Where to Develop Film in Brooklyn in 2023.
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As you may have guessed, you’ll have your pick of the litter if you’re on the hunt for film developing in Brooklyn.
You may even be lucky enough to have somewhere to develop film in your own neighborhood (especially if you’re in Bushwick / East Williamsburg).
There are photo labs of all shapes and sizes across the borough, each with a different set of services available.
No matter what you’re looking for, you should be able to find it without leaving Brooklyn. If you do find yourself across the East river, there are just as many spots to develop film in Manhattan.
Most Popular Places to Develop Film in Brooklyn
These are the most popular photo labs that still develop film in 2022. Some are old, some are new. All of them are frequently recommended by photographers in Brooklyn.
ACCURATE PHOTOSHOP
This family-owned lab has been in operation since 1989, and in that time, husband and wife Connie and Tony have been the only two employees (although you might see their kids helping out behind the counter on weekends).
Accurate Photoshop processes 35mm and 120 film in C-41 color, black and white, as well as E-6 slide film.They offer same-day service on color film and next day service on black and white. Slide film takes a bit longer.
They have one of the best reputations in the city (just check their reviews on Google to get an idea) and are known for their unmatched friendliness.
PHOTODOM
Photodom is newer to the scene, but they’ve made quite the name for themselves since opening.
With a real social media finesse and a charismatic leader steering the ship, they’ve quickly become a favorite, especially for younger photographers.
No matter what type of film you’re shooting, you should have no problem getting it developed at Photodom.
Extending their offerings well beyond a traditional photo lab, they also sell used film cameras and exclusive film-themed clothing, offer studio and equipment rentals, and even sponsor a grant for photographers.
NICE FILM LAB
Nice Film Lab is taking a unique approach to the tried and true business model of the majority of photo labs. While anyone can walk in and drop off a roll of film, members of the “Nice Film Club” will get some significant benefits.
35mm and 120 film are both accepted for developing – color, black and white, or E-6 color reversal. Scans are delivered as one standard size and you have the option to pay an extra dollar (per photo) to unlock a super high-res, TIFF version of the scan.
As for the Film Club, you pay a yearly fee which includes credits for developing and scanning of 10 rolls of film, discounted prices once you use all of your credits, and other perks.
Everything takes place on a slick website where users place orders and receive scans. It’s much more high tech than the majority of other labs operating.
NYC SPC
NYC SPC (Street Photography Collective) is a nonprofit based out of Bushwick. Their multi-purpose space is used as a gallery for photography shows, portfolio critiques, and workshops, as well as a lab for developing film.
They’ve recently expanded their lab services and now develop any type or size of film. Turnaround is usually just a few days, unless you’re developing slide film or large format.
Anyone interested in street photography is sure to find something of interest at NYC SPC, and even if that’s not your particular cup of tea, it’s still a great option for film developing.
GOWANUS DARKROOM
Anyone interested in learning more about film photography and the process of developing film may want to check out Gowanus Darkroom.
They offer a variety of classes, workshops, and private lessons for almost every aspect of film photography. Camera basics, film processing, and darkroom printing are just a few of the topics you’re able to learn more about at this spot.
If you’d rather leave things to the professionals, they also offer film developing, scanning, and printing services for C-41 color and black and white film in 35mm, 120, and large format.
GRIFFIN EDITIONS
Griffin Editions is a high end lab who has served artists, museums, and galleries in NYC for over 20 years.
All sizes of film are accepted from 35mm all the way to 8×10 sheet film – they develop both C-41 color and black and white.
You’ll have a few options of different sized scans and we love the option to get an analog contact sheet.
If you were ever thinking of having some of your work printed, this is definitely a lab worth checking out.
NYC FILM LAB
NYC Film Lab is a relatively new operation from the folks behind Film Objektiv, a popular spot for analog camera rentals and sales.
They offer processing, scanning, and printing for any size or type of film.
They also have film dropbox locations in Greenwich Village, Williamsburg, and the Lower East Side. This service was stopped because of COVID, but they are hoping to have the dropboxes up and running again soon.
BUSHWICK COMMUNITY DARKROOM
A community-based endeavor, Bushwick Community Darkroom is a space intended to preserve and promote the practice of film photography in Brooklyn. They house a darkroom available for the public to rent, exhibitions in their gallery, and classes to learn more about the process of developing your own film.
If you’d rather stick to shooting, you can also drop off any type of 35mm or 120 film for developing, scanning, and/or printing.
In their efforts to support the community with this space, Bushwick Community Darkroom also offers financial aid for photographers of marginalized groups, or those facing financial hardship.
PHOTO LAB NYC
Photo Lab NYC may offer the most customizable film developing service in all of Brooklyn. They cater to seasoned film shooters by offering a variety of options that are hard to find elsewhere.
For black and white film, they provide the unique option of choosing which developer is used to process your film. For C41 color, along with standard processing, you’ll be able to have your film cross-processed, or bleach bypassed.
Photo Lab NYC also offers expired film recovery processing, which aims to obtain the greatest possible results from delicate, tough-to-process, expired film. This could really come in handy if you ever find yourself with a valuable, old roll of film that you don’t want to risk ruining with standard processing.
Map of Film Developing in Brooklyn
More Places for Film Developing in Brooklyn
Didn’t find quite what you were looking for? While the film processing services above may be the most popular choices, there are still more options available. Check out the list below for the remaining places to get your film developed in Brooklyn.
Photoreal
Nostrand Photo Lab
Photo Life
Black & White on White
Kubus Photo Service
Ridgewood Photo
Did We Miss Anywhere?
Do you know anywhere else to get film developed in Brooklyn that we missed? Let us know in the comments!
Ridgewood Photo service the neighborhoods of Bushwick and Ridgewood. It’s located at 55-23 Myrtle Ave, Queens, NY 11385.
Added to the list, thanks!
Griffin+Gloss Film Lab at Griffin Editions 411 3rd Avenue in Gowanus Section of Brooklyn
Thanks, Robert. Added it to the list!
I have been using ACCURATE PHOTO for years! The best, most honest people I know. Daughter Katrina usually prints my 11×14’s and they ALWAYS come back the way I saw them on my screen