Portfolio

Before & After Restoration Examples

Each comparison shows a typical kind of physical damage and a restored version of the same photograph. These are studio examples for the site, not client commissions. Drag the slider, or use the arrow keys when the handle is focused, to compare.

After: the same portrait with the tear repaired. — BeforeAfter

Tears

Torn family portrait

Original condition A portrait print separated by a tear.
Visible damage A broken join across the image, with small paper losses along the edge.
Restoration approach Align the separated areas, repair the tear line, and reconstruct only those small losses that neighboring detail can support.
Result A continuous photograph in which the break no longer dominates the picture.

After: the same portrait after water-stain reduction. — BeforeAfter

Water damage

Water-damaged photograph

Original condition A print with moisture staining and uneven discoloration.
Visible damage Tide marks, darkened patches, and disrupted tones.
Restoration approach Reduce stains and restore more even tone without altering faces or clothing beyond what the source shows.
Result The photograph is more readable; remaining original detail is kept.

After: the same photograph after tonal recovery. — BeforeAfter

Fading

Severely faded old photograph

Original condition An old print with substantial fading.
Visible damage Weak contrast and a flattened tonal range.
Restoration approach Recover remaining tonal information and adjust contrast with restraint.
Result A clearer photograph that still reads as an old print, not a modern picture.

After: the same portrait after scratch cleanup. — BeforeAfter

Scratches

Scratched photograph

Original condition A portrait with surface scratches across the image.
Visible damage Light linear marks cutting through the figure and background.
Restoration approach Remove or reduce scratches using surrounding photographic detail.
Result The surface interruption is lessened while the original features remain.

After: the same photograph after crease repair. — BeforeAfter

Creases

Photograph with fold lines

Original condition A print that has been folded.
Visible damage Crease lines crossing the image, with associated disruption of tone.
Restoration approach Repair the fold lines so they no longer split the photograph.
Result The image can be viewed as a whole rather than as panels divided by creases.

Bring a damaged photograph for assessment

These examples show the kinds of damage I work with. Send your own photograph for an individual assessment of what restoration can reasonably do.

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