While going through a closet that is used mostly just to stash stuff that I don't know where to store, I came upon a large box of old photos and documents that have been handed down through the generations and have ended up with me. I feel guilty that I hoard it all and never really get around to making digital copies so that if anything ever happens to damage them, I will at least have a digital record to share with my family and distant relatives. I'm not the only one in this predicament either. More and more people are becoming interested in their family's genealogical history and are trying to organize and document the many items handed down through the generations that end up in an attic or storage unit. Despite our best efforts, we just never get around to scanning in all those piles of historical photos and important family documents. This is where you can be the hero and save the day!
You will start a service that creates digital copies of people's priceless old photos and family documents. Take digital photos and scan copies of people's important aging paper items. Burn them onto a CD or DVD so that your customers will not have to worry about their family's history being lost forever. You can charge your customers a per-hour dollar amount or a flat fee of perhaps fifty dollars per completed disc.
Another option in pricing that might be even more practical would be to charge your customers according to the number of documents or photos that you create digital copies of. For instance, you could charge twenty dollars for every ten items that you create a scan or photo of. You have the option of offering discounts for larger amounts of scanned items.
Many times old photos become creased or the corners break off or become damaged. Sometimes small flecks of dust or other imperfections become imbedded in the photo. In addition, because of the chemical process involved, most old photos turn various shades of yellow, brown, red, or green as time passes. You may want to offer to digitally restore some of these old, damaged photos for an additional fee. Many photo programs will correct this damage automatically. As for imperfections that need additional attention, the fixes generally are very easy to perform and do not take much time.
You will likely want to advertise your services by running an ad in a local phone directory, list your business with an online business directory and by printing up flyers and posting them in places where people of all walks of life would be likely to frequent. Be sure to include popular lunch places and coffee shops! Most post offices and grocery stores also have bulletin boards that they will allow you to place an advertisement on. Be sure to take advantage of any public bulletin boards in your immediate area to find the people who are looking for you and your services. Don't neglect places like medical service buildings, health food stores, libraries, bridal shops and any other place that your potential clients may frequent. In no time at all, you will have built up a large clientele base, many by word of mouth as they witness your professional services in action!
Resources:
http://photoshopnews.com/2005/05/11/digital-preservation/
http://genealogy.about.com
http://www.paulasphotorestoration.com/
http://www.familytreemagazine.com/photos/sept20-01.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6662/photopre.htm
September 28, 2009
