FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
We scan slides! They are saved as digital photos, and are saved to a USB so you can view them on a computer, TV, iPad etc. They can also be printed, made into a photo book, and more. We do a light dust removal to remove most of it, and can do light color touchup upon request. Scanning their slides is a wonderful gift idea for parents or grandparents that have not seen their slides in decades - or no longer have their projector!
We take privacy seriously. There is a lot of trust placed when you bring your family photos or home movies to be organized and digitized. We do not share information about your project and we do not ever give copies to others (even if they say they're family and have permission) - unless you have given us written permission. We have been trusted with deeply personal family memories and we take that seriously.
We have a few options. Some clients do this step themselves, so they can decide which photos are most important to scan (hint: the people pictures!). Some clients prefer that we do this step for them, but the investment is a little more. We are happy to do either, and this is part of our initial conversation as we begin your project.
In most cases, older photo albums are not "photo safe" and can destroy photos (especially the "sticky" or so-called magnetic albums. It's best to remove photos for scanning, and then store them in photo-safe boxes afterwards. However, there are exceptions which we would discuss at your initial consultation. Sometimes we also scan entire pages if there's a lot of writing in the albums, and sometimes we do that and then still remove the photos. Each project is very different.
Please be assured that I do not sit and watch any of your video tapes! They are private memories. What we do is start the tape, check audio and ensure the tapes is playing and not blank or damaged, and walk away. At the end, we generally trim any blank space and quickly scroll through the footage to ensure there are no long gaps or damage, and then save to your USB. We take privacy seriously and absolutely do not pay attention to your tapes. All transfers are done here at our shop, not sent away to strangers.
You're not alone! Many of us (myself included!) have collections of our own - and inherited - pictures, scrapbooks, baby books, photo albums, negatives, and old VHS or camcorder tapes. Some of us have also become keepers of older slides, 8mm and Super8 film reels, and other family keepsakes. We have tried & true methods to make it easier to get started, including some tips to save you money when preparing to bring things in to the shop for scanning or digitizing. Don't hesitate to call and book a consultation where you can ask questions, and we'll provide customized and personal advice before you start!