 RoxAnne E. Franklin |
Wanted: Professional Photo Lab???? Help! I have had it with my so called professional photo lab. I shoot 35mm black and white and color negative film. Every time I shoot b&w, the pics come back scratched. Then I wait over a month until the owner decides he has time to sit down and do a redo on his computer instead of sending them back to the lab. I've had it! I've never had great success with labs in the past 3 years. I dont care if I have to send the rolls across the country, I just want someone wonderful to work with! Does anyone know where I can send film for processing, that has the willingness to work with me on enlargements, dodging, burning, etc.? I live in upstate NY, however, I dont mind mailing them anywhere just so I get the service that I pay for. Thanks
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Stan |
RoxAnne, Give these guys a call... Bay State Color Lab I found them while I was living in Mass. Its a family operation, and they don't seem to want to hire outside help so they can keep their quality standards high. I usually had them process my negatives so I could make prints in my own darkroom, but the few times they did my prints, I was very satisfied.
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
Wow Stan, Thanks so much for your referral. I will definitely try them. I used to live in MA too, but I sent my film to a place in CT and I was not happy with the b&w results at all, everything had a green color cast and they wouldnt make the prints over. I will give these guys a call today.
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Stan |
Roxanne, please let me know how you make out. PS - I just tried a lab here in New Jersey, and I received under and over exposed prints. (Negatives are all normally exposed) On top of that, all the prints are backwards!! And this by an 'experienced' tech.
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
Stan, I'd be furious!! I've so had it with labs lately. There is absolutely no excuse for your prints to be like that!!!!! Man, my temper would flare and I'd storm right in there and demand new prints. Of course, they may not be any better. The photo lab here lost my portrait of my dog. They had it for 1month and 1/2 to do, again, a redo on the black and white. I went in this morning to pick it up and they lost it. I'm so furious! That was the last time they will ever see me in there. Thanks for the lab recomendation, I will definitely be trying them.
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Albert Guevara |
Hello, I can totally relate to your irritation. I have tried several labs, and there are two that I have done business with, and their work is impecable. Moonlight lab in Reseda,CA and PCL West imaging in Gardena, CA... after trying lab after lab, these two are the only ones where, the only mistakes on the pictures are made by the photographer. These two have a website, look them up, these are two different entities. PCL (866) 725-9378, ask for Julian. Albert G.
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
Thanks for the suggestions! Maybe we should tell Jim to include a segment in the next betterphoto.com newsletter dedicated to labs that people have found that they would never stop using. After all, we can do all the hard work, but the lab sure does make or break us. What do you all think about a segment on labs?
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BetterPhotoJim.com - Jim Miotke  Contact Jim Miotke Jim Miotke's Gallery |
Great idea, RoxAnne. We are working on a page where BetterPhoto members can go to recommend a lab, but until we have it ready, please feel free to email Heather with info about the place you like to do business. Include the state, city, address and phone number, and the lab's name. If you have someone in particular you like to work with, that's great to include too. A short sentence about what services you like that they offer, or any other information that you feel other photographers would like to know, would be helpful. Send your email to heather at betterphoto.com
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Vincent Lowe |
Sorry to hear that you have similar problems with so-called 'professional' labs in the US as we have in the UK. When I first got my Bronica I bought a 220 back to go with it, but the labs seemed incapable of dealing with 220 film. Tried three labs and every time the film came back scratched and/or fingermarked, and on one memorable occasion covered in oil! I gave up in the end and stuck to 120. Anyway, better stop now or I'll get into rant mode!
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
Vincent, I think you have every right to go into rant mode! In NY State, there is an incredible need for a good B&W processing lab. I've sent my film to Duggals in NY City last week. I was told they do fantastic work. A little expensive, but they are a truly custom lab. They have a website, just go to Duggals on any search engine. I'll let you know if I'm happy with the results. Even though, it would be rather far for you to mail your film. RoxAnne
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Donna Quarles |
I prefer to upload or mail in my photos to shutterfly.com. They have great prices and I send my customers their photos in an online album to share with friends & family to order. I've been very pleased with them.
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RoxAnne E. Franklin |
Hi Donna, That's an excellent idea! I just got info from them and was curious as to what their quality is. Have you ever used them to develop black and white film?
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Donna Quarles |
Actually, I'm a digital photographer (can't load film) but I've had b&w's printed and they are great, I don't know about b&w film, but the digital images are great . . . if you have a lot of photos, you can send in a CD and they will upload them for you. Especially great for weddings with 300+ pictures :) Let me know how it goes.
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C Hall |
printroom.com has better pricing then shutterfly
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