Are there really places that still sell film?
Can you still get it developed?
These are questions that I get asked so often, that it's become something I now just come to expect when I say I am a film photographer.
Chatting with friends, colleagues, random people on the street who see me with an historic film camera, people are often so sure that film photography died 10+ years ago with the digital photography era taking over, that they are so surprised to learn I can rattle off a list off all the places in our city, as well as places around the country and world, who sell and/or make film.
This is not designed to be an extensive list, but instead a list of places that I personally purchase from in Melbourne or follow closely. There are a number of other smaller businesses as well, and I'll update this list over time, as things change, I try out more places or new players emerge.
Places that sell and develop film in Melbourne, Australia
These are the businesses I personally use who sell (S) and or develop (D) film
- Walkins House of Film (S/D)
- Film Never Die (S/D)
- Ikigai (S/D)
- Hillvale (S/D)
- Work in Process (S/D) (currently closed while looking for a new location – Nov 2020)
- Halide Supply (S/D)
- Melbourne Film Supply (S)
- Decisive Moment (S)
- Vanbar (S/D) (Vanbar is where I buy foil wrapped Ilford films HP5+ and FP4, they are often cheaper than the other stores, but note that the other films they sell can often be cheaper elsewhere, so shop around)
Film scanning
All of the above can scan your film when you get it developed, but if you have a negative you would like scanned, I highly recommend contacting Format Scan.
About Madeline Bowser
I've been photographing with film for what seems like forever ... well since the late 90's. I shoot both film and digital, but film is where my heart is and I get the most ongoing enjoyment from and what I enjoy sharing and teaching to others. I also travel the world hunting down old cameras and unique locations to photograph in, and exhibit and sell my travel photographs.
When out shooting film, I often get asked the questions 'can you still buy film?', 'I thought film stopped being made 10 years ago' and 'why would you want to shoot film when you can shoot digital'.
My answers are, 'yes', 'no, it didn't', and 'I also shoot digital, both have their place in my mind'.
Visit haeliophoto.com or follow me on Instagram @haeliophoto to see more of my work.
Visit photo-tours.com.au to sign up to a film photography workshop in Melbourne.