How should the story be organised?
A memoir may follow a person's life chronologically, while a wider family history may work better by generation or branch. Make it clear who is speaking and which period is being described. A contents plan shows where material is missing.
Distinguish personal recollections from information established by documents. Different memories can be acknowledged rather than forced into an unsupported single account. Use consistent names, dates and place names throughout.
Which photographs and documents should you send?
Use original digital files or good scans of surviving prints. A scan is a digital reproduction of a physical original. If you have no scanner, I can scan paper prints in the studio. The detail required depends on the image's size in the finished book.
Changing a resolution setting does not restore missing detail. A messaging app may compress an image, so ask the sender for the original where possible. Name each file clearly and supply captions identifying people, places, dates and the source.
What can restoration achieve?
Retouching may improve brightness, contrast, marks and visible damage. The result depends on what remains in the source. Missing facial detail cannot simply be assumed recoverable.
Decide whether folds, borders and handwritten notes should remain as part of the document's history. Keep an untouched copy of every original.
How I work on these publications. Photo retouching starts at PLN 10-15 net per image. Book typesetting starts at PLN 200 net per publishing unit, approximately 40,000 characters including spaces for continuous prose. Image-heavy books are assessed from the complete material.
How should names and private information be checked?
Ask one family member to check names, dates and relationships described in the text. Mark uncertain details consistently rather than filling gaps with guesses. If the book is to include a family tree, supply it as a finished, good-quality graphic.
Discuss the use of photographs and personal recollections with living contributors. Agree the intended audience and whether a digital version may circulate further. Any legal questions are best clarified before printing.
How many copies, and which formalities?
Count recipients and an intentional reserve, then compare suitable printing and binding options. A later reprint can be worth considering. Choose the paper around both the photographs and the reading experience.
ISBN participation is voluntary in Poland. For a wider release, see independent publishing and establish the relevant publishing responsibilities before ordering.
How can the anniversary deadline be protected?
Close the material. Set a final date for contributions. Consolidate feedback. Ask one family member to collect corrections. Approve production. Leave time for final files, printing and delivery after the pages are checked.
My portfolio shows different publication layouts, and the service for authors explains the broader scope. Send the intended gift date with the first enquiry so that the whole schedule can be assessed.
Frequently asked questions
Begin with a recipient list and a considered reserve. Ask about reprinting if the final demand is uncertain.
It is not required simply to print the family book in Poland. Check any separate publishing obligations for the planned distribution.
The scope depends on the surviving material. Retouching starts at PLN 10-15 net per image, with complex restoration quoted after inspection.
Possibly, depending on the actual file and reproduction size. Send the original instead of a compressed copy whenever available.