Will You Edit My Photograph?

One of the common questions I am asked at Esther's Place is, "Will you edit my photograph?".

 

The answer - I do perform basic edits to a customer's photograph.  I do not perform major edits such as repairing a photograph.

Often I need to crop the photograph to highlight the individual. 

 

I might crop the photograph as a whole.

 

Or I might crop just the person I need to use from the photograph.

 

I will also adjust the exposure of a photograph if needed to create a clearer image to use in various settings.

 

 

If  there is a question of how a photograph will work in a custom order, I will e-mail my customer a sample edit of how their photograph will appear in their chosen setting.

 

As always, if you have a question about a photograph you wish to use, just e-mail at EsthersPlace[at]yahoo.com.

Finding the Photographs and Stories

It is no secret that I love family history.  I started out in genealogy and quickly learned that the real story is not in the formal records I often research, but in the letters, oral traditions and (of course!) photographs of my family and ancestors.

People often ask me where do I find the stories and photographs I use in my blog and in my jewelry.

My best advice for finding family photographs  and stories?

Just Ask!

Your Parents, Grandparents, Third cousins, First cousins twice removed, Aunts, Uncles.....

 I just started asking my close family members, my extended family and other family researchers for photographs and stories.  When I interview extended family members I ask if they have any photographs to share.  I often take digital photographs of their collections.  I have yet to meet anyone who was reluctant to share.

This is a digital photograph taken of the original photograph.

Many of the photographs of my ancestors have actually found me.  Once my extended family knew I was researching the family history, I became the repository for a lot of family memorabilia.  I think they saw an opportunity to clean out their closets! 

It is not unusual to find me at my kitchen table with any number of photographs spread out while I work to sort and organize and even identify the photographs. My children will ask who someone is or comment on the "funny" hairstyle and I use that opportunity to share a bit of the person's story.

That's part of  how I started making the photo charm jewelry and home decor items.  It is an opportunity to share a bit of a person's story and spark an interest within the current generations in their heritage.

Esther Richardson

I wonder what my ancestors think of me using their images is this way.  Would they say, "Way to go!"? Or would my great grandmother Esther say "I can't believe you used that picture.  I was having a bad hair day!"?

 I think I'll go with the first option.

Photograph Q & A

I often get questions about the type of photographs I use when creating custom orders for Esther's Place.  This is my attempt to answer your questions about type of photograph, the size of a photograph, etc.

1. How do I get my photographs to you? Simply scan your photograph and e-mail it to me at Lissongenealogy[at]yahoo[dot]com.  That's it.

2. Will you edit the photographs?  I will make only minor edits and/or crops to a photograph as needed to create your item.

3. When ordering the Scrabble Tile Christmas ornaments, can I use the same photograph if it has several people in it? Absolutely. From the photograph below, I created 4 (out of a set of 6)  of the Scrabble Tile Ornaments.

4. What happens if a photograph just will not work for a chosen custom gift item?  I will contact you before I begin creating your gift item of choice if I have concerns your photograph will not work due to size or quality.  Older photographs can be quite variable in their quality, but can also be very "forgiving" when using to create custom items.

5. Do I have to use an "old" photograph? Absolutely not!  All of the custom items in Esther's Place work great with contemporary digital photographs.  Each custom item will look great with a photograph using your children, your grandchildren and even the family pet.

Did I miss your question?  Contact me and I will be happy to help you.