Where to Print Negatives in SF Bay Area?

[westamp]

My sister got married this year and she got the negatives from her photographer. Can anyone recommend a reputable photo lab that produces reprints from the square sized negatives (NOT 35 mm)?

Let us know.

Thanks.

[gravymommy3]

You will need to call around. Most labs that print medium format are pro labs and you might have trouble locating them and when you do find them, they might not want to work with you (nothing personal but they don't want to undercut or alienate their pro customers to print a few pics for you.) You should be able to find a lab that will print for you though.

Then the fun begins. Did she get any proofs from these negs? If she has those, then on the back of each proof is a number that corresponds to a tag on the processed roll of negs and a number that corresponds to the position of the picture in that roll. You look at the proofs and decide which picture(s) you want. Then, and this is very important, take a sharpie and starting at the beginning of the roll of negs, number (writing on the glassine protectice covering of the negative) the negatives in order (1, 2, 3, etc.) cause once you cut them, you have no idea what number each neg. is on that roll. Get brown clasp envelopes to store the negs in - one envelope per roll.

Then either you have to card the neg (meaning obtain the appropriate sized crop card from the lab and very carefully with a suitable tape stick the neg to the card.) This will affect the look of the final print. You have to be careful not to touch the emulsion or wrinkle the neg or scratch and make sure it is orientated correctly. Having fun yet??

Then you have to mark what size prints, etc on the card and on the wax envelope you need to place the carded neg in.


If you do not have proofs, do not cut the negs. The only way to tell what the pics look like it to proof them. It is much cheaper to proof intact rolls of negs. By a lot!! Have proofs run and then start carding them.

Then you have to assemble the book to tell the story.

It is not easy and it takes a lot of time and an eye for how to crop to get the best look for the picture. You may want to get the photographer to do it in the end.

Good luck.