Lessons from the photo lab

Despite the increasing popularity of online photo sharing sites such as Flickr and Smugmug, there’s no substitute for a batch of 4″x6″ glossy prints hot off the press.  If you’ve ever gotten photos developed, though, you’re sure to know that nothing’s more disappointing than bringing a roll of film or digital camera card to your local photo lab and receiving a handful of crummy prints an hour later.

I’ve worked part-time in a photo lab in an upscale megamarket for about three and a half years now, and now that it’s summer break, I’m back in the lab developing photos and accumulating a little spending money for the upcoming academic year.  Since it’s almost summer vacation season, I thought it might be useful and timely to compile a brief list of things to consider when bringing your photos into your local lab for development.  Although I can’t make any promises, I’m pretty confident following at least one of these tips is bound to make you a happier customer!

Okay, here we go:

1. Don’t ask for your photos in one hour. I recognize that as a customer you’re entitled to prints within a certain timeframe, but here’s the thing: the photo lab employees are strapped for time, and you probably aren’t.  Unless you need a few photos printed for a last-minute Fathers’ Day present, let the employees take the time they need to do their best without stressing them out.  It can sometimes even save you money, too.  One caution, though: wait too long, and your photos might be done as an afterthought.  Returning the next day might be your best option.
2. Don’t use one-time-use cameras. I am completely honest when I admit that I have not seen acceptable results from Kodak or Fuji one-time-use cameras (OTUCs) once.  These recycled pieces of junk plastic rarely have powerful enough flashes, use cheap film, and can even act up, exposing your unexposed film to the damaging light.  OTUC photos invariably come out grainy, dark, and off-colored; even investing in a $20 film camera would be a better bet.
3. Don’t bring in too many photos at once. The aging technology supporting most digital minilabs doesn’t scale well.  Giving your friendly neighborhood photo technician a roll of film or SD card is like shooting him with a BB gun.  One shot is merely pesky, but a couple hundred are bound to do some lasting harm.  Ordering any more than, say, 400 photos at one time greatly increases the chances that something won’t get printed or an error of another sort.  Keep everyone sane and make two trips.
4. Use digital, not film. Although bringing in a few rolls of ISO 800 film may have a rustic appeal, it’s probably time to embrace digital photography.  Digital files greatly simplify the process for both photographer and developer; for instance, film must go through two sets of chemicals (in order to both process and print) whereas digital files need only go through one.  A simpler procedure minimizes the number of things that can go wrong during the printing process.
5. Edit your photos at home, not at the lab. Many of today’s photo labs offer kiosks for in-store editing.  Although these stations can be convenient, editing a large number of files can be enormously tedious and time-consuming.  Instead of messing around with the laggy touchscreens at the lab, use software such as Google’s free Picasa program to crop and touch up your photos at home.  Transfer your edited files onto a memory card or CD, drop them off at your lab, and enjoy the time you’ve saved.
6. Build a relationship with your photo technicians. Above all, the best way to get quality prints from your local lab is to befriend the employees there.  If the workers get to know your name and face, they’re more likely to put in extra time making your photos look perfect.  They’ll also feel more comfortable redoing work if necessary, offering expert opinions, and maybe even slipping in the occasional freebie.  Most retail labs can’t accept tips, so don’t try to buy friendship; however, nothing guarantees quality like a homemade muffin or handful of cookies from somewhere else in the store!

To sum these suggestions up, all it takes to get the best photos from your local lab is a little bit of patience, an understanding of photo technology, and a love of good prints.  Keep these tips in mind and you’re bound to fill your photo albums up with great prints for years to come.

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