Frequently asked questions.

Who We Are

  • Digital Legacy Studios is a white-glove media digitization and archival studio based in West Hartford, Connecticut.
    We specialize in preserving family photos, slides, negatives, VHS tapes, camcorder videos, film reels, and legacy media, carefully converting everything into organized, high-resolution digital files. Every project is handled locally, by trained professionals, with museum-grade care and attention to detail, so your history is protected for future generations.

  • Most digitizing services run like factories, box it, ship it, and hope for the best.
    We take the opposite approach.

    • Every item is hand-cleaned and inspected

    • Files are labeled and organized to match your physical collection

    • Fragile or historical items receive archival-level handling

    • You work directly with a real preservation specialist, not a warehouse

    • Local drop-off, pickup, guidance, and communication throughout your project

    Clients choose DLS when accuracy, privacy, and long-term preservation truly matter, not just quick conversion.

  • We provide professional digitization and archival services for almost every legacy format:

    Photo & Image Digitization

    • Loose photos, albums, scrapbook pages

    • Slides & negatives (all sizes)

    • Oversized prints & delicate items

    • Optional photo restoration

    Video & Film Transfer

    • VHS, VHS-C, Hi8, MiniDV, camcorder tapes

    • 8mm, Super 8, and 16mm film reels

    • DVD/CD transfers & consolidation

    Organization & Delivery

    • Folder structures that mirror your originals

    • Custom file naming and labeling

    • Secure download, USB, or external hard drive

    • Optional setup in Apple Photos, Mylio, FOREVER, or SmugMug

    Our goal isn’t just to digitize your media; it’s to make it easy to access, private, and secure to share and pass down.

  • DLS is ideal for people who value preservation quality and organization, including:

    • Families preserving decades of memories

    • Estates managing inherited photo and video collections

    • Genealogists and historians

    • Museums, archives, and community organizations

    • Anyone who wants their digitized files organized, not dumped into a folder

    If your collection is meaningful, fragile, or historically important, we’re the right partner.

  • Digital Legacy Studios is proudly located in West Hartford, Connecticut.
    We serve clients throughout:

    • West Hartford

    • Hartford County

    • Greater Connecticut

    • Surrounding New England + select mail-in projects world wide

    Local clients enjoy free consultations, safe drop-off options, and optional pickup, while shipped projects are handled with secure tracking and personal communication every step of the way.

  • At Digital Legacy Studios, our focus is preservation, privacy, and accuracy, not volume or shortcuts. To keep your memories safe and handled with respect, there are a few important things we don’t do:

    We are not a bulk mail-in scanning factory.
    We don’t run assembly-line digitizing or rush projects through. Every item is cleaned, inspected, and handled by trained professionals, one collection at a time.

    We don’t upload or share your media without permission.
    Your memories are private. Files are never uploaded to cloud services or shared with anyone unless you specifically request it.

    We don’t reuse, sell, or monetize customer content.
    Your photos and videos belong to you, and only you. They are never used for marketing, AI training, advertising, or resale.

    We are not a franchise or national chain.
    We are a boutique, locally operated studio in West Hartford, Connecticut, offering personal service, not an anonymous warehouse.

    We don’t take shortcuts that risk long-term preservation.
    We avoid low-resolution scanning, improper formats, or poor organization practices that make files hard to use later.

    Our promise is simple: Your memories stay safe, private, and preserved the right way, with care, transparency, and archival best practices.

Digital Legacy Studios is a white-glove preservation and archival studio based in West Hartford, Connecticut. We specialize in the museum-grade digitization and long-term stewardship of photographs, slides, videotapes, film, and historically significant media for families, museums, and institutions.

Serving West Hartford and all of Hartford County, we also work with clients nationwide and internationally. Every project is handled in-house with meticulous care, intentional structure, and respect for the irreplaceable nature of the media.

  • We do NOT operate as a bulk mail-in discount service.

  • We do NOT monetize or sell client content.

  • We are NOT a discount bulk mail-in only service.

  • We do NOT automatically upload media to third-party cloud storage without explicit client consent.

  • We are NOT a franchise or national chain.

We don’t just digitize media.
We preserve legacies, structure data, and future-proof memories.

Black and white photo of a group of children standing outdoors on a blanket, some with arms around each other, with trees and grass in the background.
Collection of vintage black and white photographs of people, including a young boy in a suit, a woman with curly hair, and a man in academic attire.
Vintage black-and-white photograph of a family standing outside on a cobblestone street, with brick buildings in the background. The family includes three adult men and women, and three children, with one child being held by an adult.

1. What is the cost?

  - Every collection is unique. Pricing is determined after a brief review of your media, including its condition, volume, format, and your long-term preservation goals.

Digital Legacy Studios is a white-glove archival studio. Our work prioritizes preservation-grade handling, privacy, accurate metadata, and long-term accessibility, which means projects are scoped and priced differently than big-box or mail-away options.

Most projects begin with a consultation and a custom quote. Minimum project sizes apply to ensure each collection receives the level of care, attention, and stewardship it deserves.

2. How long does the digitization process take?

   - The time required for digitization depends on the quantity and type of media you have. We strive to complete the process as efficiently as possible while maintaining the highest quality. Upon assessment of your specific project, we can provide you with an estimated timeline. Generally, it takes around 2 weeks.

3. Are my original photos, videos, and audio recordings safe during the digitization process?

   - Yes, we understand the value and importance of your original media. We handle them with utmost care and ensure their safety throughout the entire digitization process. Our technicians are trained to handle delicate items and follow strict protocols to protect your memories.

4. What file formats do you provide for digitized media?

   - For photos, we typically provide JPEG files, which are widely compatible with various devices and software. Videos are usually converted to commonly used formats such as MP4, while audio files can be provided in formats like MP3 or WAV. If you have specific format requirements, please let us know, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.

5. Can you enhance the quality of old, damaged, or faded photos and videos?

   - Yes, our technicians are skilled in using advanced editing tools to enhance the quality of your media. We can repair minor damages, correct color inconsistencies, reduce noise, and improve overall clarity to the best extent possible. However, please note that the final outcome depends on the condition of the original media.

6. What happens to my original media after digitization?

   - Once the digitization process is complete and you have received your digitized files, your original media will be returned to you along with the digitized copies. We understand the sentimental value of these items and make sure they are returned safely to you.

7. Can you create customized photo books or slideshows using digitized media?

   - Yes, we offer additional services such as creating high-quality professional photo books and slideshows using your digitized photos and videos. These personalized products are a great way to showcase your memories and make wonderful gifts for loved ones.

8. Is my digitized media backed up for future access?

   - Yes, as part of our process, we provide options for storing your digitized media in external hard drives, flash drives, and cloud-based systems. This ensures that you have secure backup copies and easy access to your digitized files whenever you need them.

9. Do I need to live in your area to use your services?

   - No, you do not need to reside in our area to benefit from our services. We welcome media shipments from anywhere, and we can provide you with all the necessary information after a short consultation to ensure your media is handled securely and efficiently. Please reach out to us to discuss how we can assist you, no matter where you are located.


10. Do you offer international shipping?

   - Yes, we provide international shipping services. Whether you are located locally or overseas, we can safely deliver your digitized media to your preferred destination. Please visit the contact page for more information and specifics, or go to our forms page. 

11. Do you offer storage?

- No, we provide services to assist with directing you to personal storage. This includes drives and software, depending on your media and the amount.

11. Are there surcharges?

- Out of respect for all of our clients, Digital Legacy Studios maintains a limited-capacity, climate-controlled studio to house active projects safely. To reserve space and begin work, a deposit is due upon receipt of the media.

If physical media is left with us without a deposit, a storage surcharge may be applied to account for secure handling, climate control, and limited studio capacity.

Once a project is completed, we kindly ask that final payment and pickup or delivery arrangements be completed within two weeks. If physical media remains in our studio for more than two weeks after project completion, a 20% storage surcharge will be applied to the remaining project balance.

This policy allows us to responsibly care for completed collections while making space to assist other clients who are waiting for service. We’re always happy to coordinate pickup or delivery in advance to ensure a smooth and timely transition.

12. How can I contact DLS?

To ensure every inquiry receives thoughtful, accurate attention, Digital Legacy Studios begins all new projects by email. This allows us to review your needs, understand the scope of your media, and prepare for a productive conversation.

Once we’ve connected by email, we’re always happy to continue the discussion by phone, FaceTime, Zoom, or in person as appropriate. Starting with email helps us respect your time, protect your privacy, and provide the level of care each project deserves.

This approach also allows us to manage our studio workflow responsibly and give every client, current and future, the attention their irreplaceable media requires.

13. What we DO NOT do:

  • We are not a low-cost bulk mail-in scanning factory.

  • We do not upload media to third-party cloud services without explicit client permission.

  • We do not reuse, share, sell, or monetize client content.

  • We are not a franchise or national chain.

  • We do not take shortcuts that compromise archival quality.

If you have any further questions or specific requirements, please don't hesitate to contact our team. We are here to help you preserve your legacies and provide the best digitization solutions tailored to your needs.