Photo scanning and restoration: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What photo scanning and restoration is

A photo restoration specialist scans prints and negatives at high resolution and repairs fading, scratches, tears and stains digitally, then delivers organized digital files. Families use the service to protect old photographs and make them easy to share, print and keep.

Signs you need it

  • Your family photographs are faded, yellowed or have color shifts that are getting worse
  • Prints have tears, creases, water damage or stains that you want repaired in the digital file
  • You have negatives or slides that you want scanned at high resolution for future prints
  • You want the photos organized by person, event or date, with clear file names
  • You are preparing a family album, a memorial or a gift and need the best possible digital copies

What the pro does

  • Review the photos and note their condition, size, format and any damage you want addressed
  • Handle the prints by their edges and separate any that are stuck or fragile
  • Scan each print or negative at the resolution you agreed on, with color and tone set to match the original
  • Repair damage in a copy of each file, leaving the original scan untouched
  • Check each restored file against the original so the repair matches what the photo should look like
  • Name, organize and deliver the files on the drive or cloud location you chose, with the originals returned to you

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The number of photos and whether they are prints, negatives, slides or albums
  • The amount of repair needed, such as light fading versus tears or missing areas
  • The scan resolution requested, since higher resolutions take longer and produce larger files
  • Whether color correction or only damage repair is included
  • How much organizing and naming work the set needs
  • Whether the photos must be delivered by a set date, such as for a family event

What a written quote should spell out

  • The number of photos and the scan resolution for each type
  • Which repairs are included, and which damage will only be scanned without repair
  • How the originals are handled and returned, and how they are packed
  • The file format, naming system and delivery method
  • Whether you get to review the restored versions before the final delivery

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Can I see before and after examples of photos like mine?
  • Will the original scans be kept as separate files from the repaired copies?
  • What resolution do you scan at, and what file sizes will I receive?
  • How do you handle photos that are fragile, stuck together or pasted into albums?
  • Will you return my originals, and how are they packed for shipping?
  • Can I review the repairs before you deliver the final files?

Red flags

  • Will not return your original photographs or does not say where they will be kept
  • Says damage can be removed completely without showing examples
  • Asks you to ship originals without insurance or tracking
  • Keeps copies of your family photos without a clear agreement on storage and deletion

What you can do yourself

You can scan prints at a moderate resolution on a flatbed scanner, keep the originals in a safe place and organize files into folders by year and event. Hire a restoration specialist for tears, water damage, heavy fading or photos you cannot risk handling, and when you want high resolution scans of negatives or slides.

Licenses and permits

No license is usually required for photo scanning or restoration. Ask instead for before and after samples of similar damage, references from past clients and a clear policy on handling originals and storing copies; check with your state or local business licensing office if the specialist operates as a registered business.

Photo scanning and restoration questions

Will the restored photo look exactly like the original?

It will look like the photo should have looked, not like the damaged print. Repairs are made to a copy, and you should review them before accepting the final files.

Should I scan my negatives or my prints?

Negatives usually give more detail and a sharper digital file than a print scan. If you have both, ask the specialist to scan both and compare.

How do I keep my photos safe after delivery?

Keep at least two copies, one on a drive and one in cloud storage, and check the files every year to confirm they still open.

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