Pictures from our Past

Just off Broadway’s bright lights, Pictures from our Past specializes in turning moments into framed keepsakes. The studio sits at 225 W 35th St, a block where garment factories once hummed and now vibrate with garment workers, tourists, and small businesses. Work unfolds in black-and-white, vintage color, and digital restorations, with everything delivered on archival paper or USB drives. Some clients arrive with crumbling snapshots; others walk in with stacks of negatives they’ve inherited and want to see again.

Families bring old portraits to be cleaned of cracks and yellowing, while wedding planners book sessions for fresh engagement shoots and bridal party collages. High-school seniors keep the tradition alive with senior-page spreads that merge yearbook glamour with street-level grit. The photographer handles passport photos too, but the heart of the work lies in the quiet reprints—headshots, event candids, and family reunions that fit on a shelf. Walk-ins are welcome mornings through mid-afternoon.

Finding the place means cutting west from Herald Square past construction scaffolding that changes every few months. A quick left turn at the Korean barbecue joint usually lands visitors right in front of the glass door marked only by a discreet plaque. Street parking tightens by noon, so the 6-train’s platform benches or the Port Authority bus loop offer easier drops off.

If the block feels unfamiliar, the directions land you at the sidewalk fast. Call (212) 255-8610 the day before to confirm drop-off times or to check on a forgotten SD card, and they’ll hold it behind the counter. The rest is up to the shutter and the stories waiting to be framed.