HOW TO TAKE A GOOD SNAPSHOT OF YOUR PHOTO FOR SUBMISSION

Having a good, clear photo will help us provide you with an accurate evaluation and quote for your restoration project.

1. You may use any camera, phone or tablet to take your photo.

2. Use bright, even lighting while avoiding glare:

Take your photo during the day, in a windowed room with lots of natural daylight.
Place your photo near the window, but out of any direct sunlight that might reflect off the surface or cast shadows.
Turn off other lights nearby that could cause glare or mixed, yellow light casts on your photo.
DON'T USE FLASH! This usually causes bright glare off the photo.
If you need to take your photo when there is little or no natural daylight, try to find an area that is bright, but not directly under any bulbs that cause reflections in your photo.
Sometimes holding the photo up vertically, perpendicular to the light source, can help to eliminate any glare from nearby lights.

3. Find a clean, neutral surface for the background:

Place the photo on (or in front of) a clean, neutral coloured surface (preferably white, grey or black, for accurate colour representation).
Eliminate clutter from around the edges.

4. Position your camera directly in front of the photo, square-on:

Get your camera as close to the photo as possible, without cutting off any of the edges.
Adjust your camera angle until is is perfectly square with the photo - all the edges of the photo should be straight, parallel with the camera screen's edges.

5. Hold your camera as still as possible and take the photo. Evaluate the photo and zoom in to ensure it's evenly lit and there is no blur. Now you can submit your photo!

Below are some examples of good sample photos, and what to avoid:

GOOD

Even lighting, No reflections or shadows, Neutral background, Straight-on angle, No blur

GLARE

Reflections are caused by a nearby light source

TOO DARK

There was not enough light, resulting in a dark, grainy, unclear image

GOOD

Even Light, Neutral Background, Minimal reflections, Mostly straight view

FLASH

A flash was used, causing bright reflections off the photo's surface

BLUR

Low-light + slight motion of the camera results in motion blur

GOOD

Even lighting, No reflections or shadows, Neutral background, Straight-on angle, No blur

SHADOW CAST

Photo taken in direct light, casting a shadow of the camera and photographer onto the picture

MIXED LIGHT

Yellow light cast by a nearby lamp makes it difficult to asses colour

GOOD

Photo is stuck in an album but it is clear which photo is in question, the light is even and cast shadows are avoided

SHADOWS AND CLUTTER

Uneven bright light and shadows + surrounding clutter make the image hard to distinguish

UN-EVEN LIGHTING

The lighting is not even, resulting in a misrepresentation of the image