I was curious for an opinion about a photo business... A business allows individuals to process and print their own film and negatives. It's a business available to anyone; students, amatuers, and professionals alike. It would provide an environment for those who share a similar interest an area to work, exchange ideas, and expand on their knowledge of photography. From what I learned, it's not informative (schooling), rather just an area for those with a general knowledge to do their work. What does anyone think?....

-- Jim Maher (James81666@aol.com), July 22, 2000

Answers

The few people I've know who have opened such businesses over the years have found the volume of customers to be insufficient plus those customers are too cheap to pay rates high enough to cover business expenses.

Those expenses include rent, utilities, various licenses and in this special case, lots of expensive hardware, insurance on that hardware, high liability insurance, and perhaps special equipment in order to comply with effluent regulations.

Also bear in mind that the photographic darkroom is a vanishing species; more and more things are vying for leisure time, more people want to play with digital etc.

Anyway...I think it's a great idea that's sorely needed in most areas but it's almost certainly to be a money-losing enterprise.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), July 23, 2000.

I supervise the b&w darkroom in the Arts Center of a very small community. It costs you $2.00 to use the darkroom and chemicals to do your own work & we basically don't get any takers.......So.......

chris

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), July 24, 2000.

Probably people who are interested in darkroom work figure out how to have their own, eventually. There are plenty of community college and art center darkrooms for people who want to try it out. I imagine that people either fail to remain interested or catch the bug and build their own. Or catch the digital bug.

Perhaps you can go to a local school or college and volunteer to run their darkroom. If they let you market it properly, it could be very fun and satisfying. But you won't make money (unless they decide to pay you!).

-- Steven Hupp (hups@sinai.org), July 26, 2000.

Jim, Forget it! No longer is it possible to have an idea and try it out. You have to think about OSHA, EPA, liability exposure (lawyers are lurking everywhere!) and now, the Americans with Disabilites Act! What if a blind person demanded equal access to making photographs? Don't laugh, a deaf woman sued Jack-in-the-Box because she couldn't place her order at the drive-thru! No wonder internet businesses are so popular!

-- Michael D Fraser (mdfraser@earthlink.net), July 29, 2000.

Jim Not knowing your location it is hard to comment on your idea. Here in New York ther are a few such places that have been around for quite awhile. But they all supplement their spaces by selling paper, etc. As well as offering film processing and printing. I would believe that forming a non-profit photo group whose members would split the cost of such a venture might be a way to go. It would also give you some idea as to just how much interest there is in your area. Of course - reguardless of which way you go there are things like staffing, clean up, training the first timer, etc.as well as the above mentioned insurance, etc.

-- jim megargee (jmegargee@nyc.rr.com), July 31, 2000.

There are 3 such labs in the Atlanta area. One offers Ilfochrome, another roller transport b@w processing as well as a sink line for fiber. They are all viable businesses constantly upgrading services. Two have digital printing services on a small scale (Epson 1250) and both offer custom processing of b&w film and custom printing in all available media as well as personal instruction in the craft of printing. You'd better know what you're doing or find a manager that can maintain the plots of the chemistry and the mechanics of the machines as well as regular staffers to handle the grunt work of cleaning rollers and tanks. Many refugees from commercial labs really prefer this type of environment, both as customers and employees. You will need a large customer base to draw from, as the chemistry needs material run through it to remain stable, not to mention cash flow... t

-- tom meyer (twm@mindspring.com), August 08, 2000.

If what you are seeking are people to ratch-jaw about photograpy, find a good camera club. Or start your own. I've started three over the years.

-- Gene Crumpler (nikonguy@worldnet.att.net), August 09, 2000.