Author
Natalie Allen Carrasco
Image courtesy Photodom
Over the last few years, the everyday Instagram feed and modern portfolios have become flooded with perfectly toned snaps of analog photography. Has shooting film risen in popularity due to the cyclical nature of trends, an influx of passionate hobbyists, or a 2018 Kendall Jenner selfie? Probably all of the above, and then some. Regardless, manufacturers are struggling to produce rolls quickly enough to meet skyrocketing demand, making finding popular film stocks from Kodak, Fujifilm, Ilford, Cinestill, and others nearly impossible at your local film store (if you even have one left). And once you do find some film, where can you get it developed? Lucky for everyone, this increase in mainstream interest has lead to a resurgence in high-quality film developing services. Which is huge.
Because, (Hot Take Warning) scanning your film is just as important as how you shoot it, if not more. Scanning is an elaborate art form requiring years of practice to execute at the highest standards for any photographer, and the process is different for color negative film and black and white film. Perfecting your photo with the correct color science and tonnage balances will make or break the quality of your final image. Unless you prefer to scan the film yourself, many creatives opt to dispatch them to a lab with more experience and better (read: expensive) equipment.
Choosing the right film lab for you is a dedicated decision within itself (here in NYC, we support Brooklyn's Photodom and Luster in the East Village). If you're unhappy with your local lab's film processing services, or perhaps you live in the middle of nowhere, chances are you'll get better scans by mailing your rolls to a lab you can actually trust. Dropping your film into a USPS bin is intimidating, but many professional photographers opt for a mail-in film developing services to yield quality results every time.
Luckily for you, our film photography community has tested dozens of film labs countrywide so you don't have to. Below are the top 10 best mail-in film labs, as chosen by trusted photographers you love and follow.
10 Film Labs for Mail-in Developing & Processing, Recommended by Professional Photographers
State Film Lab — Louisville, KY
IG: @statefilm | Recommended by Forrest Mankins
Push, pull, develop, and scan your favorite film photos with the pros at State Film Labin Louisville, Kentucky. Known for their realistic skin tones and clean yet clinically sharp processing, State takes care of its customers from start to finish. Using the industry-leading Noritsu film scanners, your film scans are delivered in high-resolution JPG files via a digital download link starting at $12. TIFF files are available for an additional fee, and rush orders are a 50% up-charge. Additionally, State Film Lab accepts most disposable cameras; simply select C-41 35mm for color cameras and B/W 35mm for black and white cameras on your online order form.
Pricing
35mm develop and scan starting starting at $14
120 develop and scan starting starting at $12
Richard Film Lab — Los Angeles, CA
IG: @richardphotolab | Recommended by Megan Hand
As Los Angeles's quality-obsessed film lab, Richardsweats the details in every frame to provide every photographer with premium film processing and scanning services. Richard has dedicated his life to the art of analog since 1970, making his lab a continued cult classic. Your questions will never go unanswered thanks to a library of online educational content that details how development and film scanning works. In addition to film scanning, Richard Photo Lab also services black and white and color prints, color PAC, and digital post.
Pricing
35mm develop and scan starting starting at $14
120 develop and scan starting starting at $14
The Darkroom — San Clemente, CA
IG: @thedarkroomlab | Recommended by Sissi Lu
Also based in California, The Darkroomhas been a mainstay for half a century, servicing film developing for 35mm, 110, 120 medium format, C-41 color negative, E-6 slide film, and true black and white from standard to extra large sizes. The Darkroom's site features tons of informative answers in its FAQ tab, and the lab has demonstrated quality results for beginners and professionals alike. They also sell tons of fun merch to rep them across the land, and every return of your negatives comes with a prepaid mailer for your next batch of rolls.
Pricing
35mm develop and scan starting starting at $12
120 develop and scan starting starting at $12
Indie Film Lab — Montgomery, AL
IG: @indiefilmlab | Recommended by Natalie Carrasco
Based in the hills of Alabama, Indie Film Lab continuously reigns as a favorite among many film photographers. Developing film since 2011, Indie produces extremely high-quality film scans on both Frontier and Noritsu scanners. They service color negative film, B&W film, E-6, and pre-cut film within various film formats (35mm, 120, 220), sizes, and dimensions. Comprised of artists, makers, and photographers, their team sets them apart for their continued passion and craft in the industry.
Pricing
35mm develop and scan starting starting at $11
120 develop and scan starting starting at $10
Negative Lab — Los Angeles, CA
IG: @negativelab | Recommended by Brian Chorski
While newer to the game, Negative Lab's fabulous reputation stems from LA-based photographer Brian Wertheim. Intending to create a film lab run by professional film photographers, the team believes a creative vision is needed to provide excellent and consistent film scans, and it shoes. Negative Lab is a small operation and sometimes can't answer the phone when they're in the darkroom, so the best way to reach out is via email or Instagram DMs.
Pricing
35mm develop and scan starting starting at $18
120 develop and scan starting starting at $18
theFINDlab — Orem, UT
IG: @thefindlab | Recommended by Erika Carabeo, Erica Coble
Scanning and sharing endless knowledge one roll at a time, TheFINDlab is dedicated to one-on-one photographer care by offering innovative services including feedback on your scans (for an additional fee). The lab offers developing and scanning services for a variety of film rolls, emphasizing high-quality and true-to-life color profiles for more editing wiggle room.
Pricing
35mm develop and scan starting at $12
120 develop and scan starting at $10
Darkslide Film Lab — Bridgeport, CT
IG: @darkslidefilmlab | Recommended by Alec Ploof
Darkslide Film Lab is a full-service woman-owned and operated boutique film lab located on the historic east side of Bridgeport, Connecticut. Emphasizing the development and scanning of film and traditional black and white darkroom printing, their goal is to modernize the way lab services are performed by blending traditional techniques with today's technology. Starting at $15 for 35mm color negatives, this lab is the perfect start for those wanting to give their work to a formative community.
Pricing
35mm develop and scan starting starting at $15
120 develop and scan starting starting at $15
Reformed Film Lab — Ormond Beach, FL
IG: @reformedfilmlab | Recommended by Daniel Perez
Based near the swampy coasts of Florida, Reformed Film Lab deserves all the praise. It's not only a place to develop, scan, and process your film, but also a great local shop to purchase a variety of 35mm film cameras, film rolls, and gear. Send in a standard roll starting at $12, and opt for a pack of prints for a few bucks more. Reach out to them with questions at any time and read their online journal for more educational content.
Pricing
35mm develop and scan starting starting at $12
120 develop and scan starting starting at $12
Northeast Photographic — Bath, ME
IG: @northeastphotographic | Recommended by Tanner Bowden
Based way up in Bath, Maine, Northeast Photographic's services are based around the develop and scan hybrid workflow. They use state-of-the-art film processing equipment and top-tiered scanners to help bridge the gap between the beauty of analog and the convenience of digital (and they're constantly updating their equipment to provide best-possible results). Check out their online entry form to get started and send a roll of 35mm color for only $12. You can also get your film scanned with the film borders attached for a unique look, and Northeast recently added an option for a digital contact sheet too. Super-sharp scans are delivered digitally—typically within a few business days—through the lab's easy-to-use web portal. If you're in the area, you can also pay a visit and drop off your film in person.
Pricing
35mm develop and scan starting starting at $12
120 develop and scan starting starting at $12
Carmencita Film Lab — Valencia, Spain
IG: @carmencitafilmlab | Recommended by Wesley Verhoeve
If you live in Europe or find yourself there for an extended period of time and need to get film processed, mail it to or drop it off at Carmencita Film Lab in Valencia. The pros here are trusted by top-tier photographers and offer a full menu of processing and developing options using the best equipment available (like the Fuji Frontier SP3000 and the Noritsu HS-1800 scanners). Turn-around times for processing film are five to eight days, but you can pay extra for rush jobs if need be. The lab also sells rolls of film and has a small collection of vintage cameras for sale, too.
Pricing
35mm develop and scan starting starting at 14€
120 develop and scan starting starting at 13€
Published 02-22-2023
