Low-cost ways to develop donated disposable cameras for a youth group
Asked 2/21/2012
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Our group of special-needs kids received disposable cameras as a donation, but we still need to pay to have the film developed. The cameras are 27-exposure disposables, likely color film. We’re looking for practical, affordable options or possible donation ideas for processing and prints. Are there ways to reduce the cost, such as developing negatives only or getting contact sheets first? Would local labs, big-box photo counters, or community organizations be worth approaching for discounted or donated processing?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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I would image most schools are only set up to do black and white photography, as it is easier and less expensive (or was when I was doing it) Finding a school that can process color photos (I assume yours are color film) is probably a long shot.
You could ask a printing business (or Walmart etc) if they can do a special rate for you.
You can also just develop the negatives and ask for a contact sheet like below, which contains a small print of each picture, all on one page. Costs will vary, but you might save half the cost over getting prints of the 27 shots.
Then if you want regular prints made - prints will I think be cheaper if you get 30 copies of one shot, rather then 30 individual shots from different rolls. If they took all the shots at the same time and place, maybe you could pick out a representative set and print out a few for everyone (but do check the cost of doing that vs just getting the rolls all developed and printed in the first place or you may end up adding work for yourself and not saving much money).
Originally by user4191. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4191
14y ago
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A school darkroom probably isn’t the best option, since many school programs historically handled black-and-white rather than color film. A more practical approach is to ask local photo labs, print shops, or big-box stores with photo services whether they can offer a discount, process at cost, or donate part of the work for a community group.
To keep costs down, consider having the film developed first and getting contact sheets instead of full sets of prints. A contact sheet gives you small versions of every frame on one page, so you can review the images cheaply and order only the photos you really want as larger prints.
You may also have luck approaching local businesses or community service organizations and framing it as a goodwill/community-support project. A local paper or community notice can help if a business is willing to sponsor the processing.
So the best path is: contact local labs and retailers for a nonprofit/community discount, ask about develop-only or develop-plus-contact-sheet options, and seek help from local service clubs or businesses that may want to support the project.
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