Photo restoration (nationwide, mail-in)
Hand restoration of faded, torn, water-damaged and scratched photos. Mail in from anywhere in the US, or use free Chicago pickup. Digital, USB and print delivery.
Hand photo restoration, nationwide
Photo Restoration, Scanning and VHS Transfer — Mail-In Nationwide or Free Chicago Pickup
Golden Hour Memory Company hand-restores damaged, faded and torn photos and digitizes family photos, albums, slides, negatives and home-video tapes. Mail in from anywhere in the US, or use free local pickup and return in the Chicago area. Digital files are delivered on a USB flash drive and through a secure cloud download; restored photos are also available as prints.
Every order is counted at pickup and recounted at return. Optional sharpening and custom restoration are quoted clearly instead of being added automatically.
See pricing and order
Digitization and Restoration Services
Photo scanning in Chicago
Loose prints, Polaroids, shoebox collections, albums and scrapbook pages are scanned at 600 DPI. Photos can be organized into clearly named folders by album or year, with front-and-back scanning when needed.
Slide and negative scanning
35mm slides, negatives and film strips are digitized at high resolution with a dedicated film scanner. Color correction and cleanup can help preserve aging family images.
VHS and home-video transfer
VHS, VHS-C, MiniDV, Hi8 and 8mm home-video tapes are transferred to labeled MP4 digital files so they can be watched without an aging tape player.
How Local Pickup and Digitization Work
- Prepare and schedule pickup. Remove loose photos from albums, binders and cases when possible. Golden Hour provides free pickup within about 30 miles of downtown Chicago.
- Count and digitize. Items are hand-counted, inventoried and scanned with careful handling. Originals remain locally handled rather than being mailed to a distant processing center.
- Recount and return. Originals are recounted against the inventory and returned with a USB flash drive plus secure cloud delivery.
Clear Photo Scanning and Video Transfer Pricing
Prints and photos
From $0.35 per photo, including a 600 DPI scan, hand counting and organized folders.
Slides and negatives
From $0.45 per slide, including a high-resolution film scan and organized folders.
VHS and video tapes
From $19 per tape, delivered as labeled MP4 files.
Packages
Starter, Family and Archive packages are available for common collection sizes. Current package limits and add-ons are listed on this page.
Serving Chicago and Nearby Suburbs
Free pickup and return are offered within approximately 30 miles of downtown Chicago, including areas such as Logan Square, Hyde Park, Oak Park, Evanston, Oak Lawn, Schaumburg and the edge of Naperville. Customers outside the standard zone can request a meet-up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get my originals back?
Yes. Photos, slides, negatives and tapes are returned after digitization. The process creates digital copies and does not consume the originals.
What digital files do I receive?
Each package includes a USB flash drive and a secure cloud download. Video transfers are supplied as MP4 files.
How long does an order take?
Most orders are returned within 7–10 business days. Confirm current timing when ordering, especially for large or restoration-heavy collections.
Is pickup really free?
Pickup and return are included within the standard Chicago-area service zone. Ask about arrangements outside the approximately 30-mile radius.
Start Preserving Your Family Memories
Review current packages and place an order online, or email customer.service@goldenhourmemorycompany.com with questions about formats, restoration or pickup coverage.
Choose a package