About Us

From Humble Beginnings

Proper Photography Kernow officially opened its doors on September 19th, 2023 but the idea had been growing for much longer. For years, we had seen how difficult it was becoming to find reliable, affordable film development locally. Many photographers had to travel long distances, post their film away to anonymous big labs, or rely on chain stores where the quality and personal service simply weren’t there. We wanted to change that.

So, we started small just two Kodak photo kiosks, a lot of determination, and the belief that film photography was still alive and worth saving. At first, we offered simple printing services but customers quickly began asking for more. They wanted their film developed, they wanted advice on cameras, and they wanted somewhere local where they could talk to people who understood analog photography.

Step by step, we listened, adapted, and grew. Every bit of progress came from reinvesting in the lab: buying our first professional C41 processor, setting up a darkroom corner for hand-developed black & white, adding high-resolution scanners, and later upgrading to a large-format Epson printer for gallery-quality enlargements. We invested and continue to do so in to improving our equipment and services including expanding our range of stock, because we believe our customers deserve the best.

What began as a tiny kiosk setup soon became a fully-fledged, independent photo lab, one of the very few left in Cornwall. Today, we’re proud to serve not just Newquay but photographers all over the UK through our growing mail-in service.

Whilst our lab has grown one thing has never changed, our values. Our growing independent business remains fully customer focused with all the team approachable, passionate, and hands-on. Proper Photography Kernow's commitment is to give every roll of film the care and respect it deserves and our customers a high quality personal service.

We are all Human

All film is developed and scanned by me, Josh, so there’s real consistency and care in every roll that comes through the lab. If you ever notice anything different in how your scans come out, or if something’s not quite to your liking, please just let me know, either by email or in the lab. I’m always happy to correct anything and have a proper chat about it. We like to keep people happy and coming back, and feedback like that genuinely helps me improve and keep pushing the service forward.

See behind the scenes

see how things are done here in the lab and get a proper look behind the scenes. From the moment your film comes in, it’s handled with care and run through our Noritsu processing machines to get the best possible results. Once developed, we scan everything in house on our high end scanner, keeping colours natural and true, ready for you to view, print, or share. It’s all done right here in the lab, with no shortcuts, just proper film processing done the way it is should be

Dropping of Film

When you drop your film off with us, you’ll always get a friendly welcome and a proper chat about what you’ve shot and what you’d like from it. Whether it’s your first roll or you’ve been shooting for years, we’re always happy to help and answer any questions you’ve got. From advice on film types to scanning options and prints, nothing’s too much trouble, we just want to make sure you get the best out of every roll.

Where the magic happens

Before any film goes anywhere near the processor, each roll is carefully twin checked by hand to make sure everything is correct and ready to go. We check the film type, condition, and how it’s been loaded so there are no surprises once it enters the machine. The film is then spliced onto a leader card, secured properly, and taped on both ends to ensure it feeds through smoothly and safely without any risk of damage.Once everything is prepped, the film is fed into either our Noritsu T15 or Noritsu V30 processor, depending on the job. From there, it begins its journey through the chemistry, moving through each stage at controlled speeds and temperatures to bring your images to life.

Let's see them pictures !

Once your film has been developed, it moves over to scanning using our top of the range Noritsu scanners. We use Noritsu because they produce high resolution files with a more natural, flatter look and true to life colours. Unlike some other commonly used lab scanners that can add contrast or saturation, Noritsu scans give you a clean, neutral starting point, perfect for editing or for those who want their images to stay as true to the original negative as possible.After each roll is scanned and saved, we don’t just send it straight out. Every image is carefully checked by eye for any dust or marks that Digital ICE may have missed. If anything is spotted, it’s corrected manually to make sure your scans are as clean as possible. Only once everything has been properly checked and finished we send your images out, ready for you to enjoy, print, or edit.

Digital Delivery

When your scans are complete, we send them via TransferNow, fully covered by us. There’s no AI trickery just your true images. If you’ve dropped your film in by 3:30, I’ll always work overtime to make sure those scans hit your inbox by 5 or 6 p.m. that same day because I know how keen you are to see them!

To print or not to print?

If you’d like your images printed, you’ve got two great options to choose from. Our Kodak gloss prints give you that classic photo finish with rich colours and a clean shine, perfect for albums or sharing with friends and family. Or, for a more professional feel, our Epson lustre prints offer a softer finish with beautiful detail and reduced glare, ideal for framing or display. Whichever you choose, your images are printed right here in the lab to the same high standard as the rest of our process.