Every Project Is Different
Why There’s No Flat Pricing for Memory Work
One of the most common questions I hear is:
“How much will this cost?”
It’s a fair and important question. And the honest answer is: it depends.
Not because I’m being vague — but because no two photo or memory projects are ever the same.
Behind every collection is a unique story, and the time, care, and attention required can vary widely from one project to another.
What Affects the Scope of a Memory Project?
Several key factors influence how long a project takes and, ultimately, the investment involved.
1. Volume
A single small box of photos is very different from multiple bins, albums, slides, and negatives. The size of a collection directly affects the time needed to sort, prepare, scan, and organize (both digital and printed photos).
2. Condition of Materials
Not all photos arrive in the same state. Faded prints, curled edges, torn photos, sticky albums, fragile slides, or tightly mounted images require extra care and handling. Preservation work takes time — and it should.
3. Preparation (or Lack of It)
Loose photos mixed together take longer to process than photos that are partially sorted. Albums that combine decades of memories require more attention than those already organized by era or family. Even small amounts of preparation can significantly affect efficiency.
4. Decisions — The Most Overlooked Factor
This is often the biggest variable. Deciding what to keep, what to discard, what to scan, what to restore, and what to turn into a book requires thoughtful choices. These decisions shape the story your collection tells — and they cannot be rushed without compromising the outcome.
Understanding the Investment
Memory work is an investment because many variables are not fully visible at the beginning.
These are your life photos — and often the stories of generations before you. They were created over years and lifetimes of meaningful moments. Preserving that history thoughtfully takes time, care, and intention — and in memory work, time equals investment.
Even after reviewing a collection, surprises often emerge. One box may contain neatly labeled, chronological albums, while another may hold a mix of loose, unidentified photos. The difference in time, care, and attention can be significant.
My commitment is always the same: to work as efficiently and thoughtfully as possible while giving your memories the respect they deserve.
Why Hourly Pricing Makes Sense
Memory work is not a factory process. It is personal, emotional, and highly customized.
Hourly pricing ensures:
You pay only for the time your specific project requires
The process can adapt as discoveries and decisions unfold naturally
Transparency throughout the project
The focus remains on quality and care — not speed
A flat price would either overcharge some clients or limit the time needed to do the work properly. Neither aligns with how I believe memory work should be done.
Want to Reduce Time (and Cost)? You Can.
Some clients prefer a more hands-on approach, and that is always welcome. If minimizing hours is important to you, here are meaningful ways to streamline your project:
Choose your must-keep photos first — You don’t need to decide everything, just what matters most.
Separate obvious discards — Duplicates, blurry images, empty envelopes. Simple wins.
Group photos by event or era — Even loose piles labeled “vacations,” “kids,” or “parents” help significantly.
Curate school photos — Use the school photos to help identify and date unknown images by comparing the children’s ages and development from year to year
Avoid perfection — “Good enough” decisions keep projects moving forward.
Ask questions early — Clarity prevents rework later.
None of this is required — but it is always available if you want to do some preliminary work before giving it to a Photo Manager.
The Bottom Line
Every project is different because every family, every story, and every collection is different.
My role is to meet you where you are, guide the process with care, and handle your memories with the respect they deserve.
If you have ever wondered why memory work cannot be one-size-fits-all pricing, I hope this provides clarity — and reassurance.
Because in the end, this work is about more than photos.
It is about preserving moments, stories, and legacies that matter.
