Quick Guide
1. Distance to camera
Make sure that if you'd like to be right next to yourself, the distance between you and the camera in the two photos are about the same.
2. Direction of light
It's important that the light in the new photo comes from the same direction as the old one. For example, if on-camera flash was used, it should also be used in the new photo.
3. Anticipate position
Think ahead of how you'd like the photos to be combined; how you anticipate yourself being joined with your younger you. We can help you with that. Tip: instead of finding a recent photo, take a new one! Or, if you live in the greater San Diego area, I will take a few pictures of you for an extra fee of $30.
4. Resolution
In case you send us digital images, keep in mind that the resolution of the two photos needs to be similar.
5. Send photos
You can email us digital images (<10 MB, see email address on Contact Page), or mail digital images on CD, prints, slides (without glass), or negatives to
Eyeball Photography
P.O. Box 161168
San Diego, CA 92176
You might want to read details on how to send prints, slides or negatives through mail in the Detailed Guide below.
Let us know whether you'd like us to perform a color correction on faded photos, or leave it as is. In the latter case, we'll make sure your new you will look faded too. Note that our goal is to create the illusion you were actually present with your younger you. This means that if the older photo was slightly blurred, you will be too in the combined photo.
6. We will give you feedback on the photos you've sent us
If the photos are suitable to work with, we will send you a link where you can make an online payment and we'll start creating your Memory Passage! Memory Passages start at $99. For this price we'll join your current you with your younger you in the older photograph. The price may be higher if more work is required. For instance, many customers request to have more people (like siblings or partners,) included in one Memory Passage.
Detailed Guide
For best results, it is important to consider the following suggestions in selecting the right photos for a successful Memory Passage.
1. Distance to camera
It's all about perspective and relative distances. In selecting the photo with your current you - or even better, taking a new photo of yourself alltogether - try to imagine where your younger you would be in this new photo with regard to distance to the camera. The further away a person is to the camera the "flatter" that person will appear. That would be fine if you would be at that same distance in the Memory Passage, but bringing you closer afterwards in joining the photos, it just wouldn't look right.
2. Direction of light
People will immediately notice when light on a person comes from a different direction than is naturally present in the rest of the photo. It would appear to be "photoshopped". That's not what we want. Therefore, make sure the direction of light is the same in the two photos to be combined. Again, taking a new photo makes things a lot easier: you can make the light come from the same direction. Was on-camera flash used in the older photo? Use flash again in the new one! Don't worry about color casts or faded colors, we will match these between photos.
3. Anticipate position
In selecting the photo from the past, choose one in which there is room for the current you. In selecting the photo from the present, choose one that fits with your idea how you'd like to be joined. Do you want to look yourself in the eyes? Is there a chair present in the photo from the past in which you could be sitting in? Of course, the best way to accomplish this is to take a new photo of yourself, giving you total control about composition, including lighting. If you live in the greater San Diego area, I can work personally with you and take a few pictures of you for an extra fee of $30.
4. Resolution
In case you'd like to send us digital images, make sure the resolution - the number of pixels - in the photo from the past and the one from the present is similar. It is better that the number of pixels in the photo from the present is larger than in the photo from the past than the other way around. In addition to this, think of how big you'd like prints of your Memory Passage. The optimal resolution to get the best quality print is about 300 pixels per inch, but down to 150 pixels per inch still gives very good results. That means that a Memory Passage of 1200 by 1800 pixels can be printed as large as 8 by 12 inches.
5. Send photos
You can email us digital images (<10 MB, see email address on Contact Page), or mail digital images on CD, prints, slides (without glass), or negatives to
Eyeball Photography
P.O. Box 161168
San Diego, CA 92176
The above order of options is the preferred order of how we'd like to receive images. If you don't have digital images (our first preference), we can scan your prints, slides, or negatives. Of course, we will be as careful as possible with your precious photos, but we cannot be responsible for possible damage - for example due to shipping. Therefore we recommend the following methods of shipping:
Prints: Place prints in a Ziploc™ bag to protect it from moisture and place the Ziploc™ bag in an envelope that is made of cardboard. Usually these are referred to as "Photo/Document Mailers". Don't use envelopes with bubble wrap, because these are not sturdy enough. Basically you need to prevent that your prints get bend.
Slides: Place the slide(s) in a little rectangular box and place the box in a Ziploc™ bag to protect it from moisture. Place the Ziploc™ bag in a box designed for shipping. You can get these at your local post-office, UPS or Kinko's stores.
Negatives: Place the negatives in an envelope and the envelope in a Ziploc™ bag to protect it from moisture. Place the Ziploc™ bag in a box designed for shipping. You can get these at your local post-office, UPS or Kinko's stores. If there are more negatives on one strip, let us know which negative to use for your Memory Passage.
6. We will give you feedback on the photos you've sent us
And we will let you know whether the photos are suitable to work with. If they are, we will send you a link where you can make an online payment and we will start creating your Memory Passage! Most Memory Passages cost only $99. For this price we will join your current you with your younger you in the older photograph. The price may be higher if more work is required. For instance, many customers request to have more people (like siblings or partners,) included in one Memory Passage.
