What Is the Status of My Film?
We understand that your photos are important, and we know it can be hard to wait. Every order moves through several stages before it is complete, and the status is not always as simple as “received” or “done.”
After your film is checked in, it is sorted by film type, age, chemistry, developing method, scanning method, and any special services ordered. Different types of film may move to different work areas and may be handled on different days depending on what process they require. This is why locating one specific order before it is complete can take time, especially when the lab has a large number of active orders.
We now use order tracking tools to help manage the queue, but not every order is always in the same stage of tracking at the same time. The fastest way to help us give you an accurate update is to include your order number whenever you contact us.
Why does my order still say pending?
Our website will usually show your order as pending until the order is completed and shipped.
This does not necessarily mean your film has not arrived or has not been checked in. Our website platform does not allow us to add a separate “received” or “in lab” status to the shopping cart/order area. Because of that limitation, the online order status may not reflect every internal step your film has already gone through.
Once your package arrives, your film is checked in and tracked internally through our lab workflow. The website status will update when the order is completed and shipped.
When should I ask for a status update?
The best time to ask is when your package first shows as delivered, especially if you want to confirm that it arrived safely.
After that, please wait until your estimated turnaround time has passed before requesting another update. Frequent status requests slow down the lab because they often require us to stop production, locate a specific order, check where it is in the workflow, and then respond.
Our priority is completing orders as efficiently as possible, not repeatedly interrupting production to check the same order every few days.
How does an order move through the lab?
Most orders follow this general path:
Package received
Order checked in and matched to customer information
Film sorted by process and handling needs
Film developed
Film scanned
Scans reviewed and processed
PhotoFlux/color correction completed, if ordered or included
Files uploaded
Negatives cut and packaged
Prints, flash drives, CDs, or other add-ons prepared, if ordered
Order shipped back
Some orders move quickly through these steps. Others take longer because of age, film type, format, fading, damage, specialty processing, scanning requirements, prints, PhotoFlux, or the number of rolls in the order.
Turnaround times are estimates
Turnaround times are based on orders of up to 5 rolls. Larger orders take longer.
Orders with 25 or more rolls can take significantly longer because they can affect the flow of the entire lab. Large orders are generally worked into the schedule at a lower priority unless you provide a required completion date when placing the order. If you have a deadline, please tell us before or when you place the order.
Turnaround time begins when your film is checked in, not when the package is delivered. During busy periods, there may be a delay between delivery and check-in.
Also, upload time and return shipping time are not always the same. Your scans may be uploaded before your negatives, prints, flash drive, or other physical items are packed and shipped.
Current business hours
Our current lab hours are:
Monday: 1 PM – 9 PM
Tuesday – Thursday: 9 AM – 9 PM
Friday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 9 PM
Sunday: Closed
Status questions are answered during business hours. Please allow up to 48 hours for a response, especially during high-volume periods.
Average turnaround times
These are general estimates and may vary depending on workload, film condition, order size, scanning needs, and whether PhotoFlux or prints were ordered.
Fresh C-41 color film:
4–7 days, plus or minus about 3 days
Add up to 1 additional week for 110 or APS.
ECN-2 color film:
1–2 weeks, plus or minus about 3 days
Black-and-white film:
1–2 weeks for developing
Scanning may add up to 1 additional week
Plus or minus about 1 week
E-6 slide film:
2–3 weeks, plus or minus about 1 week
Black-and-white reversal film:
2–4 weeks, plus or minus about 1 week
Seattle FilmWorks / PhotoWorks film:
2–3 weeks
Add 2–3 additional weeks if PhotoFlux restoration is ordered
Plus or minus about 1 week
Expired color film from 1995–2015:
3–4 weeks, plus or minus about 1 week
Color film expired before 1995:
1–2 months, plus or minus about 1 month
C-22, K-14, K-12, Kodak 5247, Triple Print, expired 110, expired 126, 122, 124, and other odd or custom film sizes:
2–3 months, plus or minus about 2 months
These older and unusual film types often require special handling, custom developing conditions, unusual scanning methods, or extra testing. Some are also affected by seasonal conditions, especially in hot weather when cold water control becomes more difficult for certain low-temperature rescue processes.
Why larger or mixed orders take longer
If your order contains several different types of film, it may not all be developed together. For example, fresh C-41, expired C-41, black-and-white, ECN-2, C-22, E-6, Seattle FilmWorks, and older rescue film may all require different workflows.
This means one part of your order may be finished while another part is still waiting for the correct developing batch, scanning setup, PhotoFlux work, or final review. Mixed orders are normal for our lab, but they do take more time than a simple one-roll order.