1. What is Dust Bunny?
Dust Bunny is an independent digital archiving service based in London, specialising in digitisation, digital organisation and the care of personal and professional collections
2. I am not sure what I need; can you still help?
Absolutely. You don't need to know exactly what service you need before getting in touch. We can work that out during the initial consultation.
3. How long will it take to complete my project?
As a general guide: small projects (up to 2 days' work) are completed within 4 weeks; medium projects (around 1 week's work) within 8 weeks; larger projects may take several months.
I'll agree on an estimated completion date with you before work begins. Rush turnaround is available for an additional fee.
4. What do you do with all the digital files?
My priority is the security of your files.
This means both that you can access them, and that they are confidential. All files are deleted 1 month after completion of the project unless you elect to host a backup with Dust Bunny.
All work is GDPR compliant.
5. How do you handle sensitive/personal documents or files?
All material is handled confidentially and stored securely. Digital files are deleted one month after project completion unless you choose to keep a backup with Dust Bunny.
Projects involving sensitive material can be covered by a confidentiality agreement. Your material is never processed using AI tools without your explicit consent. All work is GDPR compliant.
6. Do I need to prep anything first?
No. It is helpful to have an idea of your budget, timeframe and what you'd like to achieve, but you don't need to organise the collection before getting in touch.
1. How much will my project cost?
My standard hourly rate is £50 per hour. Following an initial consultation, I’ll provide an estimate based on the scope of the work.
As a rough guide, this works out as:
For digitisation:
| Photo/print scan | £0.60 per loose photo |
| Slide/negative scan | £1.00 per frame |
| VHS/MiniDV | £12 – £18 per tape, depending on length |
| Audio cassette/reel-to-reel | £10 – £20 per tape, depending on length |
Most work is quoted per project, with a detailed breakdown of estimated hours and costs. A standalone consultation report is £150.
2. I need things done quickly, can I pay extra for a rush service?
Yes - rush service can be added for a 15 - 20% surcharge, depending on the turnaround time.
3. Do you offer volume discounts?
Yes. Volume discounts are available for larger digitisation projects and are calculated as part of the project quote.
Digitisation:
1. I am not sure whether my media can be saved; what do I do?
Contact me with some information or photographs of the material. I'll let you know whether I can digitise it safely. I won't attempt work that risks damaging the original.
2. What formats can you digitise?
Photos, prints, and photo albums; 35mm and medium-format slides and negatives; VHS, MiniDV; audio cassettes and reel-to-reel tape.
3. Will I get my original photos, tapes, and film back?
Yes, always. Originals can be collected from the London studio or returned by tracked courier in protective packaging. Other arrangements can be made for large or sensitive collections.
4. How can I be sure my physical material is safe?
Almost all digitisation is done in-house at my studio in London. Every item is logged in on intake with a condition check, stored in secure, waterproof, fire-resistant storage in the studio, and handled to archival standards. Dust Bunny is fully insured, so your items are protected financially as well as physically.
Some collections are best digitised in person; this is something we can agree between us if appropriate.
4. What if an item is damaged, blank, or unplayable?
If an item can't be usefully digitised, I'll flag it and won't charge you for the conversion.
5. What resolution/quality do I get?
Photos and documents are scanned at a minimum of 600 DPI, with higher resolution available for enlargements or professional use. Slides and negatives are scanned at up to 4,000+ DPI. Video and audio are captured and delivered in the highest quality your original format supports.
6. How do I receive the files?
You choose: a secure cloud album you can share, a USB drive, or an external hard drive for larger collections. You can select more than one option if you'd like both a backup copy and something easy to share.
7. Do you restore or enhance damaged and faded images?
Basic dust and light colour correction is included as standard. More involved restoration (repairing tears, significant fading, or water damage) is quoted separately per image, and I'll always show you a sample before committing to a full batch so there are no surprises.
Digital Archiving:
1. My files are spread across multiple storage locations; can you help?
Yes. I can consolidate files from computers, hard drives and cloud services, identify duplicates, and establish an agreed structure for the collection.
2. What system do you use to organise my media?
There isn't one fixed system. I'll develop a structure based on the collection, how you use it and how you want to access it in future.
3. Do you do digital maintenance?
Yes - some clients want a periodic ‘refresh’.
4. Will I be able to maintain the archive myself afterwards?
Yes. The aim is to create a system you understand and can continue using. I'll provide a walkthrough and any documentation you need at the end of the project.
Did I miss anything? Contact me!