Common Questions About Restoring Your Photos

Welcome to the Moments Made Clear studio. Whether you are a family historian, a professional Photo Manager, or represet media, educational, or a historical institution, we are here to help you clarify the stories behind your images.

No. To ensure the safety of your originals, we work exclusively with digital files. If you have a physical print, we recommend having it scanned at a high resolution (600 DPI). We offer scanning tips to ensure we get the best possible starting image.
Repair focuses on repairing damage—scratches, tears, and fading—to return the photo to its original black-and-white or color state.
Revive is our coloring service, where we add realistic, historically grounded color to black-and-white images to enhance emotional connection.
Recast retains the pose and character of the subject, but replaces a distracting background and improves the lighting.
Yes. Yes, you can combine Repair, Revive, and Recast for a custom result.
Most Revive (coloring) projects begin with a Repair pass to clean up dust and scratches before we apply color.
Many Recast projects require some degree of Repair and, of course, Revive, if we’re colorizing a black & white image.
You can select your combination on our submission form.
We use a “human-first” approach, carefully processing each image through a series of several digital tools. We never use one-click AI filters, which often result in disappointingly distorted or altered images. We use manual artistry to ensure facial and other details, skin tones, school colors on uniforms, and textures look natural and historically accurate.

General Questions

Unlike high-volume automated providers that rely entirely on algorithms, we act as a boutique artisan studio. While we use advanced tools for noise reduction, all final artistic decisions—image repairs, colorization, and narrative recasts—are made by human artists to ensure emotional fidelity and realism.
We use human judgment rather than automated filters, which can distort faces or alter historical details. This ensures that your image remains believable and avoids the "plastic" or artificial look common in unguided tools.
A Recast changes the "narrative context" of a photo. If you have a perfect photo of a loved one that is trapped in a distracting setting (like a hospital room, a cluttered office, or a parking lot), we move the subject to a natural, neutral environment and even improve the lighting. This keeps the likeness 100% true while removing the distractions that steal focus from the memory. See examples.
We prioritize “correct” over “fast.” We typically dedicate approximately 2–3 business days to hand-crafting each narrative restoration. Rush options are available, but we believe excellent work requires time.
No, we work exclusively with digital files, so your precious physical prints never risk getting lost in the mail. We can evaluate smartphone snaps for a quote, though a 600 DPI scan is recommended for professional-grade results.
We are a proud member of The Photo Managers. If you feel overwhelmed, we can refer you to one of our trusted partners in your area. If we do not have a partner near you, we encourage you use the TPM Find a Pro directory to a Certified Professional who can bring order to your collection.

Our Services and Processes

We stand behind our craftsmanship with a Process-Based Satisfaction Guarantee.
1. We provide watermarked proofs for your review.
2. If the initial proof isn't perfect, we offer up to three (3) rounds of revisions at no extra cost to adjust details, color, or likeness.
3. If we still cannot meet the agreed-upon vision after these revisions, we will issue a 100% refund.
Our “Reset" service involves artistic interpretation. If you identify a technical flaw (e.g., “The lighting looks off"), that is covered by our guarantee. However, if you change your mind about the concept after work has begun (e.g., swapping a forest background for a beach), this is considered a “Change of Scope." In this case, a new order or a partial “Kill Fee" may apply to cover the artist's labor.
No. We bill upon project completion. You will receive a watermarked low-resolution proof to review. Once you approve the final work, we issue the invoice. High-resolution, un-watermarked files are released only after payment and final approval.

Pricing & Guarantees

We act as your behind-the-scenes artisan studio. We offer “White Label” delivery so you can present the high-resolution files as your own premium service, or a “Direct Referral” model where we handle coordination while protecting your relationship.
Yes. We act as a behind-the-scenes partner for Photo Managers. Partners receive a discount off our Retail Reference Rates, allowing you to retain a margin or pass the savings to your client. Please request our Partner Guide for full details.
Absolutely not. We operate with a Privacy First Policy. Unlike volume labs, we will never publish, share, or use your client's "Before and After" images on our website or social media without your explicit, written consent. Your archives remain confidential.
You (or your client) retain full copyright ownership of the original image. You grant us a limited license solely to edit the image for the order. We claim no ownership over your images or memories.
No. We stay in our lane. We are a boutique artisan studio focused exclusively on the restoration and clarification of specific images, not the organization of archives.
We view “overwhelmed" retail clients as a referral opportunity for you. If a client approaches us needing help organizing their collection or digitizing bulk files, we refer them to our active partners first. If we do not have a partner in their area, we advocate for the industry by directing them to The Photo Managers’ “Find a Pro”directory.

For Photo Managers & Professionals

We request specific brand colors (Pantone, HEX, or RGB) and use meticulous research to match uniforms and equipment. We provide a verification milestone to confirm these details before final rendering.
Often, yes. While we prefer a 600 DPI scan, we can evaluate smaller archival files, or even modern phone photos of framed pictures or old newspaper clippings to see if they can be upscaled and refined for modern digital use or large-scale prints.
We maintain a “Privacy First” policy. We will never publish institutional assets to a portfolio or social media without explicit, written permission. Your archives remain confidential.
Yes, our hand-crafted process provides finished resolution sufficient to print at 16x20” or larger.
We’ll work with you or directly with your production partners to supply the appropriate resolution for the intended output.
We prioritize historical accuracy to ensure dormant assets are ready for the modern spotlight.

For Media & Heritage Partners

During the collaboration phase, we send low-resolution watermarked proofs. Upon final approval and payment, we will email you the high-resolution, un-watermarked digital files.
Yes. We retain a secure backup of your restored files and “Work in Progress" data for 6 months after delivery. This serves as a safety net in case of data loss on your end. After six months, files may be permanently deleted to ensure privacy.
We reserve the right to refuse any order. We will not process content that includes illegal acts, hate speech, or non-consensual sexual content.