Conversations with Liz Hastings

Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Hastings.

Hi Liz, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My love for photography, nature, and design started young. My dad dabbled in photography, and I learned on his old Pentax SLR in high school, developing film and prints in the darkroom. That hands-on experience taught me to appreciate getting the perfect shot in one click and truly love what I capture.
In college, I discovered a second passion — computers. I eventually merged the two, earning a certificate in Digital Imaging, which included photography, Photoshop, InDesign/Illustrator, and web design courses.
For over two decades, I’ve done freelance photography — engagements, families, corporate shoots — and I’m especially drawn to landscapes while hiking and camping. I’ve won more than a dozen photo contests and now sell my prints.
Professionally, I spent 17 years at DigMyPics.com as Senior Photo Editor and Production Manager, specializing in color correction and restoration. I worked on everything from family photos and historical archives to professional artwork and TV network slides. Restoration became my niche.
After being laid off in 2022, I realized I wanted to build something of my own. I started developing Photografixed.com, a site for photo restoration, editing, and slideshows, and later LizMariePhotos.com for my photography. After refining both, I’m officially launching them together this fall — the perfect season to capture memories and preserve them beautifully.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been easy. For years, I balanced full-time work with creative projects on the side, never having enough time to turn them into a business.
When I first launched my website, I did it too late in the holiday season — and the lack of immediate results was discouraging. Financially, I wanted my creative work to sustain itself rather than feel like an expensive hobby.
But those challenges gave me time to refine everything. Now, the timing feels right — both personally and seasonally — to launch Photografixed with confidence.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I specialize in photo restoration, photo editing, slideshows, and photography.
At DigMyPics, I was trusted with the most complex edits — professional photographers’ work, artists’ portfolios, and VIP collections. That precision shaped my philosophy:
I strive to restore photos as the original photographer saw them — authentic, timeless, and true to the moment.
In my own photography, I aim to capture what the eye sees — not an exaggerated version. I shoot in RAW for flexibility, but my images are natural, not over-edited. If I didn’t capture it beautifully, I don’t force it.
That commitment to authenticity and craftsmanship sets me apart.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
AI will reshape the photo restoration industry, speeding up edits and lowering costs. My role will evolve into one of supervision, curation, and aesthetic refinement — ensuring that restored images still feel human, emotional, and authentic.
As more people digitize their collections and rediscover analog photos, the demand for trusted professionals will grow. I see Photografixed becoming a curator of memories, offering not just restorations but full storytelling — photo organization, digital albums, photobooks, and immersive slideshows.
Technology will enhance the process, but the heart — preserving history with care — will remain deeply human.

Pricing:

• Photo Restoration starts at just $15 per image
• Bulk Photo Editing starts at $25 for 100 images
• Photo Slideshow starts at $25

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.photografixed.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/photografixed
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/photografixed/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-m-hastings/
• Other: https://www.lizmariephotos.com