Douglas Digital Imaging

Douglas Digital Imaging is commited to providing the highest quality digital photo services at very reasonable prices. Our philosophy is that providing a great product at a great price, paired with great service, ensures that our customers are well served. This will allow our business to stay healthy and grow.

Douglas MacFarland

My interest in photography began at a young age. My Dad was a commercial photographer, and I spent time with him as he worked. I learned quite a bit about the whole photographic process; more importantly I learned that attention to detail produces better results, and "good enough" usually isn't ... principles I've applied in all my endeavors.

While in the Navy I bought a decent camera, and quickly found myself immersed in photography as a hobby, an enjoyment that continues to this day. I never did have a traditional 'chemical' darkroom of my own, but when my first personal computer and Adobe Photoshop TM opened up an electronic darkroom, I knew that I'd found the missing piece - the way to complete the images I'd been taking for years. I really enjoy working in Photoshop, but it is a powerful and complex program, and I expect to continue learning about it for many years to come.

I worked briefly as an industrial photographer and loved it, but when the contract ran out so did the job. Needing to make a more reliable living, I got a BS in Computer Science and worked as a software developer long enough to burn out. I worked as a commercial picture framer for a few years, but as much as I enjoyed the actual 'doing' of it, the pay was lousy and I found that I didn't enjoy working for other people anymore.

Douglas Digital Imaging

Thus was born Douglas Digital Imaging - a home office venture, (currently) one person doing what I enjoy, according to my rules, and my standards.

I don't sub-contract your work to someone else who may or may not have the skills or attitude necessary for the best results. I don't outsource your work to some email address in a country where people work for far less than I reasonably can. I also don't have to support the high overhead of a staff and a separate facility (yet!). This allows me to offer my services at very competitive rates. My research and experience have shown that there are services available for less, that can only be done using fully automated tools, or by paying 'burger flipper' wages or less. Some of their results aren't all that bad, maybe even good enough for you. In that case, good luck, I hope you'll be satisfied with the results - I'll still be here if you're not. I have also found that there are larger companies offering good quality, customized services at considerably higher rates. I fit somewhere in between.

Every job I do is a fully custom service, a collaboration between customer and artist, to achieve the best result possible for each picture. The artistic, business, and personal aspects of my life get mixed together in a flexible brew of weird hours and unpredictable days. It wouldn't work for everyone, but I'm having fun!

I've used 'The Royal We' throughout this website, not to mislead, but as an affirmation of my belief that Douglas Digital Imaging will succeed and grow as a professionally run business doing what I know and enjoy.

The following Company Policies have been established:

Normal Work Flow

Orders are processed on a first-come-first-served basis, and are usually completed within ten business days of submission.

The Quote will include an Estimated Completion Date, which may differ from the ten day guideline. That date will reflect our current workload, and will be more accurate than the general policy can be. Every effort will be made to meet that date, even though circumstances unforeseen at the time the Quote is given may make that difficult. However, the date given is Estimated.

If the customer has a special need for the order, that should be clearly expressed when the quote is requested. We will make every effort to accomodate those needs. Time pressures can often be met without the need for a Rush Order premium.

We understand that Real Estate jobs must compete in a high-pressure, time-critical environment. We give all Real Estate jobs quick-turnaround priority.

Orders are not delivered until paid for. If payment is made by check or money order, delivery will be delayed until the payment has cleared.

Rush Orders

If you need RUSH service, a premium of 100% will be added. Your order will then be processed ahead of every other non-RUSH order.

Inability to Complete Your Order to Your Satisfaction

It is our intention that every customer will be happy with the work that we do and the service that we provide. Occasionally, we may not be able to finish an order to your complete satisfaction. In that case, refunds will be made according to the following guidelines:

• If your order is for printed materials, after you return the shipped materials to us in as-shipped condition we will refund your payment fully.
• Once an electronic file has been approved (by you) and the final version delivered (by us) no refund can be made. In lieu of a refund, we will do whatever we can to reach a satisfactory solution.
• If your order is for an electronic file from an electronic file and the final version has not been approved and delivered we will cancel your order without further obligation.
• If your order is for an electronic file from printed materials and the final version has not been approved and delivered, we will cancel your order and hold your materials pending payment of return shipping charges. Materials will only be held up to 90 days without payment of return shipping charges, and after that will be disposed of.

A Note About Copyrights

We cannot legally work on any image without the copyright holder's permission. When you submit a picture to us, you are stating implicitly that you have the permission of the photographer/artist to have that work done. If you created the picture yourself, there is no problem. If someone in your family created the picture, we are willing to assume that you have their permission, and we will stay out of your family's internal affairs.
However, if the picture was created by someone else for economic or other professional gain - for instance, if you bought the picture, or received it as a gift, or copied it (as in internet downloads) - you must obtain the artist's permission before submitting the work to us.
Another consideration is the rights of any recognizeable individual appearing in your picture. You may need to obtain a signed release form from those people, especially if you will use the picture commercially or display it publicly.

Nothing said here should be taken as valid legal advice. We know that these issues exist, and advise only that you be sure you act responsibly. If you have any doubts, consult an attorney before you proceed.

We retain no rights to your pictures, or to the finished product of our work, other than to be paid at the agreed upon rate for our work. We may occasionally request your permission to display promotional copies of your images in our portfolio or on our website, and we will only do so with your specific permission.

A Note About Your Images and Our Files

In the process of doing your work we create one or more copies of your pictures in digital files. After the job is done, we keep those files long enough to be sure everything is satisfactory - usually about 30 days. Then, except for promotional copies as noted above, we delete all of the image files. Of course, we do keep 'normal' business records about the transaction (including 'Before' and 'After' thumbnail copies), but the full-sized image files are deleted from our system. Please make your own separate archival copies of the files we send to you, as you should with all of your important files.

The Rest We'll Play By Ear ...