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photo restoration services.
- Thread starter richard121383
- Start date
Marlene DeGrood
Leading Member
Hello Bob and Thankyou,
Gouging by anyone for any product or service is a legal crime (excuse the oxymoran). I've been successfully self-employed for 27 years. I certainly didn't stay in the business by over pricing or doing shoddy work. I'm very fair priced and most professional photographers charge more than I do for what I do. However, what I do is unique and it appears to be easy, fun and glamorous to some.........believe me.......if another professional photographer knew he/she could do as good a job as I do for cheaper, they would be bidding on my jobs. However, that's never happened......by a pro.......only by the amateurs because they don't have the experience to know what's truely involved to put out the quality product in the strictest of time frames. The business of photography is a far cry from the hobby of photography. Being able to take great pictures when your shooting for hobby, with all the time in the world and your personal choice of subjects vs. working under very stressfull situations with exacting demands and extremely long work hours.......sometimes days without sleep......are two entirely different types of photography.
There's a very old saying "walk a mile in my shoes".
Thanks again for your kind words and input,
Marlene
http://www.thedigitalspectrum.com
Dan Barham
Forum Enthusiast
Really well-said Richard! Bravo!
You made some valid points and you did it like a gentleman and a professional.
I'm an amateur photographer who doesn't take pro quality photos but I do take a lot of them. I also do a lot of image repairs in pursuit of my ancestors. After a couple years of modifying some pretty horrible antique photos I feel that I can handle just about any problem.
If I thought I could sell that skill to someone who was willing to pay me for the service I'd have no problem doing it. I would not feel ashamed that I was taking food from the mouths of working professionals, nor would I feel that I was shortchanging the "customer". I photographed my brother's wedding (no charge, of course) and I did not fret over the fact that a professional wedding photographer was not going to eat that night. I've installed several sound systems over the years (definitely a charge), far less expensively than professional installers, and I never worried about any pro's lost revenues.
I hope that this is not taken the wrong way. Just my opinion. Of course, I could be wrong.
By the way. The opening post just couldn't help drawing some very abusive responses and name-calling. Amazing how some people can take a seemingly innocent question and find a reason to attack.
Dan
You made some valid points and you did it like a gentleman and a professional.
I'm an amateur photographer who doesn't take pro quality photos but I do take a lot of them. I also do a lot of image repairs in pursuit of my ancestors. After a couple years of modifying some pretty horrible antique photos I feel that I can handle just about any problem.
If I thought I could sell that skill to someone who was willing to pay me for the service I'd have no problem doing it. I would not feel ashamed that I was taking food from the mouths of working professionals, nor would I feel that I was shortchanging the "customer". I photographed my brother's wedding (no charge, of course) and I did not fret over the fact that a professional wedding photographer was not going to eat that night. I've installed several sound systems over the years (definitely a charge), far less expensively than professional installers, and I never worried about any pro's lost revenues.
I hope that this is not taken the wrong way. Just my opinion. Of course, I could be wrong.
By the way. The opening post just couldn't help drawing some very abusive responses and name-calling. Amazing how some people can take a seemingly innocent question and find a reason to attack.
Dan
mook jackson
Forum Enthusiast
I was under the impression that both Epson 2200 and 2100 use
the same Ultrachrome ink. What am I missing here?
Mook
Dave Jaseck
Veteran Member
There will always be someone better than you, and conversely, you are also better than many others, so I don't know where the standard is if there is one! I believe there is a market out there for photorestoration, but as Claus and I discussed once, it difficult to tap into. There is a Express Photo down the street from me, that claims to do restoration and retouch, but I know for a fact that they are very inexperienced but because they have a store, they attract people that need this kind of work done and it is not done very well there. Very different to find your customers if you have an in-home office (which I have worked out of for over 18 years) without an outlay of alot of advertising dollars that I am not sure you can recoup it. For me it has been pocket money, but if someone has some suggestions for generating work, I'm all ears. The first job I did was "The Guys" for $50. Have no idea how much time it took, but was a great learning experience...Dave Check it out here: http://www.pbase.com/davidjaseck/photorestorations
cadmandew
Veteran Member
Gcam
I think you kinda missed my point on the golfing. This is what I mean. A Professional golfer cannot compete in this years tour(no matter how talented he or she may be) playing with equipment from two years ago. Titleist revolutionalized the game with thier pro-v ball. One now hits wedge to the green instead of a 6 iron. When Professionals paint or blow smoke in your face they are hiding something. Its takes me a total of 3 secs to lasso a blemish move the mouse right then left and viola the blemish is gone. Thanks to the photoshop 7 patch tool. I can give you a list of things that takes seconds or minutes.( even using alpha channels for differcult extractions.) As an Amature if I think theres money to be made in restoration and can charge money for it God Bless me. I could always use pocket money. Im a Mechanical Engineer..LOL I really dont look over my shoulder at whos graduating from college this year. Yanno because I try to keep up on the lastest technology. I have no fear at all. My work comes from the bidding process anyway soooooooooo lowest price gets da job. Can you imagine the companys I have to bid against. The DEMONS that the professionals fear here shouldnt be the amature or hobbist making a few extra bucks. Its Adobe, Plugin Manufacturers, Book writers, Tutorials, Actions and Advice that you get from this forum. These instruments are all making restoration a easier process. A professionals long hard hours are becoming a Amatures one click of the mouse. BTW photoshop 8 is coming out in the fall ....damn Adobe
I think you kinda missed my point on the golfing. This is what I mean. A Professional golfer cannot compete in this years tour(no matter how talented he or she may be) playing with equipment from two years ago. Titleist revolutionalized the game with thier pro-v ball. One now hits wedge to the green instead of a 6 iron. When Professionals paint or blow smoke in your face they are hiding something. Its takes me a total of 3 secs to lasso a blemish move the mouse right then left and viola the blemish is gone. Thanks to the photoshop 7 patch tool. I can give you a list of things that takes seconds or minutes.( even using alpha channels for differcult extractions.) As an Amature if I think theres money to be made in restoration and can charge money for it God Bless me. I could always use pocket money. Im a Mechanical Engineer..LOL I really dont look over my shoulder at whos graduating from college this year. Yanno because I try to keep up on the lastest technology. I have no fear at all. My work comes from the bidding process anyway soooooooooo lowest price gets da job. Can you imagine the companys I have to bid against. The DEMONS that the professionals fear here shouldnt be the amature or hobbist making a few extra bucks. Its Adobe, Plugin Manufacturers, Book writers, Tutorials, Actions and Advice that you get from this forum. These instruments are all making restoration a easier process. A professionals long hard hours are becoming a Amatures one click of the mouse. BTW photoshop 8 is coming out in the fall ....damn Adobe
GCam
Veteran Member
that photoshop has made a few amateurs into at least semi-professional restoration artists, and the technology just keeps coming in waves making it difficult for some to swim. Regarding golf, I was just tugging on the chain. And there is a ball almost the equivalent in performance made by Dunlop, the cost of which is $16.00 for ten of them. As far as the sticks, it is still the fiddler not the fiddle as Harvey Penick said. good shooting and good bidding. gc
cadmandew wrote:
cadmandew wrote:
cadmandew
Veteran Member
ROFL GCam ....I wish Adobe could teach me the game of golf. I read and practice alot but still never seem to get better. But i try.
Cadmandew
Cadmandew
Cricketb
Veteran Member
The DEMONS that the professionals fear here
Cricket
--
WWW.Casmaran.com
They ARE afraid of that. A little while ago on this forum one of the "pros" was complaining because we write tutorials that teaches just anyone how to do techniques that it had taken him years to master.
hehehe!
Cricket
--
WWW.Casmaran.com
GCam
Veteran Member
Again, you're right. I have learned much from the various forums and I have been amazed at the technical expertise of amateur and pro alike. I have spent the last 49 years in photography, retired last from wholesale photofinishing, gave away all my film cameras two years ago, went digital and never looked back. The best part is that shared knowledge makes all of us better. Thanks for responding. gc
They ARE afraid of that. A little while ago on this forum one of
the "pros" was complaining because we write tutorials that teaches
just anyone how to do techniques that it had taken him years to
master.
hehehe!
Cricket
--
WWW.Casmaran.com
Tricia
Veteran Member
I believe that the recommendation for the 2100 was because Richard's profile says that he lives in the United Kingdom...ergo, European version.
--
Tricia
Minolta Dimage D7(UG), Epson 2200, PS7, Qimage Pro
You know it's not the folks out there doing lousy work out there that are the problem for the pro. It,s the client that cant tell a good job from a bad job that hurts any profession. This being said there's always work out there that can be had by those still in the learning curve. endeavor to persevere
N Martin
Well-known member
I have to agree here - I have been restoring photos for over 3 years now and making money. I was lucky that my brother needed a person to do restoration from sales he's developed. The guy he was using was useless and overcharged. So I started from scratch, researched commercial grade imaging gear and worked hard. My brother only accepted top quality. If the job wasn't right I'd redo it - then get paid!
15 months ago I started advertising in a free local paper. Just this week I picked up $1000 worth of work and this is just the tip of the iceberge. Every person I see I tell them a restored photo shouldn't look like it's been touched up - only the customer should know the difference. Showing them a recently worked image on a large 21 inch monitor and sundry pro gear always impresses. I have had to fix up jobs done badly by other people. Anyway I've done well over 1800 jobs so I'm confident of my skills. Don't expect to get much work off the net - my main clients are people who have no PC and just read the local paper. It's amazing when you have someone come in with 6-7 photos, quote $300(NZ) to fix and they don't bat an eyelid! Easy money for 4-5 hrs work. But remember you have to be confident you are the best!
Neal Martin
John Harrison82293
Veteran Member
I have seen the work of some of the local professionals in weddings etc. Except for a few most live on their names not their work. I recently had a lady complain to me about paying 3000 for wedding photos that really stunk and that was her opinion. I wouldn't touch a wedding but I have done some outdoor portraits with touch up work. The customers loved it and most wouldn't have gone to a pro and spent a lot of money to begin with. I have played in photoshop for about 9 years and learn only what I need to know to get the job done that I desire. My work keeps improving and I would never take work from a "pro" because most of my customers wouldn't go that route anyway. It should also keep some of the so called pro on the toes.
John R>
John R>
Doug MacMillan
Veteran Member
This is sort of O.T. but I wanted to share an actual experience a friend of mine had.
A lady brought to his studio a 5x7 candid that had been taken in a wedding reception. She said: "I understand that you can 'pull' people out of a photo like this and put them in front of a studio type background to make a formal portrait. This is my aunt Helen, who died a month ago, and this is the only photo of her that we can find. She was very sweet to me and I'l like a nice 8x10 portrait of her to remember her by. Please remove her from this photo and make it a portrait. Also, have your technicians turn her around so we can see her face."
It really happened.
Doug
A lady brought to his studio a 5x7 candid that had been taken in a wedding reception. She said: "I understand that you can 'pull' people out of a photo like this and put them in front of a studio type background to make a formal portrait. This is my aunt Helen, who died a month ago, and this is the only photo of her that we can find. She was very sweet to me and I'l like a nice 8x10 portrait of her to remember her by. Please remove her from this photo and make it a portrait. Also, have your technicians turn her around so we can see her face."
It really happened.
Doug
Darryl Cox
Well-known member
You know when you do a good job or not. If you do work that makes the customer happy for the price do it.
There are 'pros' out there that will discourage the 'amature' from getting in on the market but that is life....compitition.
Do good work, diliver it on time, charge fair prices and promise there will be no cost to the customer if they do not like the results. This, I have found in 40 years of doing such work, is the magic formula.
There are people out there who do not know how to use a computer and do not want to know. You are providing a service restoring their family treasures. So go fo it!
--
Darryl Cox
There are 'pros' out there that will discourage the 'amature' from getting in on the market but that is life....compitition.
Do good work, diliver it on time, charge fair prices and promise there will be no cost to the customer if they do not like the results. This, I have found in 40 years of doing such work, is the magic formula.
There are people out there who do not know how to use a computer and do not want to know. You are providing a service restoring their family treasures. So go fo it!
--
Darryl Cox
Robert Rains2
Forum Enthusiast
WOW Bart you said a mouth full.
Really like youe website. Great photographs. If you keep that stuff up you may become a professional photographer. You know some photographers become professionals by their education, seminars and generally sacrificing time to study the art of being one. It sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder but you are also aspiring to be a professional.
I say go for it, but drop the attiude. Think of it, your art being printed on an 8x10 sheet of paper being worth $100. Cool stuff to think your work is that good. Remember anybody can take a picture, but only a few take master pieces. Many professional started out part time and relized they loved it. Then they got the crazy idea they could make money at it. Then they opened up their first studio...... Lift is so short. Let us not fight over who should or shouldn't be.... Let's all just go do be it amateur or pro. There are thousands of photographs waiting to be retouched and thousands of portraits waiting to be taken, we all have alot of work to do, so let's go do it.
Robert
http://www.ifp2001.com
Really like youe website. Great photographs. If you keep that stuff up you may become a professional photographer.
You know some photographers become professionals by their education, seminars and generally sacrificing time to study the art of being one. It sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder but you are also aspiring to be a professional.I say go for it, but drop the attiude. Think of it, your art being printed on an 8x10 sheet of paper being worth $100. Cool stuff to think your work is that good. Remember anybody can take a picture, but only a few take master pieces. Many professional started out part time and relized they loved it. Then they got the crazy idea they could make money at it. Then they opened up their first studio...... Lift is so short. Let us not fight over who should or shouldn't be.... Let's all just go do be it amateur or pro. There are thousands of photographs waiting to be retouched and thousands of portraits waiting to be taken, we all have alot of work to do, so let's go do it.
Robert
http://www.ifp2001.com
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