Fun with FILM Photography!

Fun with FILM Photography! Trust your local professional lab (that’s us) for film processing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CAMERAS:

The new generation of film photographers are using disposable cameras, SLRs inherited from relatives and newly purchased used models. There is very little in the way of new film cameras being manufactured or innovated, so we are left with almost a “complete” range to choose from. There will be nothing new to look forward to, so the concentration moves from gear to simply producing the best work with that gear as you can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE IMAGES:

Film images are known for having their own “look”. Photographers are embracing the diversity of what a particular film can offer depending on the way it is shot, developed, and printed — it’s far beyond the recommended ISO or development chemicals. Many of the factors involved in exposing, developing, and printing are subjective when compared to certain digital manipulation techniques, including most Photoshop uses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRUST YOUR LOCAL PRO LAB:

The new photo consumers not only want prints, but they also want their files delivered on digital media AND stored in the cloud. There are lots of processing options for today’s film photographer! Your local photo lab (that’s us) is the perfect destination to learn and experiment with your photography. Not to mention, you’ll have confidence in knowing your film is developed in an authentic lab environment.

DEVELOPING THE FILM:

We love film photography – in fact, it’s where we got our start! When we process a roll of film, each and every negative, slide and film strip is individually analyzed to optimize color, density and sharpness. We even look for and remove dust and debris before printing or scanning. Our experienced production team personally inspects every photo for quality so your prints from film will last a lifetime and beyond. In fact, our archival quality papers will last at least 80 years without fading and discoloration.

IMPROVING YOUR SKILLS:

Film photographers are hungry for knowledge and love stopping in to chat with our team. We’ll help you understand your equipment, expand your skillset and experiment with various processing methods.

 

What Happened to my film? Troubleshooting Tips.

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FILM?
You asked, and we found the answers. We’ve assembled this list of common film photography problems and solutions to help you take better pictures. Enjoy!

BLANK FILM
If a roll is not loaded correctly or does not transport through the camera, it will be blank. A broken shutter can also lead to blank film. Be sure to use correct loading techniques for manual wind cameras.

OLD FADED FILM
Storage conditions play a large part in the life of the exposed film, as well as the original processing. Store film in a waterproof bin, away from excessive sunlight, damp locations, or in a basement.

 

X-RAY EFFECTS ON FILM
A single airport x-ray won’t cause noticeable damage, but multiple trips can fog your film. When traveling, keep your film in your carry-on bag in a clear, plastic zip-lock bag and ask for hand inspection.
WRONG FLASH SETTING
The wrong setting can lead to part of the photo being lighter than the other part. Your camera will have one shutter speed that is a different color from the others. Use that speed or a slower one to keep the shutter and flash in sync.

 

LIGHT FOG
If the back of the camera is opened, even for a second, light will fog, or expose, the film. This will be seen as dark areas on the negatives or light areas on slides.
You could say we’re familiar with film processing. In fact, it’s how we got our start back in the pre-digital photography era. Needless to say, we know what we’re doing when it comes to turning your analog shots into stunning images

4 Quick Tips for protecting your photo legacy!

 

 

 

 

 

STEP 1: SORT
Take pictures out of albums, frames and boxes so you are working with only loose prints. Choose the photos you want to keep. Remove duplicates and poor-quality shots. Keep only the most meaningful images and toss the rest if you are working to downsize or eliminate clutter. At this point, you could stop and move on to Step #3.

STEP 2: ORGANIZE
If you want to get your photo collection truly organized, then continue sorting. Separate pictures into piles by subject, people, theme or year. Whatever makes most sense to you. Then, label those piles in chronological order. This will pay off when you move on to Step #4 and eventually share copies of your images with family members. Advanced sorting will make specific photos easy to locate on a computer or device later on.

STEP 3: DIGITIZE

Box up your printed memorabilia and bring them to a trusted local photo preservation expert (like us!) for scanning. The keyword here is “local”. We never recommend shipping your most precious possessions across the country! Each print will be professionally digitized and saved as high-resolution JPG files. We can even create labeled folders to keep your sorting efforts intact.

 

 

 

STEP 4: COPY + SHARE
At this stage, you’ll have various options for what to do with your digital image files – including how many copies to share. This is the fun part! Think about who would like a set of the scanned images – even if they may not completely appreciate them today. (IE: children and teens.) Once the images are scanned, duplicate media copies are extremely affordable – so be generous and share freely!
Your story is meant to be shared – and now is the perfect time to do it! Don’t wait until it’s too late to protect those photos of your grandparents, your high school prom and that family vacation to the Grand Canyon.

Tips for selecting the perfect Wall Art for any space!

The right imagery and materials can turn your space into a conversation-starting environment in no time! Here are some tips for selecting the right décor solutions for any environment.
PRO TIP: Mix complementary media like framed prints, canvas, and metal for an eclectic and varied aesthetic!

Canvas = Classic
  • Printed on artist-grade cotton canvas media
  • Finished for durability and longevity
  • Lightweight and ready-to-hang (No need for framing.)
  • Dozens of size options
  • Ideal for a traditional home or office setting

 

 

 

 

 

 

Metal Prints = Impact
  • Your image is sublimated onto sturdy brushed aluminum
  • Images look vibrant, bold, and sharp
  • Dozens of size options
  • Ideal for a contemporary home, a commercial location, or modern office setting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wood Prints = Natural
  • Your image is printed directly on a natural wood panel
  • Photos look sharp, yet soft and natural
  • Woodgrain shows through the lighter areas of the image
  • Ideal for a shabby chic or farmhouse styled space

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acrylic Prints = Pizzazz!
  • Your image is flush-mounted underneath a clear piece of acrylic
  • Images look bright, dimensional, and sharp
  • Extremely durable and easy to clean
  • Ideal in a contemporary home or a commercial space

Archiving Best Practices

 

Does this sound familiar? “I have photos on a bunch of old CDs, thumb drives, external hard drives, in albums and then there is my Dropbox, Google Photos, and maybe I’ve backed up to iCloud…help, I am overwhelmed!” Before you can start to organize your photos, you have to get them ALL into one place. During week one we will focus on gathering your photos.
Even if you aren’t ready to physically gather them, making a list is a useful first step, and you’ll be more prepared when the time is right to embark on the organizing.

Locate all your photos, slides + videos.
Let’s start with a list of all the places you are storing your printed photos and slides. Include photo albums, framed photos, photos in drawers or boxes or closets, or even storage units. A written list of locations will serve as a checklist when you gather them.
Make a list of all the places you have digital photos. Include old phones, computers, memory cards, and CDs/DVDs. Add usernames and passwords to photo websites where you’ve uploaded pictures.
Home movies should be part of what you’re saving! Make a list of the types you have (Super 8, VHS tapes, camcorder tapes, etc.) so you can make a plan for converting them to digital.

Ask family members!
Get the family involved in tracking down your photos. Ask relatives where their photos are and make a plan to include them in your photo organizing project.
Estimate.
How many photos do you have: 10,000 or 100,000? Knowing the number helps you plan the scope of the project. A shoebox = 600 – 800 photos; 1 GB = about 560 JPGS; the average photo album = 200 photos.
Be selective. Keep only the best of the best!
Are you finding lots of duplicates as you go through your photos? Toss or delete doubles, blurry shots, and most scenery-only photos. Edit your collection down to a manageable size! You may end up getting rid of 50% or more.
Plan for the digitizing process.
You’ve found your photos, but now what? You need a plan. This week, we’ll explore creating a photo legacy by understanding what’s most important to you. What are your photo goals and what would success look like? Then strategize a plan to digitize and back up your photos.
Even if you’re not ready to do the actual organizing, thinking through these decisions about your photo legacy means you’ll be prepared whenever the time is right to start.
Digitize + Back up
The best backup for your printed photos is to scan them by sending them to a trusted local archiving expert. Don’t risk loss, damage or theft of your precious memories by sending them away to a big box online service.

Next Steps
You’ve found your photos, have a plan, and know the stories. Now it’s time to share. The options for printing photos are endless, from framed prints and photo gifts to photo books. Online galleries make it easy to share digitally. Look for ideas to bring your photos back to life by getting them into your everyday life.
Even without starting to organize your whole collection, it’s easy to bring photos back into your life…choose recent favorites from your phone and get creative!
Plan ahead for holiday giving
Get a head start on your gift planning. Digitized family moments is an excellent gift idea for anyone in your family. Surprise family members with a digitized collection of memorabilia!

Concierge Archiving Services

If you love a good project and tackling that cluttered photo closet (or desktop computer) doesn’t scare you – go ahead and dive right in! After all, you have a personal connection to all those memories and you know exactly what you want to keep or toss. Here are a few Pro Tips for those of you who are managing a photo organizing project on your own:

 

 

 

 

 

Begin by sorting based on subject, event, or date. Choose a categorizing method that makes the most sense for you. Think ahead to how you and your family will want to access these memories in the future. If you’re working with printed photos – make piles or use small bins. If you’re organizing digital files – create folders and name them based on your preferred sorting method.

Toss or delete multiple or redundant images from the same event. After all, do you really need to keep 26 images from little Chloe’s birthday party? Also, eliminate duplicates or poor quality shots where the lighting or subject matter isn’t up to par. The goal here, is to refine your photo collection to only the “best of the best” images/photos.

Decide what you want to do with the physical photos and memorabilia long term. Do you simply want your photo closet more organized? Do you want to digitize all of your printed photographs? Do you want to make photo books for family members? Knowing your end goal, will help you make decisions on how to complete your project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let the local expert do the heavy lifting

Sure, you could scan your family photographs one by one on a home scanner, but do you really want to give up your weekends for the next 6 months?

Trusted local photo experts (like us), have the equipment, training, and professional experience to manage this portion of the project for you. We’ll carefully digitize, color correct and save your printed memories as digital files. Once your memories are in a digital format – you have countless ways to share them with family members and make fun photo creations with them.

PRO TIP: Determine which family members would like a copy of your digital files – not only today but also in the future. It’s easiest and most affordable to order multiple copies of your files at the time of digitizing. Think about your children, your siblings, your parents, etc.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiring a Professional

If a project like this just isn’t for you or if you’re managing an extreme amount of memorabilia – then you may want to consider hiring a professional to help sort, name, and organize the items. Our archiving team can help you get started and advise you on the best way to approach your project. We also have relationships with local professional organizers and archivists who can assist as well.

Creatively Cute Wedding Gifts + Keepsakes

Creatively Cute Wedding Gifts + Keepsakes

Make your day unique and personal!

Photos can make your wedding day more personal and after the event, they can live on for years after! Here are some creative ways to bring photography to your celebration and beyond!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please, please, please – don’t let those gorgeous professional photographs sit on your computer gathering dust. Select a few favorites and get them up on the walls of your home as canvas prints, framed decor or even a gallery wall with multiple shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course, the bride and groom will want a wedding album filled with images and snapshots from the celebration, but professional photo books are also a great gift for parents, grandparents and the wedding party!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trendy personalized gifts are always a favorite at any wedding! Bring us your ideas and we will help you design a special gift for your guests or wedding party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gift this adorably cute heart collage to the newly engaged couple. Gather images from their social media and surprise them with the perfect engagement gift.

 

Need help on a project like this?

Join us in the design process while we create the perfect solutions for your day. Choose from hundreds of ideas for gift giving and personal storytelling. Here are just a few…

– Save the Date Cards + Magnets

– Announcements + Thank You Notes

– Guest Book

– Personalized Bridal Party Gifts

– Custom Keepsakes

– Imagery + Reception Décor

– Video Productions + Slideshows

– Prints + Memorabilia (from your wedding day photos)

– Photo Books (for yourself, the bridal party + your parents)

– Home Decor (showcasing your professional photographs)

– Passport Photos (for the honeymoon)

ENJOY THE MEMORIES AT THESE KEY TIMES IN YOUR LIFE

Throughout our lives, there are those key events where reminiscing and looking back in time become extremely important to us. Whether you have to sort through boxes of old memorabilia or access the thousands of digital images on your device – these are the times when your photo collection becomes more valuable than ever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Childhood

It’s scientifically proven that children have a stronger sense of self when they have access to pictures from their childhood. Take that a step further and expose them to their family heritage. TIP: Make copies of photos with their parents and grandparents as children and store them with your child’s memorabilia. One day they’ll want to see who they resemble.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High School Graduation

Grad parties are known for celebrating achievements and it’s always fun for the guests to enjoy memories from the graduate’s childhood years. Set up a photo display that features their photos and memorabilia in fun ways! (PS: We literally have hundreds of great ways to do this!)

Wedding

Que the infamous wedding video. That’s right, it’s still a thing! Make it easy on the bride and groom by gifting them a digital copy of their entire life in photos BEFORE the wedding. This will help make the video production process so much easier. Plus, what a great thing to gift at this stage of life!

 Anniversary

Celebrate your time together by reminiscing over a lifetime full of great memories. If you’re hosting a party – let your guests enjoy your wedding photos with you.

Milestone Birthday

Those “over-the-hill” milestones are a great time to look back and get a good laugh at how you’ve changed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial Service

Celebrate a life well lived by displaying old photos and video clips during a memorial service. Collect favorite snapshots that include childhood, hobbies, acknowledgments, and family milestones full of happiness.

 

Passport Photo

Passport need updating? Don’t forget the photo! Walk-in’s are always welcome!

The world is yours to explore with a passport in hand. Have your picture taken in our studio by our professional staff. We promise to take as many photos as needed to pass U.S. Department of State regulation at no additional charge. A few things to keep in mind when traveling:

If your travel plans include cross-border travel from the United States, your passport or passport card need to be up-to-date. Some countries require that travelers hold valid passports for a certain period of time before entry. All travelers and citizens of the U.S., regardless of age, are required to present a valid passport or passport card when entering or leaving the country at any airport or border crossing.

Passport photos can also be used for the convenient and less expensive U.S. passport card. The passport card is valid when traveling between the U.S and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Bermuda at land-border crossing or ports-of-entry at sea.

Bring back the 80’s + 90’s and protect those priceless home movies!

 

 

 

 

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

Because of environmental factors, VHS tapes are literally deteriorating and degrading as we speak. Not to mention the fact that VCRs are virtually non-existent for viewing them. If you wait too long to digitize home movies, there might be nothing there to capture or view.

YOUR KIDS WANT TO WATCH

Trust us – your kids and grandkids WILL want to watch these… if not today, someday.

FAMILY HISTORY

As the family historian, it’s your duty to preserve the family legacy (a.k.a. memorabilia). Once you have a home movie digitized, it becomes a file that is easily shared with other members of your family.

 

 

 

 

 

Keep your memorabilia local – here’s why:

Who wouldn’t be devastated if suddenly their priceless home movies were lost in the mail, misplaced or damaged by a shipping carrier?

Sentimental irreplaceable possessions like photos, videos and home movies should NEVER be shipped away to an unknown location or service provider. It’s just too risky! Things could get lost, damaged or never find their way back to you.

Instead, talk to a professional archiving expert (like us). You need someone who really gets it. Our shop is full of dedicated people who care about your life being documented. We stake our reputation on it. Best of all – money spent locally stays local. Let us handle your photo life so you can get back to real life!