General Questions
INVESTMENT
-you’re not just paying for the scanning, you’re paying for the problem solving, the peace of mind, not having to figure out how to do scan it or the learning curve, not dealing with the mess, not dealing with the space of dealing with scanning, you’re saving time. by keeping it local you don’t have to wait for shipping times for the package to arrive . you’re paying for it to be done sooner. you’re paying for not risking if it’ll be damaged potentially while it’s being shipped. You’re paying to have advice customized to your unique situation.
IF YOU WANT TO SAVE MONEY
It is an investment.
here are some suggestions:
you don’t have to do it all at once. if you want to start off by doing the most important once first, we can start there and if you ever want to scan the rest later or keep scanning in batches we can do that
we can do payment plans where I can charge you every week instead of one large payment
you don’t have to scan everything.
-through my process, we’ll create 3 piles 1. KEEP, BUT DON’T SCAN (this will still be organizing in the boxes) a 2. KEEP AND SCAN and a 3. TOSS. you won’t get charged until I bring the photos with me.
you can do the dealbuming yourself and then I’ll scan and label on the laptop. You’ll have to label the piles and I'll label them digitally using my software.
get $50 for referring me (person must book with me first, to make it official)
HOW DO YOU KNOW HOW TO ORGANIZE?
I use clues.
-first we’ll organize by decade. and then when we have them in a pile of like photos by decade then it’s easier to compare. this is when I'll figure out the duplicates. I'll return them to you if you want to send to loved ones.
-learning kids and when they were born helps to guess ages (the family timeline that I created will help and I'll use as a reference) and knowing years they were born and/or graduated etc helps.
-you start to pick up on clues (scalloped edges were used a lot in the 60s)
-sometimes they’re timestamped or written on the photo
-then we don’t even have to put it in a category and we can just use it as a general (like the decade or the year)
-there are clues that can be used digitally that will help you find them such as searching for words on amazon cloud, you can create keywords, etc)
HOW CAN I LABEL THEM
we can be general
we can use themes
using the reference sheet helps get your bring
I use a combo of time and theme
I DON’T KNOW WHAT I HAVE
-I don’t encourage you to scan everything.
-as you’re getting the photos for me to scan, you can already start just crating the pile that you want scanned.
-you don’t have to scan pictures, but also think about if you just want to keep them as a physical copy. I would encourage that you keep the most important.
I DON’T KNOW IF THE TAPES ARE GOOD
If they are, I'll not charge you for it. You won’t receive the digitized version either. I’ll let you know which tapes are bad.
MY PHOTOS ARE DAMAGED - DO YOU RESTORE?
No, but I can refer you.
IF I CAN’T DO IT, I’LL REFER YOU
Beta max for example
ONCE MY PHOTOS ARE ORGANIZED, WHAT CAN I DO?
create a gallery wall
create a photo book of your favorite places you’ve traveled
make a slideshow to present at your anniversary
give to your son for his wedding
make copies on flash drives and send to family
make a photo book for your grandchild graduating from high school with baby photos
make a photo book of your favorite photos with you and your spouse
put them on your digital photo frame
make a photo display to honor ancestors at your grandchild’s wedding
anytime you need a photo, it’ll be easier to find
any project becomes easier to find
you can include video clips to your photo books like I did
What exactly do you do?
I help families preserve their most treasured memories by digitizing and organizing their photo and home video collections. If you’re looking for video conversion services in Hot Springs, AR, or want to get your photos scanned, I can do that for you! Whether you have old VHS tapes, printed photos, slides, or negatives, I can help you digitize, organize, and create a system that makes it easy to enjoy and share your memories for generations.
Why should I digitize my pictures and videos?
Printed photos fade over time, can be damaged by moisture or sunlight, and are vulnerable to disasters like fires and tornados. VHS tapes can also become damaged and are impossible to view without a VHS player. By scanning your photos and converting your home videos, you can protect your memories forever —making it easy to share with family.
Process & Logistics
How does the process work?
I’ll pick up the photos (you can leave them in the envelopes, boxes, albums they came in), I’ll remove the photos myself, and I’ll come back and we will label them together. Once they’re labeled, I’ll scan and organize the photos. Your photos will be digitized with high resolution for the best quality and delivered on a USB drive (labeled in Files and Folders) as well as a photo box (separated and labeled by year).
If you want to add on video conversion services, I’ll pick up your videos along with your photos and digitize them. Depending on timing, we can label the videos together the same day we’re organizing photos OR I’ll set up a Zoom call and we’ll label then (unless they’re already written on the tape, in which case, I’ll use the same label).
Do I have to digitize photos AND videos?
No. You can do either or both!
How long does the process take?
Turnaround time depends on the number of videos/photos, but most projects take 3 - 4 weeks.
Do I need to sort my photos before I give them to you?
No— I’ll remove the photos from albums/envelopes/boxes. We’ll schedule a time when we can sort them together. I’ll send a Family History Timeline that you can fill out before to streamline the process.
Will I get my original photos and/or videos back?
Yes, absolutely! Your original photos and videos will be returned in the same condition as I received them. I will toss or donate the photo albums as I’ll put the photos in a new photo box that is easier and smaller to store.
How do I send my photos and videos to you?
With my all-inclusive services, there is no need to pack your photos/videos or drive to the post office! I’ll pick them up. I currently only serve the Hot Springs area (Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, and Lakeside school districts only).
Pricing & Services
How much does photo scanning cost?
I offer tiered pricing based on the number of photos (starting at $675 for 500 photos or $40/tape). Every package comes with photo rotation, pickup and drop-off, photo box(es), USB flash drive, scanning and organizing services. There is no difference in cost for prints, negatives, and slides so you can mix and match. I scan from 4x6 prints to 8x10.
To quickly measure how many photos you have to estimate the cost, use these rules of thumb:
1 inch of stacked printed 4x6 photos = about 100 photos
1 inch of stacked negatives = about 500 photos (if 1 negative has 4 photos)
1 shoebox holds about 1,000 photos
To secure your spot, you’ll pay a 50% deposit. Once I have scanned all of your photos/have an accurate count, I’ll charge for the remainder.
How much does video conversion cost?
$40 per tape if you just want to digitize tapes.
$35 per tape if you want to add it on to photo scanning services.
Can you help me organize my digital photos too?
Yes! Download my Services and Pricing Guide here to read who I can help you take allllll of your digital photos, consolidate them into one chronologically organized digital hub and upload them to the cloud storage service that works best for you and your family!
Security & Quality
Are my photos/videos safe with you?
Absolutely! I handle every photo with care and confidentiality. Your memories are irreplaceable, and I take every precaution to keep them safe and secure throughout the process. That is the beauty of serving locally—no need to risk damage during shipping!
What resolution do you scan at?
I scan photos at 300 dpi for 4x6 photos, 1200 dpi for negatives and 3200 dpi for slides.
What file format will my digital photos and videos be in?
I provide JPEG files for photos and mp4 for video.
How do I access my photos after scanning? What about videos?
On a USB drive (which you could then upload to your computer, Facebook, any cloud service). Every package comes with a hard drive.
Hiring & Next Steps
I want to do this but feel overwhelmed. Can you help?
Yes! Many people put off organizing their photos because it feels like a big project. That’s why I take care of everything for you—so you can relax knowing your memories are in good hands.
How do I get started?
Fill out the Inquiry here. If we are a good fit, I’ll reach out to schedule a pick up time.