RESTORATION, PRESERVATION & ARCHIVING

MENU
Preserve Your Past - restoration, preservation, archiving service Professional Photo Restoration Service New York

Since establishing Preserve Your Past restoration studio in Spring of 2002 Sebastian Wintermute has rescued thousands of old photographs and faded pages. He had preserved time withered papers signed by Presidents of the United States, fragile documents from NASA Apollo Space Program, and restored the only surviving photographs of victims of the Holocaust.

Sebastian’s skills, knowledge and dedication made him a true expert in the field of photo restoration, while his deep knowledge and passion for history often turns seemingly simple restoration project into a fascinating journey of discovery of forgotten names, places and events.

Because of his professionalism, knowledge, and experience, Sebastian has been entrusted to restore and to preserve photographs and documents by many high-profile private clients and some of the most prestigious companies and organizations worldwide.

Would you like to learn more?

 
A 19th-century husband-and-wife portrait came from a collection of family portraits and photographs of an extended Irish-American family with a history spanning well over 150 years. A black and white photograph of Milan Rastislav Stefanik was restored and colorized, accurately recreating the appearance of WWI uniform and the military decorations as they were confirmed by research and consultations with experts in military history, decorations and uniforms. The faded photograph of the Apollo 8 taken during the moment of lift-off from Cape Canaveral and the NASA badge were brought by the family of an engineer who, for many years, worked on the NASA space program to be restored and combined into a photo collage. While there is no easy fix for photographs covered with stains and mildew, and restoration can be time-consuming and costly, a professional photo restorer can bring those water-damaged photographs to their original condition, to be enjoyed by a family for generations to come.
Humidifying, unrolling, and restoring a rolled-up photograph. Those pictures were frequently tightly rolled up, and as time went on, they dried out and cracked, making it impossible to unroll them without causing more harm. Resrtoraton of 1890s photograph of the original New York Plaza Hotel before it was replaced by the current building in 1905. The photograph required careful cleaning and retouching of some missing parts of the building and it's surrounding. Restoration of a Boy Scout Lifesaving and Meritorious Action Award for saving a man from drowning as a present to the original recipient on his 95th birthday. Even a photograph that was torn into little pieces and thought to be beyond salvation can be restored to its original appearance with skill, hard work, and a bit of luck.
Restoration and reproduction of a historic WWII photograph of General MacArthur and General Eisenhower taken during their meeting in Japan by Tom Shafer. Water spots and mildew stains are common damages on many old photographs. A professional photo restoration artist can repair and remove these damages from an original photograph or produce a high-quality digital reproduction, bringing back the photograph's original appearance. Even the most faded and damaged photographs, for which a client had given up hope of having them restored, can be brought back with hard work and a touch of miracle.

An artist's portfolio is a window into their skills and specialties, highlighting the different mediums a restorer often works with, their professional experience in restoration, and their level of expertise, along with the kinds of projects they have completed. Sebastian's portfolio showcases his commitment to maintaining outstanding craftsmanship and integrity. Thanks to his talent and expertise, even the most badly damaged photographs can be beautifully restored.

For additional examples of Sebastian's work and to discover the fascinating stories behind many of the restored photographs and documents, please view the full portfolio.

 

NEW YORK STUDIO

Photo Restoration Service in New York City

To schedule a consultation please e-mail the following:

Please e-mail restoration@preserveyourpast.org with any questions you may have or if you require additional information.

 

 
© 2002-2026 Preserve Your Past
 
By accessing this website you signify that you read, understood, and agreed to be bound by Terms of Services.
If you do not agree to these terms, you are not permitted to use the Services.
These Terms of Services have the same force and effect as an agreement in writing.