FAQ

ADOPTION DESIGN SERVICES

1. I don't live near you. How does the process work? We work together via e-mail and telephone. You send me photos and your IAC approved text, and then look at the letter and website samples on my website, and give me information about your style preferences. I then use that information to put together a design draft based on your likes and preferences. Then we play with it until you are satisfied, then send it to your agency for final approval. I would make any changes that they suggest, and then the letter is done. Then we begin work on the website, if I'm doing it, and I make the website closely resemble the letter, using the same colors, fonts and graphics.

2. How long does the process take? Timelines are hard to say. I've done letters in as fast as 3 days to a week, while others have taken longer. The first part of the process is the design approval. If I hit it out of the ballpark and you like the first design I submit, then the rest of the letter just takes a few days. If you don't like the first design I come up with, then I go back to the drawing board and do something else. So it's hard to pin down. Some people have loved my first design (hence the 3-7 day timeframe) while others have had me go back to the drawing board again and again. The more detailed information you give me upfront, in terms of likes and dislikes, styles and colors, the better my chances of giving you a design you will like faster!

3. What if my agency requests changes? Will that cost extra? No. I will continue to work with you on your letter or website until your agency gives you the final approval.

4. Do you do the printing? No, but you will end up with a print ready file that you can quickly and easily upload to the online printer of your choice. I've worked extensively with PSPrint, one of the IAC's preferred vendors, and can help you upload your file if you encounter any difficulties.

5. Do you take care of the domain name and hosting? I do not. You will need to contact a domain hosting company, such as GoDaddy to purchase your website domain (address) and set up a hosting account.

6. What do I need to do to get started? Send an e-mail to me with your full names, address, phone number, and e-mail, and exactly what you want to hire me for (letter & website, letter only, etc.) and I will send you an estimate and agreement. Once you receive those documents, you can sign and return the agreement and send me the deposit, and you are good to go!

PHOTO EDITING & RESTORATION
1. My photos are faded and have lost a lot of the color. Can you restore them? Yes, these photos can be restored. Any details you can provide such as colors of items in the photo will help us restore the photo in the most accurate way possible.

2. My photos have mold, stains and tears. Can you restore these? Yes. These photos can be restored. Again, the more information you can provide about a specific photo (i.e. the location of the shot, what should be in the background if missing, etc.) the more accurate the restoration. Do not worry if little is know about the photo as a high quality restoration can still be achieved using our custom techniques.

3. How do I place an order? Please note that the photos should be submitted in the highest resolution possible, at least 300 dpi, as a .jpg, .tif, or .gif file. The bigger the file, the more information you send us, the better quality restoration or retouching we can do for you.

4. How long does it take to complete my order? It depends. One photo that has moderate damage usually takes about a week to process during most of the year. The closer we are to a holiday, the longer it may take. Rush orders are available at additional cost. Please call for an estimate.

5. Do you provide estimates? To receive a free estimate, email us a scanned copy of the photograph that you would like to be restored. The photos should be submitted in the highest resolution possible, at least 300 dpi, as a .jpg, .tif, or .gif file.

Please provide a clear description of your restoration needs. Avoid naming files as “Me and Auntie Sue”. We recommend that you use a combination of your name and the current date, and always use the file extension.

For example: Jane_Doe_07_14_2008.jpg

After examining your images an estimate will be given based on the following criteria:

· Minor Restoration $25.00 and up -- (Fading, discoloration, small scratches and blemishes not covering important areas or features.)

· Medium Restoration $40.00 and up -- (Overall fading, numerous scratches and blemishes not covering important areas or features, taped or glued corners or backgrounds.)

· Extensive Restoration $65.00 and up -- (Tears, creases, damaged sides and corners, folds, marks and stains not covering important areas or features, uneven fading, mold and water damage.)

· Extreme Restoration $80.00 and up -- (Estimate is given upon examination of the photograph. Repair of complex areas such as faces and hands, removal of subjects, and/or backgrounds.)