There are two convenient ways to place your order and then mail your film to us (if you don’t live near our Florida laboratory):
1) Order Online - Visit our BestFilmDeveloping.com site on your computer, cell phone or tablet.

• You'll find it quick-and-easy to let us know exactly the film processing services you want.
  You can order:
  • Film scans that you can use on social media.
  • Prints with a choice of – 4″ x 6″ or 5″ x 7″ Or…
  • Both scans and prints
  • You can also choose to have our laboratory just develop your negatives—a good choice if you’d like to do your own scanning.
• We'll email you a confirmation of your order plus a postage-free label that you can print out.
• Adhere the label to any secure package, insert your film or single-use camera(s) and drop your package in the mail.
• We’ll inform you via email of your order’s status every step along the way.
  • When your shipping label has been emailed to you
  • On the day your film arrives at our lab
  • When your scans are made and uploaded to you
  • As soon as your negatives–with or without optional prints–are in the mail to your home

Or …
2) Use one of the printed order forms we provide so that you can send us your rolls in one of our postage-free Business Reply Film Mailers.
Please click here if you’d like us to send you a film mailer. Programmers link to https://www.dalelabs.com/Mailers.html .

• Our mailer is very secure. It can hold up to eight (8) rolls of 35mm film or two (2) single-use cameras.
• If you have 120 film, please cut out the printed address panel on our Business Reply and adhere it to any secure box.

Be sure to fill in and include our order form with your processing order.
If you live in South Florida: You can drop off your exposed film – or pick up your developed, scanned and printed rolls – at our Laboratory Store.
Address: Dale Laboratories, 2960 Simms Street, Hollywood, Florida (954) 925-0103.
Directions: https://www.iprintspro.com/contact.php
We’re open Monday – Friday from 10AM – 5PM • 10AM – 2PM on Saturdays.
Shipping Methods:

• We pay the postage for you to mail us your film when you order through BestFilmDeveloping.com or if you use our Business Reply Mailer.
• You can also send your film by FedEx, UPS or USPS Express Mail, if you’d prefer. You’re welcome to use these optional shipping methods at your expense.

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Yes, we develop roll films from all manufacturers. These include:

• All 35mm, 120 and single-use camera color print films (C-41 Process)
• 35mm & 120 transparency and slide films (E-6 Kodak Ektachrome & Fujichrome)
• 35mm and 120 Black & White films
• APS (Advanced Photo System) film:
• Please Note: All APS film rolls were manufactured over twenty years ago. Because of their age we may not be physically able to properly open, scan and re-spool the rolls. If your rolls have not already been developed their images in all probability will be fogged by aging and produce poor image quality. So, all we can promise is a “best effort” attempt at processing APS rolls.

We do not process, scan or print the following film sizes:

• 110
• 126
• Disc film
• 4″ x 5″ or 8″ x 10″ sheet film

Or … discontinued films using the following processes:

• Kodachrome
• C-22 color print films
• E-4 slide films

Seattle FilmWorks or motion picture film from Dale Laboratories:
We may be able to develop these films, depending on their generation and the chemical processes required for any individual rolls. We can usually process Seattle Filmworks rolls if the cassette says SFW-XL.
Please phone us at (800) 327-1776 if you’re unsure. Our Customer Service team will determine whether we can still process your rolls.

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We will develop your film first. Then, our technicians will:

• Scan your negatives
• Produce optional prints, if you’ve ordered them
• Cut and insert your negatives into archival sleeving. (We also offer you the option of not cutting your negatives, with them being returned in clear plastic sleeving.)
• Scans will be up uploaded to you via WeTransfer. You’ll receive an email message with a download link.
  • When you click on the link the files will go into the Downloads folder on your computer. From there you can place them into a marked folder on your hard drive.
  • Use the JPEG files we provide for social media, to make prints on your inkjet or laser printer or to order prints from our laboratory through one of our online sites: DaleLabs.photogize.com (amateurs and/or consumers) or iPrints.com (advanced amateurs or pro photographers).
• Prints (optional) will be delivered to your home via First Class or Priority US mail.
• Negatives – with or without a print order – will be returned to your home via First Class mail.

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Turn-around time is dependent on when we receive your exposed film (from the Post Office) and the number of services you request.

• Our postage-free film mailers … or packages you might send with our complimentary, lab-addressed labels … will usually arrive at our laboratory in two – five days. Delivery times are dependent on the US Post Office. But, postal delivery is very secure and reliable.
• We generally develop your film and scan the processed rolls within two business days of receiving it.
  • Uploaded scans are sent to you via WeTransfer on the same day your film is scanned. A download link allows you to retrieve the image files and store them on your computer.
• Please allow one additional day in-lab for packing and shipment of your negatives and optional prints. Shipment to you is made via First Class USPS mail unless you have chosen Priority Mail or UPS.

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There is no extra charge for sending us your single-use-cameras. We charge the same prices for 27 exposure single-use cameras as we do for a 24-exposure 35mm film roll.
We will treat your photographs with the same care that we do on all 35mm films. (Our approach is to reward and thank you for sending us your film; not penalize you with surcharges for using a single-use camera.)
Our technicians individually correct every single frame on your roll for exposure and color. We also use digital sharpening software that will improve the sharpness of your images. This extra care and superior technology means that scans and prints from your single-use camera will be the best possible from any given roll.
Here are a few tips to get the best photos possible from single-use cameras:

• We suggest purchasing SUCs from the two top manufacturers; Kodak and Fuji. Kodak single-use cameras contain 800 ISO film while Fuji cameras are loaded with 400 ISO.
  • The ISO is important because with the plastic lenses and small f/stops on the SUCs you need higher-speed films. The cameras are engineered to use either ISO 400 (Fuji) or 800 (Kodak).
  • Our suggestion is that for a very important life event – particularly if the photos will be taken indoors, using the built-in flash units, that ISO 800 speed film gives you a real edge in getting better exposures. So, for indoor shooting we recommend using Kodak’s FunSaver Flash single-use-cameras. We believe that the FunSavers are an excellent choice if you want to place single-use cameras on wedding reception tables for use by your guests.
  • In general we don’t recommend using cameras from companies that reload film into them. These reloaded SUCs are sold over the Internet or as store-branded cameras.
  • Many of these companies buy 36 exposure rolls of film–often from questionable suppliers (not Kodak or Fuji)–cut the length down to 27 exposures, and reload them into recycled single-use cameras. (Again, sometimes not the higher quality cameras manufactured by Kodak or Fuji.)
    While there are reputable manufacturers who reload film into single-use cameras and sell them at a discounted price, particularly for “wedding camera packages” we have found that some of these inexpensive reloads have 200 ISO film (rather than 400 or 800 ISO), which results in severely underexposed photos. We have also had customers send us reloaded cameras where the film inside was physically damaged or fogged by manufacturers’ poor quality control.
    You don’t want to take any chances on your very special day! Reloaded single-use cameras may be OK for the kids to use for snapshots. But, we recommend that you don’t use them for important life-events.
    That said, we do process single-use cameras from all manufacturers and will always give you the best quality scans and prints possible from any single-use camera.
  • There is One Exception, A Single-Use Camera Company We Can Recommend: The Custom Camera Collection is a trustworthy company where you can safely buy discounted single-use camera packages. Custom Camera sells cameras in attractive packaging that are perfect for special, group shooting events (i.e., Baby showers, family reunions, etc.)
    What separates Custom Camera from the other online single-use camera manufacturers and merchandisers is that they responsibly reload their cameras:
    • - They use only Fuji or Kodak cameras received and recycled from photo labs like ours.
    • - Their film is fresh Kodak 400 brought directly from Kodak.
    • - Each camera has the Expiration/Use By date imprinted on it so that you’ll know if your camera has new film in it when you’re ready to shoot.
    • - Here is their contact information:
    Custom Camera Collection https://www.customcameracollection.com/
    Email: [email protected]
    540-535-0414 • 800-929-0130
    
• Always be sure to check the “Use By” date on the camera. That will be imprinted on any camera manufactured by Kodak, Fuji or any responsible manufacturer.
  • The expiration date may not be shown on re-spooled or store-branded cameras. This alone is a pretty good reason not to use these cameras
  • If old film is loaded is into SUCs or if they have been stored beyond their expiration date and the film has gone “bad” you’ll end up with inferior, age-fogged photos.
• Purchase Kodak or Fuji cameras from a reliable source.
  • Retail and drug stores are trustworthy. They will normally rotate their single-use camera stock.
  • Avoid buying film or single-use cameras from tourist shops when you travel because there’s a good chance it may be old or improperly stored.
  • If buying on the Internet, try to only use reputable photo companies. You have no way of knowing how online retailers store their cameras or the quality of the film in their reloaded single-use cameras.
  • o We sell Kodak and Fuji single-use-cameras at our Hollywood lab store. If you would like to purchase a single-use camera or cameras from us please phone (800) 327-1776 or (954) 925-0103. We will charge you our store’s regular retail price plus $5 per roll for shipping.

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Yes, we’re here to help you. Please phone (800) 327-1776 or (954) 925-0103 with any questions or concerns.

• All of our team members are fully qualified photographic experts. Most are professional photographers. They’re also very nice, friendly people who will try their best to answer all of your questions.
• We are open for calls Monday – Friday from 10AM - 5PM. On Saturdays please call from 10AM – 2PM.

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A phone call to (800) 327-1776 or (954) 925-0103 is the fastest, most direct way of reaching us. Your call will put you in touch with a real, live person.

We answer the phones Monday – Friday from 10AM - 5PM. Saturday hours are from 10AM – 2PM.
You are welcome to email us at [email protected] with detailed questions.
Please allow that our email is checked several times per day but personnel are not permanently assigned on a minute-to-minute basis. So, it may take a short time for us to reply to your emailed questions or comments.
Contacting us by email is a good choice, though, for questions that will require an investigation.

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Film negatives are the “originals” of pictures you’ve taken. They also represent insurance against the possible “loss” of your images if they’ve been sent to you electronically.
You never know–especially before you’ve actually have seen your images or prints–exactly the visual information your photos contain. You can have an unexpectedly good, “prize-winning” photograph or sometimes–unfortunately–the last photo taken of a loved one during his or her life.

We believe in operating in a cautious way as regards discarding negatives. We never want to be responsible for losing an important image.
So, out of respect to you and the photographic arts that we’ve supported, we always return negatives to our customers. That has been our policy for nearly 50 years …
and many customers have expressed their gratitude to us for consistently following this SOP through the years.
Of course, you’re welcome to discard any negatives you wish to. After all, they are your property. We simply suggest that you may want to wait a little bit before trashing your negatives.

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We try to avoid surcharges or extra fees. Rare exceptions might be if some special service is required after normal business hours or if you want an unusual service that requires an extra expenditure on our part.

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• Camera Clubs & Guilds - We can assign discount codes to qualified camera clubs or professional photographic guilds and their members. These codes can be used online at BestFilmDeveloping.com or the code may be handwritten onto our printed Film Developing By Mail order form when a member sends us his or her film. To obtain this unique code for your organization, please ask your club president to mail us a letter on your club’s or guild’s stationary requesting a promotional discount for your members.
  • Dale Laboratories, 2960 Simms Street, Hollywood, Florida 33020-1579.
  • The promotional code’s continuation is contingent on a reasonable amount of orders reaching our laboratory from club members.
• A 10% discount on processing services is available to students (at our discretion). This courtesy discount is only available at our lab store counter in Hollywood or with the mail-in order form.
  • Our requirement is that we need to see a photocopy of a valid, current student ID. It must submitted to us with every film processing order.
• Active military personnel can receive a 10% discount in the same way as student. A photocopy of your Military ID must be included with each order. Thank you for your service!

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There’s quite a difference between professional film processing, scanning and printing than developing done at a consumer level.

• We are a Kodak Certified Professional Photographic Laboratory – So, you’re assured of consistent, reliable film developing.
• Each of our laboratory technicians is professional photographer in his or her own right. They have years of experience in all aspects of photography.
• Our technicians individually correct every one of your pictures for color and density. So, in most cases your pictures will look their best, even if you had some exposure “misses.”
• Digital Ice software, which we use when we scan your color negatives, visually removes minor scratches on your film.
• Archival negative sleeving protects and preserves you film.

Most importantly, we conduct our laboratory business by the Golden Rule. We will always treat your film and photographs with the same care we would our own.

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Yes, we pay the postage for you to mail us your film … whether with our Business Reply, postage-free, film mailers or the Postage Paid address labels you receive via email when you place your film processing orders on BestFilmDeveloping.com.
On orders of three (3) or more rolls there is no shipping charge for US mail return of your prints or negatives. You’ll also find that our charges for other types of shipping are actually less than the carriers charge us.

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Yes. You can either drop off your film at our laboratory or pick up your prints and negatives, as well as any reprints or enlargements we make for you.

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You can order prints from the scans we make and email to you or from your negatives using Dale Laboratories’ online sites (Dale is BestFilmDeveloping.com’s parent company).

• DaleLabs.photogize.com – This is an easy-to-use site that is ideal for beginners and amateur photographers. The site provides printing services from wallet size to 20″ x 30″ directly from the film scans we send to you. You can submit digital images from film scans we made from your 35mm or 120 rolls or images you shot on a dSLR and stored on your PC or Mac. You can also order prints and enlargements directly from cell phone photos that are in your phone’s image library.
• iPrints.com – An excellent site for computer-savvy amateur or professional photographers. iPrints.com also works from cell phone images.
• iPrintsPro.com – This site is designed for use by professional photographers and advanced amateurs. It has pro products not generally available to the public.

Order directly from your negatives:
Use our online order form at https://www.dalelabs.com/orderenlg.html .

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You should get the same quality prints from our laboratory from either our scans or your negatives. Note that prints from negatives are more expensive due to the extra handling the negatives require.

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Standard resolution scans will produce professional quality prints up to 8″x 12″; acceptably sharp prints to 11″ x 14″.
Hi-resolution scans will produce pro quality prints in our laboratory up to 16″ x 24″; acceptably sharp prints up to 20″ x 30″.
Prints made from your negatives have the same sharpness levels as hi-resolution scans.

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A good photographic practice is to always rewind fully exposed 35mm film all the way back into the cassette. That serves two good purposes: 1) You won’t be able to load the roll back into your camera, inadvertently getting double exposures and 2) you’ll always know if the film roll has been exposed or not.

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There will be a $5 charge to partially cover our costs for labor, chemistry and the postage we pay to cover postage for us to receive your film. We assume that if you are giving us film to process that you understand that costs are involved. The five dollars we charge per roll covers only part of the costs we assume. We hope you can understand our position.
A good way to prevent unexposed rolls is to follow these procedures when you load your camera.
Here are some tips that will virtually eliminate unexposed roll:

1) Be sure that you wind at least one circumference of film onto your camera’s take-up spool. Do a partial film advance to be sure that the film is securely in the slot.

2)After you close the camera back, advance the take-up. Visually check that the take up spool is rotating.

3) Always advance the film to frame #1 before you begin shooting.

4) Check the movement of the take-up spool during your shoots to be sure it’s turning properly.

5) Never try to advance your film past the 24th or 36th frame to get “an extra shot.” That will cause ripped perforations and possibly double-expose your last frame.

When you unload your camera:

1) Be sure to depress the release button on the bottom of your camera. It’s there to release your film so that it can safely be rewound back into the cassette. If you forget to depress the button you can end up with ripped film perforations.

2) Rewind your film fully into the cassette. Don’t leave any leader out … as we’ve explained ... as a good practice to avoid double exposures and blank rolls.

If you find film rolls that you’re unsure of:
We’ve all been there. You come across a bunch of rolls, possibly left behind by a deceased relative. So, you aren’t sure what images are on the negatives–if any. We suggest that you select just one or two rolls and mail them to us with an order. Please let us know your suspicions in Special Instructions. We’ll check out the rolls and get back to you if there are any problems or if they are blanks. At that point you can decide whether to mail us the remaining rolls.

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Film, like food, spoils if it is kept too long beyond its expiration date or is stored in a hot environment. The visual effect is that the base density of the film increases and looks similar to light fog. That age-related fogging causes scans and prints to have lower contrast. With color films you may also have discoloration and color inaccuracies in scanned and printed images. Black and white films age slower and may even yield satisfactory prints twenty years after their expiration date. But, color films discolor and get fogged very quickly. The “thing” about film, though, is that it’s the content of the images rather than the quality that’s often most important to photographers. As a laboratory that leaves our technicians in a bit of a quandary. Should we scan or print badly deteriorated images if they are on old, expired film on the chance that the picture will be important to you? Or ... instead ... should we skip printing because the image quality won’t be very good or might even be poor? The answer is that our policy has to be to print any visible images, even if they are poor. We are in no position to judge how important the content of those images are to you, as the photographer or consumer who has sent the film to us for developing. If you send us film to develop, scan and/or print we have to assume you have some knowledge of what’s on the film and are requesting our paid service to handle the film processing as we’re directed to do.

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Experimentation has its place in photography. So, many photographers like the “effects” they get from dated film or sometimes use film that’s not quite correct for the shooting situation. (i.e., Shooting tungsten balanced motion picture film, spooled in a 35mm cassette, under daylight or with flash.) Our only advice is that you should use fresh film for any important family or business-related event. We also recommend using daylight-balanced films if you’re shooting outdoors or inside with flash. We don’t think it’s wise try to save a few bucks on film if the subject is going to a family wedding. But, if you are experimenting to see the effect of using “non-standard” approaches or films we’re 100% on board. Photography should be fun–and there’s certainly a place for experimentation. We will always strive to give you the best possible scans and prints from any film you send us!

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We are not here to censor your images. Nude and boudoir pictures have always had a place in photography. Our restrictions are that we won’t print, scan or upload images that show sexual penetration or that in any way sexualize children. Of course, we reserve the right for our personnel to use their judgment on what we will or will not print.

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Here’s a list of our various sites:

• DaleLabs.photogize.com – This is an easy-to-use site that is ideal for beginners and amateur photographers. Provides printing services from wallet size to 20″ x 30″ from scans, digital images and cell phone photos.
• iPrints.com – Excellent site for amateur or professional photographers. Also works from cell phone images.
• iPrintsPro.com – A site for professional photographers and advanced amateurs. It has pro products not generally available to the public.

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Please phone us at (800) 327-1776 or (954) 925-0103.

The Customer Service team member you’ll speak to should be able to answer most any question. If not he or she will consult someone who does to be sure you receive an accurate answer.

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