Where We Like to Develop Our Film (And Why)
This comes up all the time — on walks, in DMs, and when chatting with anyone who’s interested in film photography. There are quite a few places to choose from when it comes to getting your film developed, and honestly, a lot of them are going to give you pretty similar results.
How We Choose a Lab
When I’m looking for a lab to use, I usually start with a quick Google search, then take a look at reviews — either on Reddit or the lab’s own site. I’ll also check what kind of scanners they use, their turnaround time, and, oddly enough, their Instagram.
I want to see a lab that’s involved in the film community — not just developing film, but shooting it too. That usually tells me they’ll care about the photos and handle them with intention.
I don’t necessarily need the best. I just want something consistent and reliable.
When I recommend a lab to someone — especially if they’re new to film — I want the process to feel approachable. Clear ordering, not a ton of technical language, and nothing that feels overwhelming right out of the gate.
I also look for pricing that feels reasonable (around $15 a roll), a quick turnaround, and results that are consistent without cutting corners on quality.
With those things in mind, here are the labs we personally use and trust.
The Labs We Personally Use (and Why)
Creative Room is one of those labs that just feels thoughtful. They sent back a small keychain and postcard featuring a film photo, which was a really nice touch.
They organize and cut negatives cleanly, store them in a small plastic sleeve, and their ordering process is super straightforward — especially friendly if you’re newer to film. Pricing is very fair (around $15 a roll), especially considering how much care they put into what they send back.
The Darkroom has been consistently reliable for us. They return film cut into easy-to-store sections (the same size as Creative Room), and their ordering process is very beginner friendly.
Their pricing feels fair, but what really stands out is turnaround time — it’s been insanely fast for us, often under a week from sending film to getting it back. They’ve also included a return envelope for your next roll, which makes reordering easy.
State Film Lab is the lab we’ve used the longest. Their ordering process is clear and approachable, especially if you’re just getting started.
They are a bit pricier, and turnaround isn’t always the fastest, but we really like how organized everything comes back — folders are clearly labeled and images are easy to navigate. That consistency goes a long way.
Nice Film Club is a great option if you’re developing a lot of film or leaning more professional. Their subscription program makes a lot of sense if you’re shooting frequently.
They’re upfront about turnaround times, pricing falls into the mid-range, and in our experience, their results are some of the best. This is a solid lab if quality is your top priority and you like knowing exactly what to expect.
We’ve used The FIND Lab for years and still really respect what they do. They’ve grown a lot recently, which is awesome to see.
Their ordering process leans more intermediate, with lots of scanning options geared toward more serious photographers. As they’ve gotten more popular, turnaround times have occasionally stretched a bit, which is why we’ve used them less recently — but their work is still strong.
At the end of the day, the “best” lab is the one you trust and stick with long enough to understand how your photos come back. Consistency builds confidence — and that matters way more than chasing perfection.
You really can’t go wrong with any of these.
If you’re curious, we wrote more about why film keeps pulling us back here.
