PhotoWise Calgary

Category: Calgary Photo Preservation

Articles on the topic of Photo Preservation and Photo Restoration in Calgary, Alberta from the ‘Your Memories Matter’ blogpile of photos going to photowise to be organized and scanned

  • Cherishing The Memory Of Loved Ones You’ve Lost

    Cherishing The Memory Of Loved Ones You’ve Lost

    Throughout my life, I have cherished my cameras…

    I’d be willing to say that the camera is one of – if not the greatest – technological invention. Upon its creation, the camera began capturing our life moments, allowing us to hold on to our memories and learn about our ancestors in ways we never could before. They say “a picture is worth a thousand words” and that “the camera never lies” (Photoshop however….. 😉 ). These aren’t just whimsical idioms. They are true statements.

    In fact, I think it’s safe to say that they may even be understatements. Pictures, I’d submit, are worth a lot more than a thousand words. They preserve memories that enable us to recall stories and time periods of our lives that can last for hours. This is especially true when those stories are about our lost loved ones.

    Nothing feels worse that coping with the loss of a loved one.

    Although each and every one of us is guaranteed a life that will end at some point, this in itself does not lessen the pain. It hurts. We miss our grandparents, parents, friends, pets, and the many other relationships that effectively end when those individuals pass away. Naturally, we’ll always miss them and recall the happier times when they were here.

    However, it’s the pictures that contain their images that help us to truly hold on to their memories. Yes, they can initiate a bout with tears. But what would we do without those pictures? I truly cherish the photographs I’ve taken of the people and pets I’ve lost in my life. The pictures mean so much to me, as they represent various times in my life when I experienced such joy with the people I loved. Those moments are important. They deserve to be cherished forever.

    Cherish the memories of your lost loved ones with a professional photo book

    I feel that there’s no better way to cherish the memories of our lost loved ones than to construct Photo Books with their pictures.

    You may be wondering what makes a Photo Book any different than a photo album.  Let me begin by mentioning that a Photo Book can be compared to a coffee table book in that its pages are made up of the photographs themselves. They are high-quality, high-resolution printed pages of your photos that otherwise would experience a lot of wear and tear and other forms of deterioration throughout the years.  As opposed to heavy photo albums, people quite enjoy picking up a photobook and reminiscing over the photographs as they flip through the beautiful pages one by one.

    Photo albums don’t exactly help to prevent such deterioration.  In fact, in many cases, photo albums add to the diminishing quality of old photographs. When kept in dark and dusty places like closets and humid basements and garages, the pictures can endure degradation due to the environmental elements. Not to mention, when the photographs are handled, everything from finger smudges to the adhesive or plastic used in the photo albums can reduce their quality and increase the speed of their deterioration.

    Professional Photo Books help to preserve the quality of your precious photos for the long haul. Not to mention, they can be uniquely designed with text to tell a special version of your lost loved one’s life story. Photos are often arranged chronologically, but you always have the option of telling the story that you think best suits the person you’re commemorating.

    Please don’t hesitate to contact me today so that we can get started on a professional PhotoBook that perfectly preserves your cherished memories!

  • Preserving Your Family Legacy With Photo Restoration

    Preserving Your Family Legacy With Photo Restoration

    First off, I would like to wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year!

    Here’s hoping that you greatly enjoyed the holidays and were able to take lots of photos with your family members and friends. They will certainly make for many great memories!

    Preserving Your Family Legacy

    You are very likely looking forward to making new memories in the months to come.  With today’s smartphones doubling as digital cameras, those memories will be easier to hold on to than ever before. However…

    Do you find your memories of years past beginning to fade?

    Of course you do. It’s only natural. However, if I substituted the word “memories” with “photographs” in that question, it would likely provide the same answer. Both our memories and old photographs tend to fade over time. We can only remember so many vivid details. When it comes to old photographs, they can’t help but endure a mix of erosion, wear and tear and fading from age or poor storage. This is why I so highly recommend Photo Restoration.

    At PhotoWise, we offer custom digital photo restoration, retouching and enhancement to give new life to your old photos! We use a state-of-the-art scanning process that makes digital copies of your old and tattered photographs, saving them in very high resolutions. We then manually restore each photo using professional software.

    To tell you the truth, this requires a very skillful touch. It takes both precision and time to adequately restore an old photo, especially if it is in really bad shape. This process, by the way, presents no risks to your original photos. They will not be damaged any further than they already are. We care for your photos like they were our own.

    What are the major benefits of photo restoration?

    They undo seemingly permanent damage.  Old photos generally take quite the beatings. They get folded and bent. They get scratched and ripped. They get torn and sliced. Some even get burnt! Our Photo Restoration process helps to do away with those “blemishes” to bring old pictures back to states that appear as if they were recently taken. It’s quite the remarkable outcome. I truly enjoy the reactions I get when my customers see their old once-thought-to-be-unsalvageable pictures look brand new again.

    They help to preserve your family history.

    If you ask me, this is the biggest deal. The act of restoring photos is a lot more than saving old pictures. It keeps your family legacy alive. Most people believe that their family photos are their most prized possessions and list them as the number one thing they’d most want to save if their houses were burning down.

    Keep in mind that your restored photos are also saved digitally. Once your photos are restored, you can make as many copies of them as you wish. Digitally restored photos make incredible gifts for family members and friends.

    I believe that yesterday’s memories preserved with today’s technology provide tomorrow’s treasures. Please don’t hesitate to contact me today to learn more about the Photo Restoration services offered by PhotoWise!

  • How To Give New Life To Old Photographs

    How To Give New Life To Old Photographs

    How To Provide New Life To Old Memories

    Now that September is here, our children are about to embark on a new school year where more memories will be made. There’s a special feeling that comes with the first day of school each year – for both children and their parents. Parents can’t help but pull out the camera to capture those infectious smiles (and sometimes frowns) that appear on the faces of their children during this time of year.

    I gleefully imagine that, one day, they’ll be able to look back on the photos and share stories with their kids about the memories they made while in school. Of course, in the future, it will be a lot simpler for my kids to be able to preserve and share their photos than it was for me – because just about every picture taken these days is saved and backed up digitally. If you’re like me and you have a ton of old printed photos, know that there’s no better way to ensure their preservation than to have them digitized!

    Digitizing your photos protects them from being lost forever!

    Old Photos To Be Restored in Calgary

    Not only is it a good idea to scan your old photos so that they can be shared online (emailing them to family members who live abroad is a whole lot easier, faster, and cheaper than shipping a stack of photos in the mail), but photo scanning also helps to preserve memories that would otherwise deteriorate.

    Here’s hoping you never have to encounter a mishap that destroys your photos forever…

    “We never think it’s going to happen to us until – well – it happens to us,” comments Curtis Bisel on ScanYourEntireLife.com, “We build our homes with wood and run pipes in and around them so it only seems reasonable to expect a few of them here and there might catch on fire or get really wet. Your insurance might replace a lot of possessions, but it’s not going to bring back those albums full of paper prints.”

    Digitization can breathe new life into your old and damaged photos!

    Our dear ancestors deserve more than to have their precious photographs kept in storage – fading away all crumpled and torn. Luckily, modern technology has blessed us with a little something called digital photo restoration. It makes your old photos new again, our clients often say it’s ‘like magic’.

    “As soon as you digitize your vintage pictures, deterioration is arrested,” explains Frank Arnoth on SaveFamilyPhotos.com, “Perhaps more importantly, the digitized images can, in many cases, be brought back to their original glory with relative ease, if the changes have not been too great.”

    Before and After of Digital Photo Restoration Calgary
    Our Photo Restoration Service; Before and After
    Did you know that both Photo Scanning and Photo Restoration are specialties at PhotoWise?

    The before and after photo above is from my personal collection of ancestry photos. This precious little photo is only 2 inches big, cut on various angles, and was also folded, scratched and stained.  It was carried around this way for many years and traveled half way around the world before it reached it’s current home in my cherished collection.  I was determined to repair it and share it with my extended family – both as a digital image and published in my family heritage photo books.  Mission Accomplished!

    At PhotoWise we use a variety of professional high-resolution scanning machines and custom software applications to preserve and restore your precious photos.  Each photo is scanned by hand, checked for quality, and includes straightening, cropping, and basic image enhancement.  If your photo is damaged and needs more repair we will scan it and digitally restore it without affecting the original print.

    Please don’t hesitate to contact me today to find out how we can help organize, digitize and restore your family photos to bring new life to them and preserve your precious memories forever!

  • Photo Deterioration: What Can Be Done?

    Photo Deterioration: What Can Be Done?

    Protecting Your Precious Photos From Deteriorating

    Sunlight. It can be a photographer’s best friend and a photograph’s worst enemy. Sensibly, photographers like having their subjects well-lit and natural sunlight helps to make for bright and beautiful pictures. However, no photographer would ever like to have his or her developed photos spend time in the sun. The same sunshine that helped to provide the perfect lighting for photos is often a culprit in the dulling and deterioration of their prints.

    How do photos deteriorate over time?

    Sunlight is far from the only enemy of your precious photographs. Photo prints, as well as negatives, are created with the use of chemical dyes that are sensitive to light, humidity and changes in temperature. The chemicals used to create the images are subject to fading, turning yellow and even cracking when the photos are placed in direct sunlight. (side note: This is why we recommend only framing copies of photos – not the originals – to hang on your household walls!)

    Dust, dirt, even natural oil residue from our fingers when handling our prized photo collections can contribute to their deterioration. Therefore, it’s important to consider the ways in which we store our photos. We often use shoeboxes, bins and non-photosafe albums to house our pictures and then store them away in the downstairs closet, garage, basement or other out-of-sight locations.  We assume that these photos are stored away safely, but the truth is that our homes don’t always provide safe havens for old photos.

    Now that the summer is here, high humidity levels can wreak havoc on photos that are piled on top of each other in your hidden shoeboxes or inside “magnetic” sticky albums. The added moisture in the air causes the prints to stick together or to the album pages and the damage can be extensive if the quality of air in the home is also poor.  Also, if any little critters are creeping around your basement and getting into the storage spaces containing your photos, you might find pictures that have deteriorated at excelled rates! (The adhesive in those old albums is delicious to some bugs and rodents.)

    What can be done to protect your one-of-a-kind photos from deteriorating over time?

    One simple option is to utilize the wonderful technology of photo digitization. By digitizing your cherished photos, you have the added benefit of being able to digitally restore them! Scanned photos offer security through safe multi-location back up and assures them of long-lasting lives.

    What are the top reasons to have your photographs digitized?

    In addition to protecting your cherished memories from becoming faded scraps of paper, digitizing your photos is a great way to preserve memories in the event that you lose your original prints. We don’t often think about the possibilities of fire, flood or divorce but these are just a few of the circumstances that can cause families to lose their one-of-a-kind photos. Digitally restoring your old photo album pictures will ensure that they are protected from fading and other damage before it’s too late!

    photo deterioration caused by stack of thick photo albumsAs well, those old “magnetic” photo albums that require you to stick photos on adhesive-laden pages don’t protect the images – they destroy them. Will you allow me to give you just one piece of advice today that will instantly make your photos safer?  Remove your photos from those sticky albums immediately. If you find they are really stuck and begin to tear when you attempt to remove them – contact me for help!

    PhotoWise offers Photo & Document Scanning to help you organize, preserve and enjoy your cherished photo collection. We happily give families the peace of mind in knowing that their fondest memories will be preserved forever and ready to share with the next generation. Contact us to find out how we can protect your precious photos from deteriorating today!

  • Dear Empty Nesters, I Can Help You Downsize!

    Dear Empty Nesters, I Can Help You Downsize!

    Dear Empty Nesters, I Can Help You Downsize!

    Welcome to June! It’s a wondrous month for most kids, because it represents the last month of school. For so many parents, however, it’s a time of year when they fear how crazy their homes are about to get with the kids being in them more often. Needless to say, most parents have their hands full during the summertime. That is, of course, parents of school-aged children.

    Empty nesters have the complete opposite dilemma. Their kids are all grown up and have moved out of the house, leaving them to resume lives as couples. For many parents of adult children, the transition to living without kids is a tough one. Their homes were designed to house a much larger grouping of individuals than just the two of them alone. So what to do? Many, as you are likely aware, choose to downsize.

    What makes downsizing so difficult for empty nesters?

    Most people find that they have homes full of no-longer-needed items. In other words, clutter becomes a major issue. Clearing the clutter, therefore, becomes an intimidating task. Hans Wydler and Steve Wydler lead the Wydler Brothers real estate team in Washington, D.C. They are practically experts in the field of helping empty nesters de-clutter during their downsizing processes.Close up portrait of middle aged couple over white background

    “The first three things we tell empty-nesters to do to get their home ready for market is to de-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter,” they share in The Washington Post, “It’s amazing how many things one can accumulate over a lifetime. As we age, we also tend to hold onto things as they connect us with our past. We know first-hand. We lost our dad almost 20 years ago, and to this day, our mom still refuses to throw out any of his belongings.”

    What can help empty nesters let go of their belongings?

    A couple of months ago, I highlighted the importance of photo preservation in the PhotoWise Blog. In doing so, I pointed out that capturing images of our prized possessions is often a great (and even therapeutic) way to hold on to your cherished items. In fact, the photos can often serve as replacements of the items themselves.

    Interior designer, Kathia Emery agrees with this practice and lists it as an excellent method of overcoming the “emotional power our belongings have over us”.  As reported by Bridget A. Otto on OregonLive.com, Emery has advised many of her clients to “take photos of the things they can’t take with them — the things they might feel guilty about letting go, such as their grandfather’s chair or a family piano.”

    How can PhotoWise help empty nesters to downsize?

    One of the ways we’ve been able to help with downsizing is through our in-home Photo Organizing service.  I am happy to help you gather your photos from all of the albums, boxes, frames and nooks and crannies around your home and sort them into a nice organized and compact system.  From there we often scan these photos so that the whole family can enjoy them.

    Another option we offer to empty nesters downsizing is to create special photobooks with such titles as “Our Family Home”. In them we showcase photos that capture the various pieces of memorabilia, furniture and other belongings that used to reside in their older, much larger homes.  I had one client who took photos of each of his kid’s rooms – untouched – before they renovated so that there would always be photographic proof of how each room was personally decorated by each child before they left home.

    Dear empty nesters, let’s preserve those family keepsakes together!  Contact me today to learn more about how I can help you to downsize!

  • Why Is Photo Preservation So Important?

    Why Is Photo Preservation So Important?

    Why Is Photo Preservation So Important?

    How good are our memories, really? Yes, we can recall many different occasions that we’ve enjoyed throughout the years. As a result, we often tell stories as fun as the time Dad caught that huge fish at the lake or as heart-warming as the moment we fell in love with our significant others. Each time we tell these stories, however, they’re told in a slightly different way. That’s because our memories are only so good. As my mother always says “I have a good memory – but it’s short!”

    I’m such a big advocate for taking photos because there is no clearer way to recall the past than to capture it through images. I’ve long believed in the power of the camera, and, as a result, I spent a great deal of my childhood ensuring that I never left home without mine. I believe that preserving memories is an incredibly important facet of life and this is why preserving my photos – and helping others to do the same – is so important to me.person sorting photos on a table

    It helps you to hold on to precious memories.

    There are so many cherished moments in life that are remembered best because someone was there with a camera to capture the joy. Sometimes the mental images and memories of things in the past can become faded or mixed up in our minds. But, as the old saying goes, “the camera never lies”. Pictures can help you to recall special memories with pinpoint accuracy.

    Gretchen Rubin of The Huffington Post believes that photographs can act as a diary. “I’m always trying to figure out ways to keep hold of memories,” she writes, “My one-sentence journal, for instance. I try to use photographs to record the little moments that are so precious but also so easily forgotten. One thing I wish I could tell my younger self: take photos of everyday life, not special occasions; later, that’s what will be interesting to you.”

    It helps you to remember and relive cherished moments in time.

    We’re all guilty of holding on to certain possessions longer than necessary. Who among us didn’t have at least one of our stuffed animals still hanging around as we entered our thirties? Pictures also allow us to preserve the memories of particular items that we used to hold dear, and can often take the place of those cherished items themselves. Rubin points out that photos can often replace the things that are captured within the images.

    “After my friend’s beloved father died, she wanted to keep his enormous desk, as a memento-but she really didn’t have space for it,” she explains, “She took a photo of it, and then was able to let go of the desk. Strangely, too, a photograph of something can sometimes be more beautiful than the thing itself.”

    At PhotoWise, we’re dedicated to helping our clients preserve their photos because we know that it allows them to preserve their cherished memories. I would consider it an honour to help you organize your family photos so that they can be digitized and preserved in a way that will honour your memories for generations!

  • Shoeboxes Are For Storing Shoes, Not Photos

    Shoeboxes Are For Storing Shoes, Not Photos

    Shoeboxes Are For Storing Shoes, Not Photos

    I’m not exactly sure how the trend started – but shoeboxes are notoriously used to store old photos. Arguably, more popular than photo albums themselves, shoeboxes can be found in closets and basements all across Canada – filled with photographs. My own mother kept her small stash of old family photos in this way (until I found out about it… 😉 )

    Why is that? Who exactly told everyone that shoeboxes were ideal for photo storage? Although shoeboxes, based on their sizes and shapes, seem like convenient storage units for old pictures, they can be a photograph’s worst enemy.

    Why are shoeboxes poor choices for photo storage?

    First, it’s important to know that the chemicals inside the ‘cardboard’ material is dangerous to photographs.  Second let’s consider ventilation – Shoeboxes certainly don’t provide much of it. And when photos are cooped up in these rectangular prisons, they often become victim to moisture damage and mould growth. This is especially true if those shoeboxes are kept in dark, dingy basements where mould tends to find their homes. It’s important not to store photos in basements, attics or garages where temperatures and humidity fluctuate with the changing of each season.

    To be completely fair, I shouldn’t be blaming the shoebox for photo damage as much as I should be blaming the locations where shoeboxes are generally kept. As mentioned, these popular photo storage containers are most often stacked in areas of the home that make them susceptible to damage caused by temperature and humidity changes.

    “Keep in mind that shoe boxes are not water-resistant,” reminds LifeStorage.com, “Consider using them for organizing your photos, but storing them in a archival water-resistant container or in a place where you know they will never come in contact with water.”

    The site also points out that “an ideal container for storing printed pictures would have a sealed, water-resistant exterior, such as plastic, and soft but stiff dividers to separate prints on the inside.” Such a storage idea begs the question: How can you possibly enjoy your photos if they shoebox filled with old photosare locked up in sealed containers?

    I’m a firm believer that photos deserve a great deal more respect.

    Pictures are taken for a reason. The images capture special moments in the lives of the photographers and their loved ones, and because of that, should be showcased in ways that can help for family members and friends to relive those special memories. The shoebox storage approach only serves to bury those memories and deteriorate the quality of the prints. It’s a better idea to store your original photo collection in archival storage products AFTER having scanned them so that the photographs can be viewed and enjoyed – which was their intended purpose after all!

    In my opinion, a photograph is the ultimate way to capture and document the most important parts of our lives. What good are the photos if they are tucked away and kept out of sight? I founded PhotoWise, in part, because I know how overwhelming it can be for people to locate, sort and organize the countless photos they have stored in shoeboxes throughout their homes. It’s my mission to relieve my clients of that stress and I provide them with peace of mind – knowing that these disorganized and risky storing procedures can be corrected.

    Does it sound like you could use my help?

    Don’t hesitate to contact me to today to get the ball rolling on organizing all of your precious photos and doing away with the whole stuff-‘em-in-a-shoebox routine!