The Negatives Hold More Than the Prints Ever Did
Hidden in old photo envelopes are your family's true originals - the film negatives. These small strips contain more detail and richer color than any paper print. I have the specialized equipment and the patience to unlock that hidden quality, right here in Colwood.
The negative is the original - not the print
Every print made from that negative was a copy. The negative holds the full detail, the full colour range, everything the print lost in the darkroom. And negatives do not last forever.
They stay in the envelope because they are hard to see
Most people have never held their own family negatives up to the light. They sit in the photo-finishing envelopes from the lab, decades-old, never examined.
Consumer scanners cannot do justice to film
A flatbed scanner built for paper prints handles film negatives poorly. Dedicated film scanning equipment - which is what I use - makes a measurable difference in the result.
Your Negatives Never Leave Colwood
While photo prints can fade and lose detail, the original negative is the direct source of the image. Scanning a negative is the best way to create a high-quality digital archive of your family's photographic history. A scan from the original negative captures a far greater range of light, shadow, and subtle color than a scan from a paper print. I can often recover details you've never seen before, revealing the full depth and clarity of the original moment.
How It Works
Drop-Off in Colwood
Use my online form to book a private drop-off time. This ensures I can review your items with you personally when you arrive.
Approve Estimate
Once I have your project, I don't just process it. I inspect the condition of every tape and page. If I find something that needs special attention, I’ll call you.
Enjoy and Share
You’ll receive a secure download link, and a USB if requested. You can finally watch your memories on your phone, tablet, or TV.
Film Formats I Handle
35mm Negatives
Whether from a 1960s Kodak Instamatic or a 1990s SLR, 35mm is the film most families have the most of. I scan at high resolution with colour correction and density adjustment for each roll.
110 and 126 Cartridge Film
These small-format negatives came from the Kodak Pocket Instamatics and similar cameras. They require different handling than 35mm but the images are often the most personal - everyday family moments, not posed shots.
Medium Format and Large Format
Medium format film holds more detail per frame than 35mm. These are often portrait negatives, studio shots, or negatives from a serious hobbyist. I have the equipment to handle them properly.
Careful Handling in the Workshop
Your negatives never leave my care and are handled as the fragile originals they are.
- Color correction: I correct color to restore original, accurate hues.
- Archival detail: I capture every nuanced fragment of the original image, revealing details that may never have appeared on the original print.
- Local and secure: Your negatives stay right here in Colwood, never shipped to an outside lab.
Asked Often
What formats of negatives do you accept?
I accept standard 35mm color and black-and-white negatives. If you have 120 medium format or other sizes, bring them along and I'll take a look.
Do I need to remove the negatives from their sleeves?
No. Bring them as they are. I handle the removal and return them to their sleeves.
Will the scans be better than prints from the same negative?
Usually yes. Scanning the original negative captures more detail and color range than any print. You may see detail in highlights and shadows that never made it onto the printed photo.
What resolution do you scan at?
I scan at high resolution for detail suitable for large-format reprints. The exact DPI depends on the film format.
What types of negatives can you scan?
I scan all common formats — 35mm, 110, 120 (medium format), 4x5 large format, APS film strips, and even glass plate negatives. If it fits on my flatbed scanner with the custom LED backlight, I can scan it. Colour and black-and-white are both handled at high resolution with dust and scratch correction.
How are negatives different from slides?
Slides are the finished image mounted in a small frame — you can hold them up to a light and see the photo. Negatives are the opposite — the colours and tones are reversed, so they don't look like much until they're scanned and processed. Both need specialized equipment, but I handle each type regularly.
What if my negatives are curled, stuck together, or still in strips?
That's completely normal. Old negatives curl, stick, and tangle — it comes with age. I work with them in whatever state they arrive: loose singles, strips, full uncut rolls, or tangled bundles. Each frame gets scanned individually at high resolution regardless.
What My Clients Say
“I found a tape of my grandmother telling family stories from the 80s. I was terrified to play it. Dave handled it so carefully and the digital audio file he sent me is a treasure my whole family now has. The fact that I could just drop it off in Colwood was a huge relief.”
Transparent pricing. Every job guaranteed.
Every job starts with a free estimate. See typical costs before you commit, and if anything isn't right when I'm done, I'll fix it at no charge.
Your negatives are the original. Don't scan a copy.
Book a drop-off in Colwood and I'll scan your negatives to the highest possible resolution. Your originals come back the moment I'm done.