I wish I could see them in color
Black and white photos show you who was there, but not the color of a grandmother's dress, the shade of a grandfather's eyes, or the paint on the house where your family started out. Those details live only in the stories, if anyone still remembers them.
Colorization brings those moments a step closer to how they actually looked. For a lot of families, seeing a great-grandparent in color for the first time feels like meeting them.
Natural color, not a filter
Good colorization isn't a tint laid over the whole picture. Skin tones, clothing, hair, and backgrounds are each given their own color, with attention to what fits the era the photo was taken in.
If your family remembers details, share them. Knowing that a dress was blue or that the old car was green helps the finished photo match the real memory, not just a guess.
Your original stays black and white
Colorization creates a new version of the photo. Your original print isn't painted, tinted, or changed in any way, and you get it back along with the colorized copy.
If the original is faded, cracked, or torn, it can be restored first, so the colorized version starts from the clearest image possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does colorization change my original photo?
No. Colorization is done on a new copy of the photo, not on the original print. Your black and white original comes back to you exactly as it was, along with the colorized version.
How do you know what colors to use?
Colors are chosen based on what fits the time period, the clothing and materials in the photo, and anything your family remembers. If you know specific details, like the color of a uniform or a car, share them before work begins, so the finished photo matches your family's memory as closely as possible.
Can a damaged black and white photo be colorized?
Usually, yes. A faded, cracked, or torn photo is restored first, so the colorized version starts from a clean, clear image. Colorizing a damaged photo without restoring it first just adds color to the cracks and spots.
Can I give you details about the people in the photo?
Please do. Names, the year or decade, where it was taken, and any colors people remember all help. Even a detail like "her hair was red" can make the finished photo feel much more like the person your family knew.
Is photo colorization covered by insurance?
Usually not. Colorization is an enhancement, not a repair of damage from a loss, so it's normally something you choose on your own. Restoring photos damaged in a covered fire or water loss is different and is often handled as part of your contents claim.
Locally owned and operated by Jeff Sitz and Brian Rick from our Akron office at 1477 Copley Rd.