Light restoration
£45 - £65
Minor marks, mild fading, small blemishes or modest tonal correction.
Restoration
Photo Restoration Services
Careful restoration of torn, faded, creased, water-damaged and ageing photographs, with an emphasis on authenticity, restraint and respect for the original image.
Restoration can be requested for a single damaged photograph or considered as part of a wider collection project involving assessment, digitisation, archive organisation and long-term preservation.
Restoration Approach
Repair without rewriting the photograph
Good restoration is not just about removing damage. It is about deciding what to repair, what to preserve and what historical evidence not to invent over.
Past2Perfect focuses on careful hand restoration rather than one-click enhancement. The aim is not to make old photographs look artificially modern, but to repair damage while preserving likeness, texture, tone and the character of the original image.
- Creases repaired without flattening facial texture
- Lost detail recovered without over-sharpening
- Weak areas rebuilt from surrounding detail
- Original expression and structure preserved
- Repair without altering likeness or period character
Severe damage needs particular care. Torn photographs, missing corners, damaged faces and heavy creases should be assessed before restoration begins so the repair remains believable.
What Can Be Restored?
Common types of photograph damage
Different photographs present different restoration challenges. These are some of the most common forms of damage that can often be repaired or improved.
Torn & Severely Damaged Photos
Tears, missing corners, damaged edges, cracked surfaces, missing areas, facial creases and heavy surface damage.
Water Damage & Staining
Tide marks, moisture staining, blotching, discolouration and water-related deterioration.
Creases & Fold Damage
Fold marks, cracks, abrasions, surface breaks and handling damage.
Photo Colourisation
Colourisation of black-and-white photographs while respecting the original image.
AI vs Hand Restoration
Understand the difference between automated enhancement and authenticity-led restoration.
Identify Photo Damage First
Check whether a photograph is fragile, unstable or too damaged to clean, flatten or scan safely.
Severe Damage
Torn photographs need careful assessment
Torn and severely damaged photographs are often the most important restoration enquiries. The first step is understanding whether the photograph can realistically be repaired, what can be rebuilt and where the limits are.
What the assessment looks at
- Whether the face, clothing or background detail is still readable
- How much of the missing area can be rebuilt from surrounding information
- Whether cracks or creases cross important facial features
- Whether the photograph should be scanned again before restoration
- Whether the final result can remain natural and believable
Dedicated restoration guide
Restoring torn and severely damaged photos
The dedicated severe damage page explains how tears, missing sections, creases across faces and damaged surfaces are assessed and restored by hand.
Before & After
See restoration work in practice
Before choosing a restoration service, it helps to see how different types of damage are handled. The Examples page shows before-and-after restoration work, including faded photographs, missing areas, surface damage and careful hand repair.
Before
After
Creases, tonal damage and surface marks repaired by hand without altering facial structure.
More proof
Have a torn, creased or severely damaged photograph?
For photographs with tears, missing sections, heavy creasing, cracked surfaces or damaged faces, use the dedicated severe damage page to understand what may be possible before requesting an assessment.
Pricing Guidance
Typical restoration price ranges
Pricing depends on the level of damage, the amount of missing information and the time required to repair the photograph carefully.
Moderate restoration
£65 - £105
Creases, tears, staining, fading or more involved repair work.
Heavy restoration
£105 - £180
Heavy damage, missing sections or difficult facial repair requiring extensive hand work.
Extensive restoration
£180 - £320+
Severe reconstruction, extensive missing detail or the most demanding repair work.
See the dedicated torn and severely damaged photo restoration page for more detail.
Turnaround
Typical completion times
Turnaround depends on the level of restoration required and the complexity of the damage.
Light restoration
2 - 4 days
For lighter repair work where the original photograph is largely intact.
Moderate restoration
4 - 7 days
For photographs with several visible issues requiring more detailed hand work.
Heavy restoration
7 - 10 days
For heavily damaged photographs requiring extensive hand repair.
Extensive restoration
2 - 3+ weeks
For the most demanding reconstruction work, where missing detail must be carefully rebuilt.
Payment
A simple, clear payment process
No work begins until you approve the quote. You will always know the cost before committing.
01
Send your photo
Email your photograph for assessment. A clean, high-quality scan is ideal, but a clear phone photo is usually enough to begin.
02
Receive your quote
You will receive a clear assessment, quoted cost, payment details and expected turnaround before any work begins.
03
Approve and pay
For work under £150, full payment is normally taken before restoration begins. For work at £150 and above, a 50% deposit may secure the booking and the balance is due before final delivery.
Payment can be made by UK bank transfer, PayPal or secure invoice link. International clients are responsible for any bank charges, transfer fees or currency conversion costs.
Some photographs cannot be perfectly recovered. Missing detail may need to be reconstructed rather than restored. You will be told what is realistic before committing to any work.
Collections
Restoration as part of a wider collection project
Restoration is sometimes the right answer for a single photograph. In larger collections, however, it is usually only one part of the wider picture.
If your photographs form part of a family archive, inherited collection, local history project or private collection, Past2Perfect can also help with assessment, organisation, digitisation planning and preservation priorities.
Related Restoration Guides
Continue exploring photograph restoration
These related pages explain common forms of damage, when to seek assessment and why careful hand restoration matters.
Restoring Torn & Severely Damaged Photos
Understand how tears, missing sections, damaged faces and severe surface loss can be restored.
Restoring Creased & Folded Photographs
Learn how fold marks, cracked surfaces and creases across faces can be repaired.
Repairing Water-Damaged Photographs
See how staining, tide marks and moisture damage can affect restoration decisions.
How to Identify Damage in Old Photos
Check whether a photograph is too fragile to clean, scan or flatten before restoration.
AI vs Hand Restoration
Understand why severe damage usually needs judgement, restraint and manual repair.
View Restoration Examples
See before-and-after examples of Past2Perfect restoration work.
Next Step
Need help with a damaged photograph?
Send a photograph for assessment, or describe the wider collection you are trying to preserve. If the photograph is torn, creased, cracked or missing important detail, include a clear image of the damaged area.