If a picture is worth a thousand words, then your collection of home videos undoubtedly amounts to quite a fortune. And, while the sentimental value of your old 8mm, or VHS home videos may not decrease, it is inevitable that their quality and overall lifespan will. However, you can reinvest these treasured memories into a digital format where they'll last a lifetime, or even longer

Home Video Studio specializes in precisely that. They can take all of your aged home videos on 8mm, 16mm, Beta, VHS or just about any other type of format, and transfer it to much higher quality medium, usually a DVD.

According to the owners of Home Video Studio, Tony and Lori Melendez, a typical VHS will only last for about 10 to 15 years. Additionally, viewing older film, such as 8 mm, 16 mm, or Beta is very difficult due to a lack of players available, and it's only a matter of time before VHS players are phased out as well. Digital video, on the other hand will not only last longer and is more readily available, but it is also easier to reproduce or give copies to other family members or place into storage for safe keeping.

Not only will they transfer your film to a digital medium, with Home Video Studio, you can also have your film edited. They can place clips together at specific sections and add voice-overs or background music.

One of their most popular products are video montages of a person's life. They can become a slide show of pictures, a montage of old videos, or a combination of both. These make excellent and heartfelt gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings or holidays (such as Mother's Day, hint hint).

Tony and Lori created a personal video of professional skate boarder, Chad Muska, which his mother gave him for a birthday present. They also made a graduation video for Allie LaForce after she won the Miss Teen USA crown. It really is the gift that keeps on giving because you will watch it again and again, says Lori. If we don't make you cry, then we didn't do our job.

Another highly sought-after product are sports highlight videos. These videos of your son or daughter's athletic career make an excellent and unforgettable addition to any application for a scholarship, to a college or just as a memento. Lori says that she has a lot of clients in their 40s and 50s that dig up their old high school football films on 16 mm for reproduction.

Lori says that one of the most fascinating parts of the job is viewing some the old footage. We've done films from as early as 1928. That is just awesome to see that. From some of this film we've seen President Kennedy when he came to George Daniel Field, we've seen Lorain when it was booming, she said. There's just been so many neat things! It's part of the past and its nice to preserve it.

Home Video Studio is the perfect tool for any small business. Need a promotional video for a presentation? Toni and Lori will help you set it up and even give the presentation with their own equipment if needed. Want to create a commercial or infomercial for television or a trade show Not only can they edit your own personal footage, but they can come out and shoot it for you.

Video isn't their only forte´ either. They can also take care of audio as well, putting audio reel-to-reels, vinyl or cassettes to CD or other digital formats dramatically improving sound quality and longevity.

Not only do Tony and Lori help preserve memories, they help produce them as well by proudly sponsoring the Amherst Steele News Live Team.

Memories may last a lifetime but film doesn't. Don't let your old videos collecting dust just deteriorate. Keep them from fading away by giving Tony and Lori at Home Video Studio a call at 440-988-7400 or send an e-mail to tony@homevideostudio.com. For more information, log onto their Web site at www.homevideostudio.com