Our Story
Museum-Quality Photo Restoration Since 1971
Your photographs are pieces of history. At Old Photo Specialist, we restore and reproduce them using archival methods designed to last for generations.
Every restoration is completed in our studio from start to finish. Originals never leave our care and we never outsource your work.
Our museum-grade pigment printing and protective lacquer finishing produce images that:
• Resist fading
• Are water resistant
• Can be displayed without glass
• Preserve the original character of the photograph
For more than 50 years, families, historians, and collectors have trusted us to preserve their most meaningful images.
Photo Restoration
We restore damaged and deteriorated photographs while preserving the historical accuracy and detail of the original image.
Common restorations include:
• Tears, cracks, and creases
• Fading and discoloration
• Missing sections or surface damage
• Dust, scratches, and stains
• Contrast and clarity correction
Whenever possible, we work directly from the original photograph, which contains important visual information lost in copies.
Our Specialties
While we restore almost any photograph, we are particularly known for:
Antique Photographs (1840–1950)
Daguerreotypes, early prints, and historic family photographs.
Convex Oval Portraits
Large antique portraits often found in ornate oval frames.
Historic Panoramic Photographs
Military units, school classes, family reunions, and historic gatherings.
Large Format Restorations
Recreating small photographs into larger display pieces.
Archival Printing
All reproductions are produced using archival giclée pigment printing, the industry’s highest standard for longevity and color accuracy.
After printing, each piece is lacquer finished to protect against moisture, handling, and environmental exposure.
Our prints are designed to be displayed for decades without fading.
Antique Frame Restoration
We maintain a collection of original antique oval frames and regularly restore ornate historic frames.
In many cases we can recreate damaged photographs to properly fit original frames, preserving both the image and the presentation.
Experience Matters
Old Photo Specialist was founded in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1971 by William Heroy, a Duke University biomedical engineering graduate with a lifelong passion for photographic preservation.
Over the past five decades we have restored more than 60,000 photographs and works of art, serving families, collectors, and genealogists throughout the region.
Today the studio operates from Summerfield, North Carolina, continuing the same meticulous restoration process developed over decades.
Our Process
Every project includes:
- Professional scanning or photography of the original
- Detailed digital restoration
- Archival pigment printing
- Protective lacquer finishing
Because the entire process is performed in our studio, quality control remains in our hands at every step.
Important Guidance
To protect your originals:
• Do not attempt to unroll old panoramic photographs stored in tubes.
• Avoid removing large convex portraits from their frames.
• Whenever possible, bring the earliest version of the photograph.
We are happy to evaluate photographs in person and recommend the best restoration approach.
Preserving Family History
Photographs connect generations. When restored and reproduced properly, they can be displayed and shared without risking the original image.
Old Photo Specialist exists for one reason:
to ensure those images last for generations to come.
