Interview with Eliott Duncan, Owner of Rememorie, Photo Restoration & Editing Experts
Eliott Duncan is a owner of Rememorie, Photo Restoration & Editing Experts. He is a professional photo restoration artist.
Tell us a little about yourself
Eliott Duncan: My name is Eliott Duncan, and I am the proprietor of the Rememorie. I am a professional photo restoration artist.
I am all about creating or editing visual media! My main passions are photo restoration and photo editing, but I also love painting and drawing, video editing, 3D modeling, and graphic design.
For now, I have around a decade of experience in everything related to Photoshop and photo editing. I started editing photos just for fun, but years later I found myself restoring other people’s photos for a living!
I was born and raised in Slovakia, but my family line isn’t really common here. My mother is Slovak/Indian, and my father is British.
The same way that I have a mixed heritage, I also have a mixed educational background. I hold a bachelor’s degree in programming as well as a master’s degree in fine arts. After completing my bachelor’s thesis in programming, I realized I wanted to try something new.
It’s actually quite funny for most of my foreign friends, but my technical university (TUKE, in Kosice) actually has an art campus.
Since I already had a bachelor’s degree and experience in fine arts, I just passed exams and changed my major drastically, from technician to artist.
Even though I consider myself more of an artist than a technician, this background definitely has an effect on how I work on photos and how I do business.
After living in Europe for almost 25 years, I decided to change something in my life, and I decided to visit different countries around the world.
I’ve spent the last two years traveling around India, attempting to visit and stay in some of the country’s most populous cities. No matter how long I travel, I always find something new and exciting in this country!
Please tell us a little about your entrepreneurial journey
Eliott Duncan: One year before graduation from the university, I decided I wanted to make art my profession. I had a goal, but I had no idea how to get there.
Art is often described as the worst job one can pick because it often takes a lot of time and effort but is poorly paid. so-called “starving artist” stereotype.
Even though I still really wanted to do art, this stereotype held me back for a long time. It’s normal for pretty much any new thing to start slowly and work on building knowledge, routine, a client base, trust, and confidence in what you do and where it’s going to get you.
So, one day, I just realized—I had a “click” in my head—that this thing was going to work after I got paid for completing some very basic photo editing for some clients from the freelancer market website.
Kindly brief us about your company, its specialization, and the services that it offers
Eliott Duncan: Our company specializes in providing photo restoration services to individuals and businesses. We understand that photos are not just images but memories that are cherished for a lifetime.
Our team of experts uses the latest technology and software to restore old, damaged, and faded photos, colorize black and white photos, and enhance the overall quality of photos. We offer a range of services to meet the specific needs of our clients.
In addition to photo restoration, we also offer photo retouching services, such as removing unwanted objects or people from photos, adjusting the brightness and contrast of photos, and enhancing the colors of photos.
We understand the importance of preserving memories and strive to provide the best possible services to our clients.
What is your biggest USP?
Eliott Duncan: One of the biggest challenges in the photo restoration industry is to restore photos while retaining their original look and feel.
Our biggest USP is our attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction. We understand that each photo has its own unique story, and we strive to bring those stories back to life through our services. Our team of experts goes above and beyond to ensure that our clients are happy with the final product.
We take pride in our ability to restore photos that have been damaged due to age, exposure to sunlight, water damage, mold, and other factors.
Our focus on quality and customer satisfaction has earned us a reputation as a trusted and reliable photo restoration service provider.
What made you choose this type of business?
Eliott Duncan: There were a few key factors: passion, experience, and convinience. The first two points are very self-explanatory, and I will talk more about them later, so let’s talk about convenience.
The most important thing for me is being able to distantly. Since I love to travel, having a job or business that would “glue” me to one place wouldn’t work for me, so I needed something that could be done online with just my laptop.
The other important thing about the business is that it is digital-only. If your company only sells physical goods or services, you can get used to it and not be bothered by it, but if you’ve only worked digitally, it’s difficult and somewhat sad to return to working with physical items.
What was your mission and vision at the outset?
Eliott Duncan: Our mission is to provide high-quality photo restoration services and to make a positive impact on people’s lives.
We believe that photos are not just images but memories that are cherished for a lifetime. Our vision is to become the go-to provider of photo restoration services for individuals and businesses across the world.
We want to leverage the latest technology and software to provide the best possible services to our clients.
We believe that by preserving memories, we can help people connect with their past and appreciate the present. Our goal is to create a positive impact on people’s lives through our services.
What is your leadership mantra?
Eliott Duncan: “Say what you do, do what you say.”
As a business owner, I believe in leading by example. I work alongside my team to ensure that we are all working towards the same goal. I believe in being hands-on and taking an active role in the day-to-day operations of the business.
I prioritize open communication and collaboration to ensure that everyone’s ideas and opinions are heard.
I believe that a strong and motivated team is the key to the success of any business. I encourage my team to take ownership of their work and to strive for excellence in everything they do.
What are your company’s goals?
Eliott Duncan: Our company’s goals are to continue to provide high-quality photo restoration services and to expand our reach to more clients.
We also aim to stay up-to-date with the latest technology and software to ensure that we are providing the best possible services to our clients.
We want to establish ourselves as a leading photo restoration service provider and build a strong reputation for quality and customer satisfaction.
We also believe in giving back to the community and plan to partner with local organizations to provide free photo restoration services to those in need.
What was the inspiration behind becoming an entrepreneur?
Eliott Duncan: I have always been passionate about photography and the memories that come with it. I wanted to help people preserve their precious memories and ensure that they last for generations to come.
I was inspired to start this business after seeing the joy and happiness that our services bring to our clients.
It is a great feeling to know that we are playing a small role in preserving people’s memories. I am also inspired by the advancements in technology and software, which allow us to provide better and more efficient services to our clients.
What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?
Eliott Duncan: One of the biggest mistakes I made was not prioritizing marketing and advertising in the early stages of my business.
I learned that it’s important to invest in marketing and advertising to reach a wider audience and grow the business.
I also learned the importance of setting realistic goals and timelines and the need to be flexible and adaptable in the face of challenges.
Another lesson I learned is the importance of building a strong and motivated team. A motivated team can overcome any challenge and help the business reach new heights.
Key things to consider before starting a business
Eliott Duncan: Starting a business can be both exciting and daunting. Some key things to consider before starting a business include conducting market research, creating a solid business plan, and ensuring that you have enough funding to sustain the business until it becomes profitable.
It’s also important to have a clear vision and mission for the business and to be passionate about the industry you are entering. You should also be prepared to work hard and make sacrifices to ensure the success of the business.
What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
Eliott Duncan: There were quite a few of them. Except for marketing, the biggest two I had were perfectionism and workholism. Yes. All of these are connected, and this may sound illogical, but they are productivity killers.
I remember working on the business for 16–20 hours a day for months. While I felt like I was progressing with it, looking back, I realize that I would go even further and achieve better results faster if, instead of spending 8 hours a day being tired to do some nitpicking, I would just go, rest, take a walk, and then get back with fresh minds.
If you had one piece of advice to give someone just starting out, what would it be?
Eliott Duncan: My success tip for young and aspiring entrepreneurs is to always stay curious and open to learning. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things, and always prioritize customer satisfaction.
It’s also important to build a strong and motivated team and to foster a culture of innovation and creativity.
Finally, it’s important to have a clear goal and vision for the business and to be persistent and resilient in the face of challenges. Remember, success is not achieved overnight; it takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
Website: Photo Restoration
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