds new records, ensuring that users have access to the most comprehensive data possible.

The platform invests in improving its tools and features to enhance user experience and research capabilities.

14. Family Stories and Memoirs

Users can add stories and anecdotes about their relatives, keeping memories alive and connecting generations.

Through these stories, users can learn about family traditions, achievements, and challenges.

15. Trust and Reliability

Ancestry.com is one of the most reputable and widely used genealogy sites, trusted by millions of users for its thoroughness and reliability.

The platform places importance on user privacy and data security, giving users confidence in how their information is handled.

In summary, Ancestry.com provides a comprehensive and engaging way to explore and document family history. Whether for casual interest or deep research, it offers tools and resources that make genealogy accessible and fulfilling.

Tags : ancestry, family, family history, family name history, family search, Family Tree, free family history, Genealogy, genealogy search, my family tree, Photo Editing, photograph manipulation, Photograph restoring, the family tree, tracing family records, uk records

Featured on Sarah Beeny’s Life In The Country

Posted by Richard Haines on

9 November 2024

In Series 3 Episode 5 Sarah Beeny discovers many odd antiques and family heirlooms that have been passed down through generations and decides that the best way to use these findings in their new home is to transform their downstairs cloakroom into a Victorian cupboard of curiosities. That’s where Photographs Forever came in and we were asked to restore some of the deteriorating precious family photographs.

Here’s one as we received it, together with the restored version and below as it appeared actually in situ in the cloakroom.

New Life in the Country is a Channel 4 documentary series starring property expert and TV presenter Sarah Beeny and her family. The show follows Beeny, her husband Graham Swift, and their four sons as they embark on an ambitious project to build a sustainable new home and start a new chapter in the Somerset countryside.

The series documents the Beeny family’s move from London to rural Somerset, where they take on the challenge of building a modern, eco-friendly home on 220 acres of farmland. It captures the highs and lows of creating a new life in the countryside, from construction challenges to the family’s adaptation to a different lifestyle.

The show is a mix of property development, family life, and lifestyle change. It highlights themes of sustainability, self-sufficiency, and the rewards and difficulties of significant life changes.

Throughout the episodes, viewers see various stages of the home’s construction, interior design decisions, and landscaping projects. The show also delves into the family’s day-to-day life, interactions with the local community, and adjustments to country living.

The series has been well-received for its genuine depiction of family life and the beauty of the English countryside. Viewers appreciate Sarah Beeny’s relatable approach and openness about the challenges they face.

Sarah Beeny and Graham Swift’s project reflects their long-held dream of raising their children closer to nature and living a more grounded lifestyle. The documentary provides insights into the balancing act between professional ambition and family priorities.

Overall, New Life in the Country offers an engaging mix of home-building inspiration, personal storytelling, and picturesque rural life that appeals to fans of property shows and lifestyle documentaries.

Bespoke Projects Photo Framing Photo Restoration UNCATEGORISED

Photographs Forever on BBC ONE Morning Live 9.15am 11 November

Posted by Richard Haines on

16 November 2021

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.

NEWS UNCATEGORISED

Tags : 11 NOvember, BBC, BBC 1, BBC One, colourisation, family search, Family Tree, First World War Photo, Genealogy, Gethin Jones, history, Morning Live, Nigel Grace, photograph repair, Photograph Restoration, Remembrance Day, Richard Haines, Thursday 11 November 2021, tracing family records

What’s YOUR Most Important, Irreplaceable Possession?

Posted by Richard Haines on

23 December 2020

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.

NEWS UNCATEGORISED

Top Quality Framing For Your Restored Photograph

Posted by Richard Haines on

9 August 2020

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

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.

A representation of your own photo with dimensions added

Further details are available here

NEWS UNCATEGORISED

Tags : Abinger, Abinger Hammer, Addington, Addlestone, Albourne, Albury, Alfold, Alfriston, Allhallows, Allhallows On Sea, Amberley, ancestor, ancestry, Angmering, Ansty, Appledore, Ardingly, Arlington, Arundel, Ash, Ash Cum Ridley, Ashburnham Place, Ashford, Ashington, Ashtead, Ashurst, autobiography, autodotbiography, Aylesbury, Aylesford, Aylesham, Badshot, Bagshot, Balcombe, Banstead, Bapchild, Barcombe, Barham, Barnehurst, Barnham, Barnham Downs, Battle, bdm, Beare Green, Bearsted, Beckenham, Beckley, Beddington, Belmont, Belvedere, Benenden, Bepton, Betchworth, Bethersden, Bexhill, Bexhill On Hill, Bexley, Bexleyheath, Biddenden, Biggin Hill, Billingshurst, Birchington, Birling Gap, birth, birth marriage and death, birth records, Blackboys, Blackbrook, Blackwater, Bletchingley, bmd, bmd records, Bognor Regis, Bolney, Bookham, Borough Green, Bosham, Bossingham, Bough Beech, Boughton Lees, Boughton Monchelsea, Boyden Gate, Brabourne, Brabourne Lees, Bracklesham, Bracklesham Bay, Braley, Bramber, Brasted, Bredhurst, Brenchley, Brighton, Brighton & Hove, Broadstairs, Bromley, Brook, Brookland, Brookwood, Bucks Horn Oak, Burgess Hill, Burgh Heath, Burham, Burpham, Burwash, Bury, Camber, Camberley, Canterbury, Capel, Capel Le Ferne, Carshalton, Caterham, census, Chailey, Challock, Charing, Charlton, Charlwood, Chart Sutton, Chartham, Chartham atch, Chatham, Cheam, Chelsfield, Chertsey, Chessington, Chichester, Chiddingfold, Chiddingly, Chiddingstone, Chidham, Chilgrove, Chilham, Chillenden, Chilworth, Chipstead, Chislehurst, Chobham, Christmas Gifts, Christmas Photo Gift, Churt, city directory, Claygate, Cliffe, Cliftonville, Climping, Cobham, Coldharbour, Colgate, Compton, Cooden, Copsale, Copthorne, Coulsdon, county directory, court records, Cowbeech, Cowden, Cowfold, Cranbrook, Cranleigh, Crawley, Crayford, Crondall, Crowborough, Crowhurst, Croydon, Cuckfield, Cudham, damaged photograph, Danehill, Dargate, Dartford, Deal, death records, Deepcut, Densole, Detling, Ditchling, Dockenfield, Dorking, Dover, Downe, Downside, Duncton, Dungeness, Dunsfold, Dunton Green, Durrington, Dymchurch, Eartham, East Chittington, East Dean, East Grinstead, East Hoathly, East Horsley, East Lavant, East Molesey, East Peckham, Eastbourne, Eastchurch, Eastling, Eastry, Edenbridge, editing, Effingham, Egham, Elham, Elstead, Elsted, Emsworth, Englefield Green, Enton Green, Epsom, Eridge Green, Erith, Esher, Etchingham, Ewell, Ewhurst, Exceat, Eynsford, Eythorne, Fairlight, Fakenham, family, family history, family name history, family search, Family Tree, Farleigh, Farnham, Faversham, Fawkham, Felpham, Fernhurst, Ferring, Fetcham, find my family, Findon, Firle, Fishbourne, Fittleworth, fix photograph, Fletching, Folkestone, Fontwell, Ford, Fordcombe, Fordwich, Forest Green, Forest Row, Framfield, framing service, Frant, free family history, Frensham, Frimley, Frittenden, Fulking, Furner's Green, Gatwick, Gatwick Airport, Genealogy, genealogy search, ghost writer, gift of a lifetime, Gillingham, Godalming, Godstone, Gomshall, Goodnestone, Goodwood, Goudhurst, Graffham, Gravesend, Great Bookham, Greenhithe, Groombridge, Guildford, Hadlow, Hailsham, Halland, Halnaker, Halstead, Hambledon, Hampton, Hampton Court, Hampton Hill, Hampton Wick, Hamstreet, Harrietsham, Hartfield, Hartley, Hascombe, Haslemere, Hassocks, Hastingleigh, Hastings, Hawkenbury, Hawkhurst, Haywards Heath, Headcorn, Heathfield, Hellingly, Henfield, Herne Bay, Hernhill, Herons Ghyll, Hersham, Herstmonceux, Hever, Heyshott, Hickstead, Hildenborough, Hindhead, history, Hollingbourne, Hollowshore, Holmbury St Mary, Holtye, Hoo, Hookwood, Horam, Horley, Horsham, Horsley, Horsted Keynes, Houghton, Hove, how to write your autobiography, Hurst Green, Hurstpierpoint, Hythe, Ickham, Icklesham, Ide Hill, Iden, Iden Green, Ifield, Ightham, Isle Of Sheppey, Ivy Hatch, Jevington, Kennington, Keston, Kew, Kingsdown, Kingston, Kingston Upon Thames, Kingswood, Kirdford, Knaphill, Lamberhurst, Lancing, Langley, Langton Green, Lea, Leatherhead, Leeds, Leigh, Lenham, Lewes, Leysdown On Sea, life story, Lightwater, Limpsfield, Lindfield, Lingfield, Linton, Litlington, Little Bookham, Little Horsted, Littlebourne, Littlehampton, Littlestone, Lodsworth, Long Ditton, Lower Bourne, Lower Hardres, Luddesdowne, Lurgashall, Lydd, Lynsted, Maidstone, manipulation, Mannings Heath, Manston, Maplehurst, Marden, Margate, Markbeech, marriage records, Martin Mill, Matfield, Mayfield, Mayford, Maynards Green, memoirs, Meopham, Mickleham, Midhurst, Milford, Minster, Minster In Thanet, Minster On Sea, Mitcham, Morden, my family tree, Mytchett, New Addington, New Ash Green, New Malden, New Romney, Newdigate, Newhaven, Newick, Newnham, Norbury, Normans Bay, North Walsham, Northfleet, Northiam, Nutbourne, Nutfield, Nuthurst, Nyetimber, Oare, Ockley, Offham, Old Heathfield, Old Romney, On Sea, Orpington, Otford, Ottershaw, Oving, Oxshott, Oxted, Paddlesworth, Partridge Green, Patching, Peacehaven, Peaslake, Peasmarsh, Pembury, Penshurst, perfect gift, Petersham, Petham, Petworth, Pevensey, Pevensey Bay, photo, Photo Editing, Photo Gifts, photo repair, photo restoration service, Photo Retouching, Photo Transformation, photograph editing, photograph manipulation, photograph repair, Photograph Restoration, photograph restoration service, Photograph Retouching, Photographs Forever, picture framing, picture repair, Piddinghoe, Pirbright, Platt, Pluckley, Plumpton, Polegate, Portslade, Poynings, public records, Pulborough, Purley, Puttenham, Pyecombe, Queenborough, Rainham, Ramsgate, Redhill, reference, Reigate, repair my damaged photo, repair my damaged photograph, repair my old photographs, repair my photo, repair my photograph, restoration, restore my old photos, restored photograph framing, retouching, Richard Haines, Richmond, Richmond Upon Thames, Ridgewood, Ringmer, Ripley, Robertsbridge, Rochester, Rolvenden, Romney Marsh, Rottingdean, Rowhook, Rudgwick, Runnymede, Rushlake Green, Rusper, Rusthall, Rustington, Rye, Saltdean, Sanderstead, Sandhurst, Sandwich, Sarre, Sayers Common, Seaford, Seal, Sedlescombe, self publish, Selling, Selsey, Sevenoaks, Shackleford, Shamley Green, Sharpthorne, Shatterling, Sheerness, Shepperton, Shere, Shipbourne, Shipley, Shoreham, Shortlands, Shottermill, Sidcup, Sidlesham, Sinfold, Singleton, Sissinghurst, Sittingbourne, Slinfold, Smarden, Smarts Hill, Snargate, Snodland, Sompting, South Godstone, South Harting, Southborough, Southfleet, Southwick, special gift, Speldhurst, St Leonards, St Leonards On Sea, St Margaret's Bay, St Margarets At Cliffe, St Mary Cray, St Marys Bay, St Nicholas At Wade, Staines, Stalisfield Green, Stanford, Stansted, Staple, Staplecross, Staplehurst, Stedham, Steyning, Stone, Storrington, Stowting, Strood, Sunbury On Thames, Sunningdale, Surbiton, Sutton, Sutton At Hone, Sutton Green, Sutton Valence, Swanley, Swanscombe, Swingate, Tadworth, Tandridge, Tatsfield, Teddington, Tenterden, Teston, Teynham, Thames Ditton, the family tree, Thornton Heath, Three Leg Cross, Thurnham, Ticehurst, Tilford, Tillington, Tolworth, Tonbridge, tracing family records, Transform Your Photo, Trotton, Tudeley, Tunbridge Wells, Turners Hill, Twickenham, Uckfield, uk records, Ulcombe, Unique Gift, Unique Photo Gift, Upper Dicker, Upstreet, Virginia Water, vital records, Wadhurst, Walberton, Walderton, Waldron, Wallington, Walliswood, Walmer, Walton On Thames, Walton On The Hill, Warbleton, Warlingham, Warnham, Warninglid, Wartling, Washington, Welling, West Chiltington, West Clandon, West End, West Hoathly, West Horsley, West Kingsdown, West Malling, West Molesey, West Wittering, Westcott, Westerham, Westfield, Westgate On Sea, Westhumble, Weybridge, Whitstable, Wick, Willesborough, Wilmington, Winchelsea, Windlesham, Wineham, Wingham, Wisborough Green, Wisley, Withyham, Witley, Wivelsfield, Woking, Woldingham, Wonersh, Woodchurch, Worcester Park, Worplesdon, Worth, Worthing, Wotton, Wrecclesham, write your memoirs, Wrotham, Wrotham Heath, Wye, Yapton

Badly Damaged Photograph Restored

Posted by Richard Haines on

28 April 2020

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.”

NEWS UNCATEGORISED

Restoration of Photo of Deteriorating Oil Painting

Posted by Richard Haines on

8 February 2020

My customer John G had a photograph he had taken of an old oil painting of an early member of his family (centre photo above). The photograph he gave me was not very good quality itself and you can see by the close up of the face on the left that the surface of the painting was also very cracked and damaged.
On the right is the same section after I had digitally restored it.

NEWS UNCATEGORISED

Three Brothers Together at Last in One Photograph

Posted by Richard Haines on

2 October 2019

My customer John G wanted to get his grandfather with his two brothers together in a single photograph with a Scottish background.

Here are the three individual photographs and below the final result

Here’s the review John left for me on Yell.com

“Please accept my wonderful thanks for the restored colour job you did to the photo of my late grandfather and his two brothers.
You have done a very professional and absolutely stunning job. You are very talented at what you do.” John G

NEWS UNCATEGORISED

Framed Tribute to a Decorated Soldier

Posted by Richard Haines on

25 October 2018

I received an enquiry from Debbie Summers of Acorn Framing in Bognor Regis asking if I could restore a very poor computer print photograph of a soldier she has been asked to frame with the soldier’s medals as a tribute for their family history.

Here is the before and after

Debbie then suggested that her customer added a nameplate with the details and also a genuine cap badge to go into the frame too. This was agreed and Debbie supplied these.

Here is the finished article