Photo Restoration FAQ

Yes, you can easily send us your photos for restoration online! At Photo Restoration Melbourne, we offer several convenient methods for you to upload your photos digitally, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free process. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Scan Your Photos: If you have access to a scanner, you can scan your photos yourself. For the best quality, we recommend scanning your photos at a minimum resolution of 1200dpi. Preferred formats are TIFF with no auto adjustments or JPEG with the same resolution and settings.

2. Use a Scanning Service: If you don’t have a scanner, you can use a scanning service such as Officeworks. Make sure to follow the same resolution and format guidelines for optimal results.

3. Upload Your Photos: Once your photos are scanned, you can upload them to our website using the contact us page. Alternatively, you can use cloud storage services like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or similar. Simply upload your scanned photos to your preferred cloud service and send us the link to download them.

4. Email Us the Link: After uploading your photos to a cloud storage service, email us the link to download the photos. Ensure that the link has the necessary permissions for us to access and download the files.

By sending your photos online, you can enjoy the convenience of having your cherished memories restored without leaving your home. Our team of experts will carefully handle your digital files and perform the necessary restorations to bring your photos back to life.

If you have any questions or need further assistance with the online photo submission process, please feel free to contact us. We’re here to help and ensure that your experience with Photo Restoration Melbourne is as seamless as possible.

Sending your photos to Photo Restoration Melbourne for restoration is easy and secure. Here are the options available:

Drop-Off: You can personally drop off your photos at our office. We welcome you to visit us and hand over your precious memories in person. This way, you can discuss your specific needs directly with our team.

Pick-Up and Drop-Off Service: For your convenience, we offer a pick-up and drop-off service. Our team can collect your photos from your location and return them once the restoration is complete. This service ensures that your photos are handled with care from start to finish.

Mail-In: You can also mail your photos, film slides, documents, and videos to us for restoration. When mailing photos, make sure to pack them securely to prevent any further damage. Use two hard surfaces like cardboard to sandwich single photos, or use a hardcover album for multiple photos. This helps ensure that your photos arrive safely.

Digital Upload: If you prefer to send your photos digitally, you can scan them yourself or get them scanned at Officeworks or a similar service. Preferred formats are TIFF at a minimum of 1200dpi with no auto adjustments, or JPEG at the same resolution. Once scanned, you can upload them to our website using the contact us page, or use cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, and send us the link to download the photos.

These options provide flexibility and convenience, ensuring your photos reach us safely and securely. If you have any questions about sending your photos, feel free to contact us for further assistance.

At Photo Restoration Melbourne, we specialise in restoring a wide variety of photo types, ensuring that your cherished memories are preserved for future generations. Here’s a look at the different types of photos we can restore:

1. Black and White Photos: These timeless photos often suffer from fading, discolouration, and physical damage over the years. We can restore their original contrast and detail, bringing them back to their former glory.

2. Sepia-Toned Photos: Sepia photos, known for their warm, brown tones, can also fade and deteriorate. Our restoration process can revive these unique photos, enhancing their tones and repairing any damage.

3. Colour Photos: Colour photographs from any era can experience fading, colour shifts, and other forms of deterioration. We can restore the original colours, correct any discolouration, and repair physical damage to make them look vibrant again.

4. Antique and Vintage Photos: Older photos, including those from the early 20th century and before, often face significant wear and tear. We specialise in restoring these valuable pieces of history, addressing issues such as fading, tears, and water damage.

5. Family Portraits: Family photos are precious keepsakes that capture important moments in time. Whether they’re formal portraits or candid shots, we can restore and enhance these images, ensuring they remain a part of your family’s legacy.

6. Wedding Photos: Wedding photos are irreplaceable memories of a special day. We can repair and enhance these photos, fixing any damage and ensuring the colours and details are as vivid as the day they were taken.

7. School Photos: From class photos to individual portraits, school photos often suffer from fading and physical damage. We can restore these important memories, preserving them for future enjoyment.

8. Historical Documents and Photos: Photos and documents of historical significance require careful handling and expert restoration. We specialise in preserving these items, ensuring their historical value is maintained.

9. Travel and Holiday Photos: Photos from your travels and holidays capture unforgettable experiences. We can restore these images, correcting any damage caused by time or environmental factors.

10. Military Photos: Photos of service members are important historical records. We restore these images with the respect and care they deserve, repairing any damage and enhancing their detail.

No matter the type of photo, our skilled team at Photo Restoration Melbourne is dedicated to delivering exceptional results. If you have any questions about our services or a specific type of photo you need restored, please contact us. We’re here to help you preserve your precious memories.

At Photo Restoration Melbourne, we strive to restore a wide range of photos, but there are certain limitations to what can be achieved. Here are some situations where restoration might be challenging or impossible:

1. Severely Damaged Photos: If a photo is extensively damaged, with large portions missing or completely destroyed, restoration may not be possible. While we can reconstruct minor missing areas, large gaps or irreparable damage might be beyond our capabilities.

2. Extremely Low-Quality Photos: Photos that are extremely low resolution or blurry may not provide enough detail for effective restoration. While we can enhance certain aspects, there’s a limit to how much detail can be recovered from a poor-quality image.

3. Photos with Irreversible Chemical Damage: Photos that have suffered from severe chemical damage, such as those affected by certain types of ink or photo development processes, may have irreversible deterioration that cannot be fully corrected.

4. Heavily Overexposed or Underexposed Photos: Photos that are significantly overexposed (too bright) or underexposed (too dark) may lack the necessary detail for effective restoration. While we can adjust brightness and contrast, there’s a limit to how much lost detail can be recovered.

5. Photos with Digital Artefacts: Digital photos that have been heavily compressed or suffer from digital artefacts (such as JPEG compression) may lose critical information. Restoration can improve some aspects, but the original quality loss might not be fully recoverable.

6. Photos with Legal Restrictions: We cannot restore photos that violate copyright laws or photos that you do not have the legal right to modify. Ensure that you own or have permission to restore the photos you submit to us.

7. Photos with Ethical Concerns: We reserve the right to refuse restoration of photos that contain inappropriate or offensive content. We maintain high ethical standards in the work we do and ensure all content restored is respectful and appropriate.

8. Photos in Poor Physical Condition for Scanning: Photos that are too brittle, fragile, or compromised to be safely scanned may pose a challenge. If a photo is at risk of further damage during scanning, we might not be able to proceed without risking further loss.

If you’re unsure whether your photo can be restored, we encourage you to contact us for a consultation. Our team at Photo Restoration Melbourne will carefully assess the condition of your photos and provide an honest evaluation of what can be achieved. We’re committed to delivering the best possible results and preserving your precious memories whenever possible.

Our Wide Range of Services

At Photo Restoration Melbourne, we offer a comprehensive suite of photo and video restoration services. From scanning and video conversion to editing, our expert team is here to help you preserve and enhance your cherished memories. For more details on each service, please refer to our service page.

Yes, at Photo Restoration Melbourne, we can restore photos from a variety of formats, including prints, negatives, and slides. No matter the medium, our skilled team uses advanced techniques to repair and enhance your images, ensuring they look their best. Whether you have old prints, film negatives, or slides, we can bring your memories back to life. If you have any specific questions about your photos, feel free to contact us for more information.

Yes, at Photo Restoration Melbourne, we offer a variety of restoration services beyond photos. Our expertise includes document restoration, video restoration, and scanning services for various formats. Whether you need to restore cherished documents, convert analogue videos to digital, or enhance your multimedia, we are here to help!

The time it takes to restore a photo at Photo Restoration Melbourne can vary depending on the extent of the damage and the complexity of the restoration required. Generally, standard restorations may take anywhere from a few days to a week. More complex projects, such as those involving extensive damage or intricate details, may take longer. We always strive to complete restorations as quickly as possible without compromising quality. For a more accurate timeframe, feel free to contact us with details about your specific photo restoration needs.

Yes, at Photo Restoration Melbourne, we do offer a next-day service for urgent photo restoration needs. However, this service is subject to availability and the extent of the restoration required. For more complex restorations, additional time may be necessary to ensure the highest quality results. If you need a fast turnaround, please contact us in advance to discuss your specific requirements and confirm availability.

If you scan your photos yourself and send them to us online, it doesn’t matter where you live around the world; we can restore your images from anywhere.

At Photo Restoration Melbourne, we proudly serve the Melbourne metropolitan area and surrounding regions. Whether you’re located in the city or the suburbs, we’re here to assist you with all your photo and video restoration needs. We also offer convenient mail-in services for customers outside our local area, so you can easily send us your photos, documents, or videos for restoration from anywhere in Australia. If you have any questions about our service areas, feel free to reach out!

Yes, at Photo Restoration Melbourne, we offer discounts for bulk orders and returning customers. We understand that many clients have multiple photos or projects they wish to restore, and we appreciate your loyalty. For details on our discount programs, please contact us directly, and we’ll be happy to discuss how we can provide you with the best value for your restoration needs.

The cost of restoring damaged photos at Photo Restoration Melbourne varies depending on the extent of the damage and the specific restoration techniques required. Here’s a breakdown of our starting prices:

• Basic restoration: from $35
• Standard photo restoration: from $85
• Advanced photo restoration: from $145
• Extreme restoration: from $240

Please note that these are guide prices, and to provide you with an accurate quote, we would need to see the photo first. For a more extensive list of pricing for all our services, you can visit our price list page. Feel free to contact us for more information!

Once your photos are restored at Photo Restoration Melbourne, you will receive them in the way that suits you best. If you’ve dropped off your photos, you can pick them up in person. Alternatively, we can mail your restored images back to you. For digital restorations, we will send the files via email or provide a download link for you to access your restored photos online. We’ll confirm your preferred method of delivery before finalising your restoration, ensuring you receive your cherished memories safely and conveniently.

To ensure your restored photos remain in excellent condition for years to come, here are some key recommendations:

1. Store in a Cool, Dry Place: Keep your photos away from direct sunlight, humidity, and extreme temperatures, as these conditions can cause fading and deterioration.

2. Use Acid-Free Materials: When storing your restored photos, use acid-free albums, boxes, or sleeves to prevent chemical reactions that can damage the prints over time.

3. Avoid Handling: Try to minimize handling of the photos. When you do need to touch them, ensure your hands are clean and dry, or use cotton gloves to avoid fingerprints and oils.

4. Digitise Your Photos: Consider scanning your restored photos to create digital copies. This way, you can preserve the images even if the physical copies become damaged.

5. Display Properly: If you want to display your restored photos, use UV-protective glass in frames to shield them from harmful light. Ensure they are hung away from direct sunlight.

6. Regular Checks: Periodically check the condition of your stored photos to catch any signs of deterioration early and take action if necessary.

By following these guidelines, you can help preserve your restored photos and keep your cherished memories safe for future generations.

At Photo Restoration Melbourne, we encourage you to share your preferences and specific requests during the restoration process. Whether you want certain areas enhanced, colours adjusted, or particular imperfections removed, we’re here to work with you to achieve your vision. Our team is committed to ensuring you are happy with the final result, so feel free to communicate any changes you would like. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we aim to create a restored photo that meets your expectations.