How Do I Rescue An Old Cat Photo?

Have you ever stumbled upon a forgotten photo tucked away in a dusty box, a faded image that sparks a flood of memories as it falls out of an envelope or from the pages of a folder or book? You pause for a moment, lost in thought as memories of a cat, or an event come flooding back.

Let me share my experience as I learned how to handle a unique and treasured photograph. After reading this, I believe that you will be more confident when handling your own image and preserving it for the future as a paper and digital memory.

My Photograph’s Journey

Some time ago I found, carefully preserved inside a book, an old photograph of Dash Kitten. Dash was my blog’s inspiration and its Founder Cat so I was thrilled to see it again. It had been preserved flat with a small amount of surface damage, and a slightly yellow tint.

• The image was at least nine years old and it held some lovely memories. It is one of the rare full-face portraits I have of Dash Kitten.

First Steps When Handling Old Photos

Keep the image flat and in a safe place. If you have acid-free tissue paper or cardboard to keep your image flat use this. Otherwise a rigid protection of some kind and a clear label on the outside. Your image might still be in a folder from a professional photographic studio. Leave it there, if so.

I wanted, as you would, to share my image with Dash’s many friends who still remember him with a lot of affection? But, as photo restoration was new territory for me I sat down at my computer and did some detective work. I gathered options and details on restoring vintage photographs. Being prepared so you know your options with an old and valuable image matters so you can make an informed decision.

A Print Bureau Can Help

I realised that the image needed specialised work and called in professional help in the form of a local photography bureau in Lower Hutt, Camera House. They are a long established print house who are busy dealing with the recent surge in popularity of film cameras and developing images.

The staff told me the range of options available for my image and I decided that a high quality digital scan as well as a top quality print were good options to try. The bureau would also remove surface damage from the digital scan.

Yes, I know, you can scan your own image and then spend time repairing surface scratches and sharpening the image yourself. If you have the time, skill and the photo software and scanner but many don’t so a bureau is helpful.

My Revived Photo of Dash Kitten

The digital image of Dash was returned to me after a few days by email and, as you can see from the first image in this post, the results are excellent.

The surface damage on the original has been removed, it was more physical that visible, and the picture looks as good as new, I was thrilled. I have so few images of Dash Kitten that finding one that is clear is important for me. It also, on a positive note has allowed me to start doing something social media friend Bode’s Mom Sylvia suggested I do several years ago, which is make a series of tribute images for Dash.

How To Work With A Photo Bureau

Involving a photo bureau to revive an older photo is an investment of your time and money. They will be able to ‘repair’ your original by creating a perfect copy with no bent corners then return the original and any copies to you.

• A bureau can brighten or adjust colours or sharpen tones for a black and white image, and remove creases.

If you are not sure how to approach a local bureau, make a list of what you would like them to do before you visit. Do you want to repair a digital image? Do you want printed copies and a digital file copy? Get them to quote you for the work so you stay within your budget. You will be supporting a company in your local community, and be able to call them if you need advice.

• Images fall into two areas. ‘Priceless and Irreplaceable’, and ”Fun Memories’. I do not recommend sending a valuable image by post if at all possible – once it is lost you may never find it again. A fun image you may feel happier sending, but, if at all possible, hold on to your image until you can visit a bureau in person.

Final Restoration Thoughts

You probably have your own treasured memento hidden in a corner somewhere. A photo of you and your first cat, you as a small child on the beach, or a formal wedding photo of Mum or Grandma looking their beautiful best.

I hope now that you will feel encouraged to breath life into these important glimpses into family history and images of cats from the past. Small square black and white memories may have a creased edge, and faded shots may have lost colour but images can be restored and digitised for sharing with friends and family and they mean so much.

You may not be able to stop time, but you can preserve and share precious memories with a little bit of help, just like Dash and I.