About the Lab
How do I get my film to you?
You can send us your film through your preferred form of mail. Our lab is located in Derry, New Hampshire, just about 45 minutes north of Boston!
The specific address to send your film will be given to you upon checkout after hitting purchase.
What is your turnaround time?
You will receive an email once your film arrives safely at our lab, from there you can expect to receive your digital files (if applicable) within 3 business days.
We are closed Saturdays and Sundays.
If we are expecting longer turnaround times due to sickness or vacation (we are a 2 person lab) it will be posted on our website and our socials.
How will I receive my scans?
You will receive your scans online through WeTransfer as soon as they are completed.
Can I get my negatives back?
Of course!! You have the option to dispose of your negatives or to have them mailed back to you.
If you wish to have your negatives mailed back, simply select the "Negative Return" option at checkout.
If you forgot to add this option before checking out, just send us an email and we will get it resolved!
Why should I trust you with my film?
We are a family run film lab that values quality and consistency. We treat your film like it's our own film. We are very meticulous about the developing and scanning process, ensuring the chemicals are the correct temperature, the timing is precise, and that your negatives are handled with a white glove service.
Our Services
What chemicals do you use to process film?
For color (C-41) processing our lab uses the JOBO C-41 Color Negative Chemistry. This includes Part A, B, and C Developer, Bleach, Fixer, and a Stabilizer.
For Black and White processing our lab uses Ilford chemistry. This includes Ilford Ilfosol 3 Developer, Ilford Ilfosol Stop Bath, and Ilford Ilfosol Rapid Fixer.
We wish to add E-6 processing in the near future. Before adding this service to our website we just want to ensure we have the market for it.
What do you use to scan my film?
To scan your film we use the HOLO Advance from BlackScaleLab in Germany. This setup allows us to precisely scan your 35mm and 120 film. After we have your images, they are uploaded to our computer to invert the images and add careful color corrections. If you wish to receive your film untouched from any color corrections, please indicate so in the order notes.
As much as we would love a Frontier or Noritsu scanner, they are just simply not in the budget right now. As a film lover myself who is always paying extra for the high quality scans I have been more than pleased with the results of the HOLO Advance.
Can I order prints?
Yes! You can select which types of prints you would like while choosing your lab services on our website. All prints are printed on our Epson ET 850 on high quality photo paper.
Prints of 35mm scans will be printed of 6x7 photo paper.
Prints of 120 scans will be printed on 6x4.5, 6x6, or 6x7 photo paper. Your photos will not be cropped in the final printed image.
Why only 35mm and 120?
The current scanning equipment we have only allows us to scan 35mm and 120 film. These are the two most commonly used film formats for the everyday film photographer. Thats why we chose to hone in on these and make them the best quality we are able. As or business grows we hope to upgrade our equipment to allow us to accept more film types.
Are you running any specials? Do you have a discount code?
We frequently run a lot of specials! Any current discount codes or specials will be posted on our website, Instagram, or Tik Tok, both are @fishfilmlab
All first time customers can get 20% off your lab first order. All you have to do is use code "NewCustomer20" at checkout. Limit one use per customer.
Additional Questions
How do I ship my negatives to you?
We recommend using USPS for the most inexpensive option to ship your film, but any mail carrier will work perfectly.
Seal your film and order number in a bubble mailer (we don't recommend using a paper envelope), write our lab address on the front, and drop it off at the post office.
How are my negatives sent back to me?
If you choose to have your negatives shipped back to you, they will be mailed via USPS. The will arrive uncut, as a full roll of film.
Do you accept expired film? What about disposable cameras?
Yes we do! The pricing for expired film and disposable cameras is the same as regular 35mm film. If your film is expired or from a disposable camera, please indicate so in the notes portion of your order.
Due to the nature of film, if it is expired we cannot guarantee quality images.
These are some recent photos we developed from a 20+ year old underwater disposable camera.
What happens if you damage my film?
We do our absolute best to ensure your film returns to you unharmed. We are just human and accidents do happen. In the event that your film is damaged at our lab, you will receive store credit in the amount that you lost.
