Photo restoration
Torn, faded, water-stained and cracked prints are scanned and repaired, then returned as high-resolution files ready to print and share.
- Prints and Polaroids
- Albums and loose photos
- Slides and negatives
Fadedisn'tfinished.
Second Exposure is a photo and film workshop in Austin, TX. We restore old photographs, move home video off aging tapes and camera discs, and develop film. Rather do it yourself? We'll show you how.
- Photos, film and video under one roof
- Originals come back with your order
Before
After
At the
counter
Three kinds of work come across our counter. Bring in what you have and we'll tell you what's possible before any work starts.
Video transfer
Home movies come off aging tapes and camera discs before they stop playing for good. You get digital files you can watch, share and keep.
- VHS, VHS-C and S-VHS
- Hi8, Digital8 and MiniDV
- Mini DVD camcorder discs
- Old camera memory cards
Film developing
Rolls from the back of the drawer or ones you shot last week, developed and scanned so you can finally see what's on them.
- Color film
- Black-and-white film
- Disposable cameras
What we
fix
Pick the damage that looks like yours, then drag across the photo to see the difference restoration makes.
Color prints and slides drift toward pink and orange as their dyes break down, and the shadows wash out to gray. Color balance and lighting tools bring back the original tones and depth.
- Balance color
- Adjust lighting
- Denoise
Specks, hairline scratches, fold lines and water stains get detected and painted out, while the grain of the original photo stays where it belongs. A healing brush handles whatever's left.
- Dust and scratch removal
- Healing brush
When a face is only a smudge of a few pixels, face recovery rebuilds the eyes, hair and skin texture so the person reads clearly again. Sharpening takes care of the rest of the frame.
- Face recovery
- Sharpen
- Denoise
Wallet photos, contact prints and old low-resolution scans can be enlarged up to 16 times the pixels, with detail filled in instead of blurred. Big enough to frame.
- AI upscaling
- Face recovery
Footage captured from VHS, Hi8 or MiniDV gets deinterlaced, cleaned of tape noise and color smear, steadied, and upscaled to HD or 4K for today's screens.
- Deinterlace
- Denoise
- Stabilize
- Upscale to 4K
Before
After
Examples show common kinds of damage, simulated on public-domain photographs from the Library of Congress. Ask at the counter to see real before-and-afters.
How a job
works
From the counter back to your hands in four steps.
-
Bring it in
Drop off your photos, tapes or film at the counter during open hours.
-
We look it over
We check the condition, talk through what's possible and give you a quote and a ready date.
-
We do the work
Scanning, repair, transfer or developing, done in the shop.
-
Pick it up
Collect your originals along with the restored files.
Rather do it
yourself?
Not every job needs the counter. With a scanner and a free evening, AI restoration software can fix fading, dust, scratches and blurry faces on a home computer, and clean up captured home video too.
Restore it yourselfMove the loupe across the print to see what the software brings back. Start with one photo, and bring us the jobs you'd rather not tackle.
Boy and girl with two dogs and a wagon, around 1900
Counter
or kitchen table
Both get your memories back. Here's how to pick.
| Compare | At the counter | At home |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Fragile originals, big collections, tapes and film that need special equipment | Prints you can scan yourself and files already on your computer |
| Equipment | Ours | A scanner or capture device and your computer |
| Timing | We give you a ready date | Whenever you have a free evening |
| Decisions | We do the work, you approve the result | You choose every setting and can redo anything |
Visit
the shop
11740 Jollyville Road, Suite 400Austin, TX 78759
(212)542-5435
[email protected]
| Mon–Fri | 9am - 5pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 9am - 5pm |
| Sunday | 9am - 5pm |
Good
questions
What people ask at the counter most often.
How long does a job take?
It depends on the work and how much is in the box. We'll look everything over when you drop it off and give you a ready date then.
How much does it cost?
Every job is different, so we quote at the counter before any work starts. Nothing happens until you say yes.
Are my originals safe with you?
Your originals stay in the shop while we work and come back to you with the finished order.
What formats do you transfer?
VHS, VHS-C, S-VHS, Hi8, Digital8, MiniDV, mini DVD camcorder discs and old camera memory cards. If you're not sure what you have, bring it in and we'll take a look.
Can I restore photos myself instead?
Yes. If you have a scanner, AI restoration software can fix fading, dust, scratches and soft faces on a home computer, and clean up captured video too. Get the restoration software. Bring us the jobs you'd rather not tackle.
Do you make the software you link to?
No. We're an independent workshop. When you buy software through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our disclosure.
Got a box
of memories?
Bring it to the counter, or start restoring tonight at home.