Video Conversion & Digitizing

Our pricing is straightforward:

• All tapes - $25 per tape*
• Film reels - Starting at $35/reel
• DVDs - $12 per DVD

Every conversion includes high-resolution digitization, basic cropping, and meaningful file naming. We'll use clues from your tape boxes and the footage itself to give each file a real name — not just a number.

Additional processing (splitting into individual clips, videotape repair, date research, or other custom work) is billed at our standard hourly rate of $100/hour. Archival storage is also available for an additional cost.

Delivery options are separate:

• WeTransfer download link ($30)
• USB ($30 per USB)
• External hard drive ($150, solid state drive)

*Some unusual tape formats may be priced differently. We will always give you a price before we start.

In our Smithfield, Virginia studio, we convert the most common home movie formats: VHS, VHS-C, Video 8, Hi8, Digital 8, and MiniDV. For film reels, we work with a trusted local vendor under close supervision.

If you're not sure what format your tapes are, just describe them or send us a photo — we'll help you identify them.

If you're in central or southeastern Virginia, you're welcome to drop your items off, or we can travel to you (a small travel fee may apply).

Not local? No problem at all. Clients from across the country — and around the world — ship their tapes to us regularly. We even provide packing how-tos to keep your tapes as safe as possible.

We recommend using a trusted carrier like UPS or FedEx. We notify you the moment your box arrives in our studio, so you never have to wonder where your memories are.

Once your tapes are converted, we'll return your originals along with your new digital files.

If shipping irreplaceable items feels nerve-wracking, we completely understand. Many clients feel that way at first. A few things that help: ship in smaller batches, use a trackable service, and know that we treat every tape as if it were our own family's.

Most big-box "factory" converters give you files named Tape_001.mp4. We think your memories deserve better.

Using clues from the tape box, the tape label, and the footage itself, we create a meaningful file name for each video. Using a consistent naming convention, a tape labeled 1987 Easter at Grandma's becomes "1987-04 Easter at Grandmas.mp4.” Basic naming like this is included in our standard price.

With our standard service, yes.

However, if you'd like your long video edited into several shorter videos (by date or subject), we are happy to do that at our standard hourly rate of $100/hour, in addition to the base conversion fee.

We convert entire tapes only. (Don't worry, we don't send you the static.)

It's not cost-effective for our team to monitor playback in order to capture a specific segment. However, if you'd like a section cropped from a converted tape, we can do that at our standard hourly rate of $100/hour, in addition to the base conversion fee.

All videos are delivered as MP4 files with high-quality H.264 compression — the industry standard for digital video. MP4 files play on virtually every device: computers, smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.

Your home movies can now be enjoyed anywhere by anyone.

We will deliver these final digital files by your preferred method, and depending on the size of the archive :

• WeTransfer link ($30 - link will be active for 14 days after delivery)
• USB drive ($30 each)
• External Hard Drive (variable cost depending on size; usually around $150 for a solid state drive)

If you'd like multiple copies for other family members, we are happy to provide those for you.

We do not deliver files on DVDs or CDs. These are not reliable formats for long-term archiving or easy sharing. USB drives and external hard drives are far more dependable — and far easier to use.

You will receive all of your original items back in a manner agreed upon between you and Good Life Photo Solutions.

Because your videos are delivered as MP4 files, they'll play on virtually any device — computers, laptops, tablets, and smart TVs. You can share them via email, upload them to YouTube or Vimeo, post them on social media, or copy them to a thumb drive for family members.

We also offer an optional service to upload your videos to a private YouTube playlist on your own channel, or to create your own Netflix-like video website on Projector. 

No. We use our own tested, professional equipment — all you need to send are your tapes or DVDs.

(We're always on the lookout for backup cameras and VCRs, though — so if you have one you're looking to part with, let us know!)