Is there money in photo restoration?

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/13/2009 10:15:24 PM · #1

Iâ��ve been restoring photographs for people for some time. So far I have not been charging a fee because it has been a hobby and I enjoy it. I posted this thread today about my wife loosing her job so we need to supplement our income until things get better.

I have very little funds to invest in a web host so I would have to find a very cheap but reliable company. And I would have to research a few other things such as pricing and printing and things like that.

The good side is that I have the hardware needed to take on such a task and the attitude that our situation will not get me down. I have a good computer, great scanner and photo printer, and backup drives.

I would like to here your opinion (pros and/or cons) on the idea of photo restoration as a way of making money.

Thanks in advance,
Scott

I check back in a few. I have a few things to do right now. Thanks!

UPDATE:
If you have time could you critique this restored photograph.
Also on a scale of 1-5 what would you consider the degree of difficulty. The different degrees of difficulty determine the base price for service.
Thanks,
Scott

Message edited by author 2009-05-27 19:19:57.

kaiser_chief

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D

05/13/2009 10:32:03 PM · #2

I have a mate that does some as part of his photography business. I find that for the money he charges, and the time he spends, it is barely worth it. It really depends on how much time you have to spare to spend on this. You know yourself how long you spend doing each photo, and therefore based on that need to work out what you would charge. Ask yourself if people would pay that..........Some will.......Some won't

I don't know your area, but a way to get free publicity could be to Restore a Sporting Club/Community groups photo, and then have the local paper run an article on it with the details. Therefore you get a wide local exposure to the local market. A webpage probably won't bring you much for this, and there isn't the spare money for a lot of advertising either........

Good Luck

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/13/2009 11:04:05 PM · #3

Originally posted by kaiser_chief:

I have a mate that does some as part of his photography business. I find that for the money he charges, and the time he spends, it is barely worth it.

I'm in a similar situation, and might consider doing this -- can you divulge approximately what these too-low charges are, and in what region he's located?

fldave

Pentax K5II

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

05/13/2009 11:11:24 PM · #4

Two relatives of mine had photos restored (before I was Photoshop literate) and paid $80 or more from a local camera shop. Here is a company with similar pricing... lots more online.

kaiser_chief

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5D

05/13/2009 11:11:25 PM · #5

Region, the other side of the world to You..............Australia.......

Charges.....varies a lot depending on a lot of things. Technically, I think it is meant to be $A50 an hour (but he has never charged close to that. I feel $A50 would be reasonable). He often just adds an extra $10 onto the cost of the print, and when he has spent a heap of time on it, it doesn't really pay.......

In my opinion, photo restoration is for the large photo you want on the Wall, of someone very special, that you are willing to pay good maney for......

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/14/2009 12:20:38 AM · #6

Thanks for everyone's input.
Scott

ShutterPug

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/14/2009 12:29:07 AM · #7

Ya know Scott, I am sure you could make money at it, but I have no idea how much. I have only done restoration for for free - the Katrina project mainly. I just contacted the Tribal Chief and offered free restorations for people in Eagle, Alaska. Their entire village was destroyed this past week as the weather warmed up way too fast, causing ice jams in the rivers and major flooding that wiped out the place. People are just now getting to go in and see what they can salvage. Could I charge a fee? Probably. But one I am not a professional, and two for me it is something I enjoy doing as a gift from the heart.

Sorry to hear of your wife losing her job. I will continue to keep your family in my thoughts as you have been over the past year.

love

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

05/14/2009 01:13:33 AM · #8

One of the local well-respected camera shop in town (Austin, Texas, USA) pays a contractor (not me unfortunately) $75 per hour to do restoration and correction on customer's photos.

Message edited by author 2009-05-14 01:14:44.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/16/2009 09:55:56 PM · #9

Well it may work out. I have not set up a website but using "word of mouth" and I have done three restorations. One person wanted a small 2-1/2 x 3-1/2 blown up to a 5x7; it came out great. I charged a base price of $30 per/ photo, so $90 was not bad for less than 2 hours of work.

Keeping fingers crossed

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/17/2009 05:12:28 AM · #10

I think there is limited scope for this kind of service, however with targeted advertising I daresay you could quite easily earn a certain amount of cash for your lens fund - I doubt you could make a living from it, but definitely some `pin money`.

Now you have to work out where you would have the highest concentration of your prime customers so any paid advertising gives you the best return for your money - so, which group do you think would benefit from your skillset and require photo restoration work?

I definitely think sub-contracting to local photographers would be a good start, then maybe look at shops that offer framing services and pitch your idea at them. Make sure you have your very best work available to show them - spend a bit on your promotional materials so they make people say "WOW!" - first impressions really do last.

Once you get a good name for yourself then start to maybe look at other ways you can get your name out there - how about craft fairs? Lots of older people there and if you could do demonstrations with you working your mojo on a nice big flatscreen - show them the whole process from scanning in a photo, fixing it in Photoshop then printing out the finished product, then that will really impress them.

The thing is it will only ever be a modern day `cottage industry` but if you put some effort into it then yes, I reckon you could make a few bob out of it.

Edit - just thinking a bit bigger, how about approaching any local governments, town councils etc - and see if they have any old archives of photos that could do with some restoration work - small civic museums showing the history of local areas - they all may have potential work for you - do some freebies then negotiate. This could easily lead onto bigger and better things if they show off some of the old photos in a local paper - I saw something like this in our local paper a few years back.. It may not happen, but what have you got to lose.

Message edited by author 2009-05-17 05:26:12.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

05/17/2009 08:13:53 AM · #11

Simms is spot on with his targeted advertising - another avenue might be local Geneaology groups - most people tracing family trees are a) going to want photos as part of the family history if they can get them, and b) these photos by definition are going to be old, possibly damaged, and certainly not digital.

That might be a community worth contacting to offer your help - see how it goes.

edit for typos

Message edited by author 2009-05-17 09:10:59.

Simms

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

05/17/2009 08:43:11 AM · #12

Originally posted by Jedusi:

Simms is spot on with his targeted advertising - another avenue might be local Geneaology groups - most people tracing fmaily trees are a) going to want photos as part of the family history if they can get them, and b) these photo's by definition are going to old, possibly damaged and certainly not digital.

That might be a community worth contacting to offer your help - see how it goes.

Wow.. great idea.

Prof_Fate

05/17/2009 12:12:15 PM · #13

websites are free.
If you have internet access you almost certainly have webspace as part of your deal.
netobjects fusion has a free HTML/WHYSIWYG w/ templates for websites - very easy to use.

If you spend about $15 with GoDaddy you can buy a domain name and redirect it to your location you got from your webservice company.

As you charge money you have to pay taxes on the income. You also have expenses - computer, software, the website, office space, etc and these costs can be deducted from the income so you only pay tax on the difference. If you know nothing about this aspect of running a business you'll need to learn. Yes, it will cost money but not declaring the income, or not getting all your deductions will also cost you money.

There is an ad in today's sunday paper here for an outfit that does photo restoration so I assume there's money to be made in it.
What to charge is up to you, but $65/hour is about the going rate around here for for photoshop work.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/17/2009 02:41:36 PM · #14

Thanks

Simms,

Jedusi, and

Prof_Fate for the in depth info. Great advice and direction.

Scott

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/24/2009 11:03:04 PM · #15

So far no complaints or disappointed clients. :)
Here a side-by-side comparison of one I worked on today. Damage level was only a 2 out of 5 (on my scale) so it didn't take long.

What do you think? Feed back needed. Thanks in advance.

rob_smith

Nikon D300

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

05/24/2009 11:31:37 PM · #16

Great job!

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/25/2009 01:59:10 AM · #17

Thanks for the comments

05/25/2009 06:12:54 AM · #18

looking good Scott - so how did you come about the pictures ?

Is it word of mouth or are you advertising ?

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/25/2009 09:20:28 AM · #19

Originally posted by Jedusi:

looking good Scott - so how did you come about the pictures ?

Is it word of mouth or are you advertising ?

So far I have been getting my clients by word of mouth. I haven't set up a website yet but I have made up some basic brochures. When a client wants a photo or photos restored I show them a brochure with examples and pricing. When I complete their order I give them a 10% off coupon good for there next order. I also give them a 10% off coupon to give a friend or relative good toward their first order.

Currently I'm in negotiations with a club (can't say the name of the club) but it's like a VFW club with older people that have old photographs. I hope we are able to come to an agreement so I can provide service for them.

For now that's the way I have been advertising.

Message edited by author 2009-05-25 09:25:42.

05/25/2009 09:46:10 AM · #20

Sounds really positive - now just remember to make money as well as doing the work :- )

And hey - who needs a website if you can get enough work in locally.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

05/25/2009 11:18:46 AM · #21

Hey Scott - did you see this tip from another thread ?
Link

Apple iPhone 5

05/25/2009 11:31:59 AM · #22

Originally posted by SDW:

What do you think? Feed back needed. Thanks in advance.

I'm often undecided on whether to leave a sepia photo as sepia, or change it to greyscale. Greyscale looks cleaner and is easier to print, but sepia reflects the original feeling and era of the photo.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

05/25/2009 11:50:31 AM · #23

Originally posted by JH:

Originally posted by SDW:
What do you think? Feed back needed. Thanks in advance.

I'm often undecided on whether to leave a sepia photo as sepia, or change it to greyscale. Greyscale looks cleaner and is easier to print, but sepia reflects the original feeling and era of the photo.

That's an option I'd leave to the client; it's not that hard to prepare both versions, or show previous samples. Sometimes photos are toned in the other direction, towards a bluish-black; I think this was done with a selenium solution.

I think often that look is not from actual sepia-toning, but from a fading of the original dyes/pigments and a yellowing of the paper. It might be hard to tell what the photo looked like back when it was first printed.

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

05/25/2009 05:12:38 PM · #24

Originally posted by Jedusi:

Hey Scott - did you see this tip from another thread ?
Link

Thanks for the link. Helpful!