Picture the Past Genealogy

Genealogy Photography Services

Digitizing, dating or naming people in photographs are not the only way genealogy and photography connect. I provide a variety of services and this is just a bullet point list of options. Please, feel free to reach out for your particular concerns and needs whether local or distant. A quick consultation and I can determine your needs and if I can assist or provide sources if I cannot.


Genealogy Photography Services:

  • Photo retouching can be things like scratches, contrast, fading, defining. All images on my site are my family and have been retouched. You can see before and after images here: Before and After.
  • Photo scanning and organizing. Don’t feel bad. Everyone puts it off. It’s a lot of work and just daunting if you do not have the tools or patience. Archiving is also highly recommended and an available option. See an example below.
  • Photo dating includes looking for clues and items that can date an image including the kind of photograph itself. A Daguerre, tin type or polaroid are all clues of age of a photograph.
  • Photographing memorabilia and ephemera items. See an example below.
  • Photograph assignments in the San Francisco/Bay Area. Examples are historical ancestral family homes and locations, grave sites, monuments, lands, businesses, or any of the like that you find in your family’s history. This may include travel fees. See an example below of my humble beginnings in small town America.
  • Generational photography portraiture. Now, this relates a bit more to my other business, but families are usually so proud to say, “We are five generations of women!”. Well, let’s photograph that! Maybe it is a pre-planned portrait session or a quick break in a family gathering or purposely trying to recreate the photograph of your ancestors. Take the time. You never know when you may have the opportunity again and it’s a memory that can be shared for generations. You can find information on my photography services at Misti Layne Portraiture.
  • A new research contract of ten hours or more will include editing/retouching of up to ten photographs.
  • Something else? Please contact me to discuss.

Photograph scanning, retouching and organizing.


On-site ephemera and memorabilia documentation.


Family Homesteads, Homes and Graves Tour


Picture the Past Genealogy