Film Folk
Community
Once written off as a dying medium, film is finding new life, and that comeback is a community effort. Someone has to develop all that film, and our analog scene exists because of the labs, darkrooms and print shops that keep it alive. We asked each of these local institutions to name a photographer who keeps them inspired. Meet a few of these film folks and the places supporting their craft!
Essential Photo Supply nominates: Jesus Robledo
About the store: Essential Photo Supply is a locally owned camera shop and film lab built around supporting photographers and keeping film photography accessible and thriving in our community. They process and scan, sell new and used cameras, film, and photography supplies, offer consignment and studio rentals and create opportunities to showcase and connect local photographers. Whether someone is picking up their very first roll of film, searching for their next camera or has been shooting professionally for years, they want Essential to be a place where photographers feel supported, inspired and part of a community.
From the store: We selected Jesus for his candid street and storytelling photography, particularly the way he documents and celebrates Utah’s Hispanic community. His work captures genuine, everyday moments and gives a personal perspective on a community and culture that is an important part of Utah. He’s also a big part of our local film community and is always eager to grow and push his photography further, including creating his own zines to bring his work together into larger stories. We really appreciate both the perspective he brings through his photography and the enthusiasm he brings to the community.
From the photographer: I believe there are so many interesting things that happen in everyday life that deserve to be seen and documented, so most of my work happens as I wander through the Salt Lake Valley with my film camera, observing the world around me and trying to make photographs of moments that I feel are worth preserving.
Photos by Jesus Robledo:
Essential Photo Supply nominates: Dominik Stepp
From the store: Dominik creates some incredibly unique film photography from the frontlines of wildfires. His work gives people a look into an environment and experience that most of us would otherwise never get to see. There’s a strong storytelling element to what he photographs, and we think the subject matter combined with shooting it on film makes his perspective especially interesting.
From the photographer: My name is Dominik Stepp, and I’m originally from the Salt Lake area. About six years ago, I discovered film photography and quickly developed a passion for capturing the world around me. As an avid outdoorsman, I began bringing my camera along, giving me the opportunity to document incredible moments along the way. I currently work on a wildland fire crew, where I’ve also started bringing my camera into the field to capture the unique experiences that happen on the fireline.
Photos by Dominik Stepp:
Essential Photo Supply nominates: Kirra Heindorff
From the store: Kirra is an up-and-coming portrait photographer who has been putting a lot into developing her work and growing her photography business. We’ve loved watching her style and confidence continue to develop, and we think she’s a great example of someone actively building a place for herself in the local photography community.
From the photographer: I’ve always been drawn to the way film makes ordinary moments feel a little more significant. I love the imperfections caught by film, that you never know the outcome and no picture is ever the same. Film captures a different type of emotion in people. For me, film photography is about capturing a memory in a way that feels real and imperfect. I call myself an analogue memory maker because that’s what I’m trying to do: make something you can hold onto and feel after the moment is gone.
Photos by Kirra Heindorff:
Essential Photo Supply nominates: Luke Bean
From the store: Luke really stands out to us for his storytelling and his use of unique light and texture. His images have a distinct feeling to them, and we love the way he uses those elements to create atmosphere and tell a larger story. Luke is also currently a member of our staff at Essential Photo Supply, so we wanted to be transparent about that in case it presents a conflict of interest. That said, we wanted to nominate him because we genuinely believe his photography deserves recognition!
From the photographer: I started taking photos because of my dad and grandfather. They are both artists and taught me the importance of seeing beauty in the world, whatever it may be. My grandfather also showed me the value of film photography, having to be strategic and move on. I think my work reflects that in the way I bring my camera everywhere with me and don’t have a bias toward what I capture.
Photos by Luke Bean:
The FIND Lab nominates: Savannah McKenzie
About the store: FIND stands for Film Is Not Dead. It’s very much their motto and operative. They are a photography lab operated by photographers for photographers. They carry a large array of film stocks, cameras and photo gear. They offer all film processing options, from color to black & white even film soup! They offer a variety of scanning services that range from their budget scans and more tailored scans by their gifted technicians. They are hopeful to expand our services to include a public darkroom in 2027!
From the store: Savannah McKenzie is an established multifaceted photographer. She isn’t bound by simply one industry. She carves out her niche in portrait, fashion, product and wedding photography. Her photos fill the frame with color and life, capturing the viewer’s full attention. We love her compositions! Whichever industry she is working, she documents the details and auras we all crave to feel in those moments! On top of all this talent, it is hard to argue there is a nicer person than Savannah!
From the photographer: Photos from various projects, held together by a feminine thread. Seeing these images together, a bubbling of questions came up for me: What does it look like to rewild our femininity? How can we reclaim power in the things we are taught to feel ashamed of? In what ways have we “hardened” ourselves for protection?
Photos by Savannah McKenzie:
Pictureline nominates: Jace LeRoy
About the store: Savannah Lyman is a Washington State native with a background in photography going back 10+ years. She shoots Fujifilm and Canon and is currently working as the lead marketing designer for Pictureline. Pictureline is a local SLC camera store founded in 1989 and provides rentals, camera-care services, expert-level teaching, local workshops and exceptional customer service, both in-store and online.
From the store: Jace LeRoy is an exceptional modern-day film photographer with a talent for capturing the tiny details within an ever-flowing timeline. His touch of cinematic flair and nostalgia draws viewers in and begs the question, “What’s the story behind this?” Jace writes, “Don’t ever stop documenting your own life. Photography is quite literally a time machine.” From road signs and cinematic landscapes to forgotten sports courts, every one of Jace’s photos possesses a true spark of life — one that so many people can relate to.
From the photographer: Digital cameras had been ruling the photographic landscape. I found myself struggling to connect with photography as I once did. My solution was to do a deep dive into the craft itself. Ninety-five percent of my photography is now done using analog methods. Everyone is walking around with a camera in their pocket, yet it’s lost on them that, not very long ago, people would have traded everything they had to see an image of a lost loved one or visually reminisce about a place they could never return to.
Photos by Jace LeRoy:
Photo Collective Studios nominates: Mathew Meinhofer
About the store: Savanna Schimmel is the Darkroom Director at Photo Collective Studios, located in the Clubhouse on South Temple. Their darkroom is unique because they give visitors the opportunity to learn alongside our experienced managers, work independently on their own projects or invite friends and family in to create with them. Our darkroom offers various film and photographic services, including film developing and scanning, black-and-white enlargements and printing, cyanotype making and access to our digital print lab for creating high-quality prints.
From the store: We would like to nominate Mathew Meinhofer, our Darkroom Manager, who also hosts a weekly Open Studio Night for local photographers and models. Mathew’s dedication to developing, scanning and editing ALL of his own film is inspiring. It’s rare to see him without one of his many cameras in hand. He is constantly learning new techniques, experimenting with different styles, and connecting with fellow photographers. His passion for the craft and his willingness to grow as a photographer have made him an important part of the Salt Lake City film community.
From the photographer: I tend to photograph as a way to cope with anxiety, allowing me to return to the present. Film forces me to slow down and allows me to be involved in creating an image from start to finish through darkroom developing and enlarging. I look for genuine human moments, reacting to scenes as they unfold rather than directing them.
Photos by Mathew Meinhofer:
Allen’s Camera nominates: Rachel Blank
About the store: Gavin White has been working at Allen’s for a little over three years. He got into film back in high school and has been there since. He enjoys shooting mostly landscape or portraits but concerts are his favorite. Allen’s Camera has been around since 1946 and has three locations in Salt Lake, Orem, and Provo. They are proud to be one of the few local camera stores in Utah. They provide a wide variety of services to customers from film development and camera equipment sales to printing and framing.
From the store: Rachel is a photographer that’s been doing business with us for many years. She has been a great customer and seeing her continuously improve as a photographer has been great to see. She is extremely consistent and very professional, as well as very friendly and a joy to be around and work with. The photography community is lucky to have her!
From the photographer: What brought me to film was an admiration for how it looked, but what has made me fall in love with it is the longing I have in this AI-filled world for something tangible and authentic. Film forces me to slow down and consider the importance of a moment, a lovely contrast to the rush I feel from everyday life. I mainly photograph weddings and elopements, using film photography as my primary medium. This passion also bleeds into other aspects of my life as I often document travel, concerts and day-to-day life.
Photos by Rachel Blank:
Acme Camera Co. nominates: Elayna Lofgran
About the store: Jacob Nuttall has been involved in film photography since before there were any other options. An intro to photography class carried through to a tech program where countless hours were spent in both color and B&W darkrooms. He has worked alongside and supported many people in their photographic journeys. He has assisted, taught, coached, motivated and inspired many photographers to continue their pursuits. Jacob started Acme Camera Co. in 2013 in the pursuit of increasing access to photographic equipment. The belief that photography should be available is the core mission of Acme Camera.
From the store: Elayna’s work continues to impress our staff with her consistent attention to the technical aspects of film photography while also creating beautiful and thoughtful images.
From the photographer: I took a historic photographic processes class in college, and it drove me into a deep passion for the darkroom, chemistry, and intentionality that film brings out. Because each photo has a cost, I know that if I am pulling out my film camera, I am shooting something worth remembering. Most of my photographs are from solo travels I take around the West and the landscapes that inspire me. The rolls upon rolls of film negatives are a physical treasure that I don’t get from a full phone storage.
Photos by Elayna Lofgran:
Nichols Photo Lab nominates: David Venezia
About the store: Nichols Photo Lab was established in 1979, serving many photographers in several states and Canada. They are a full-service photo lab film processing, scanning and several paper types and card stock options. They offer printing on other products like metal, acrylic and other novelties such as mugs, ornaments and puzzles. They have always been a small family business who strive to build a strong photo community.
From the store: We like David for his creative and unique style of photography on all sorts of film types. He continually pushes the creative boundaries of film photography with his strong compositions and even stronger contrast. His images feel personal and give us a look into the subject’s own identity without even meeting them.
From the photographer: Photography is a form of time travel. It allows us to translate light falling on a scene into an image we can return to years later. Since 2005, I have worked with film across formats. I’m especially drawn to studio portraiture and landscapes captured on both black and white as well as color slide film. I also teach darkroom printing workshops, which can be booked at slcdarkroom.com. My upcoming exhibition, What Remains Of Light, opens December 4, 2026, at The FIND Lab Analog Community Center in Provo, Utah.
Photos by David Venezia:
Nichols nominates: Jay Po Gordon
From the store: We like Jay for beautiful and breathtaking landscape photographs where he manages to capture every landscape in a raw and unmatched light. He is able to personify even the most mundane landscapes into a colorful, almost cinematic, work of art.
From the photographer: The most rewarding images are the ones that feel truly earned. It’s not uncommon to find me hiking in the dark or navigating backcountry roads for hours just to get the perfect light. That physical limit forces me into a deliberate mindset that is both calming and grounding. I also love the bubbly feeling of satisfaction when I get my negatives back, knowing that they survived every step of the film process. I am just enjoying the process of building an archive and embracing the adventures it takes me on.
Photos by Jay Po Gordon:
Grain Riot nominates: Caleb Dario de Lima
About the store: Ramsey Kiefer is the co-owner of Grain Riot Film Lab. They are a father-and-son team who love film photography and everything that comes with it. Being a small lab, they have had the chance to personally handle and look over every roll that’s come through our doors. There’s something pretty special about seeing someone’s photographs come to life for the first time. Whether it’s someone’s first roll or their hundredth, Grain Riot wants to give every roll the same care and attention they would give their own.
From the store: Caleb is relatively new to film photography, but it feels like he’s at the beginning of something great. His camera of choice is the Pentax 67. While scanning his film, it’s been fun to see him explore photography and begin to develop his own style. He’s already got a great eye and a unique perspective. Most of his work focuses on friends and family, and he has a way of finding interesting moments that really capture who someone is.
From the photographer: I picked up film photography to improve my video work. I was excited about the big negatives, only for my first rolls to come back blank. That was the moment that turned photography into something I wanted to do. I could’ve sold the camera and moved on, but I enjoyed the mistakes. It’s taught me to slow down and think before I shoot. Film photography sparked an interest in portraits, landscapes, and the small things I find beautiful. It’s also opened some doors: I shot my first-ever brand look book all on film, and all eight rolls came back perfectly exposed.
Photos by Caleb Dario de Lima:
Read about more local photographers:
From Behind the Scenes to the Mainstage: A spotlight on Utah’s Best Concert Photographers
Cassilyn Anderson: From Fangirl to Concert Photographer
To help SLUG continue its support of local film labs, consider joining our community of donors!
