More Than a Photo Lab… How J&F’s Family Legacy is Keeping Film Alive

J&F Photo Lab is a cult classic in L.A.’s film community and a personal fan-favorite. They’re a family-owned business thriving in the world of analog, giving creatives across the greater L.A. area a place of shared interest, vulnerability, and trust with their film scans. 

We were honored and excited to sit down with the family to dig deeper into the history and story of the lab — and into what it truly takes to preserve something physical and meaningful in a world increasingly flooded with AI slop and disposable media.

J&F Photo Lab began on October 31, 1992, founded by our parents, Jonathan and Evelyn, with a deep commitment to film and to serving their community. In the early days, they didn’t yet have their own equipment, but they were determined to offer same-day service. That meant physically taking film to another lab, waiting for it, and bringing it back — long days, constant back-and-forth, and a lot of faith that the work they were putting in would lead to something lasting.

Alongside film development, they offered passport photos, camera repair, and video transfers — services that helped sustain the business while they worked toward bringing everything in-house. In 1994, they were able to move across the street into the space we’re still in today and invest in their own equipment, allowing them to fully control quality and turnaround.

As photography evolved, J&F evolved with it. When digital began to rise, the lab adapted by offering digital printing, SD card kiosks, studio photography, and event coverage — weddings, quinceañeras, and family celebrations — while still staying rooted in film. When film experienced a resurgence, we were ready. And when COVID shifted the way we could serve people, we returned fully to our foundation: film development, scanning, printing, and preservation.

Today, J&F is still very much a family business. What began with Jonathan and Evelyn has grown into a shared legacy, now carried forward by their daughters, Angie and Ashley, who quite literally grew up in the lab. Stepping into this role comes with a deep sense of pride and responsibility — not just to continue what our parents built, but to honor it, protect it, and help it grow.

At the heart of everything we do is gratitude. We thank God for the opportunity to run this business, to serve our community, and to be entrusted with people’s memories. Our goal has always been simple: to keep film alive, accessible, and respected. Whether someone is discovering an old roll in a drawer, learning film for the first time, or shooting professionally, we want J&F to be the place that helps bring those images to life. As our slogan says, there’s truly nothing like film.

It wasn’t so much about splitting the craft as it was about adapting in order to survive. Photography was changing rapidly, and my parents did what they had to do to stay in it. They began shooting events on film, then later transitioned to digital as that became the industry standard — all while continuing to print and process work in the lab.

That adaptability became part of J&F’s identity. We learned to respect every format without losing sight of quality. Even now, we still print digital images alongside film work, but film development and scanning have once again become our primary focus.

Across generations, the standard has remained the same: honor the medium, honor the photographer’s intent, and be willing to evolve without cutting corners.

Film photos below by @jaylunskyler.

Every roll of film has its own personality. Film stock, lighting, exposure, and camera settings all shape the final image. Our role in the lab is not to reinterpret that work, but to honor it.

That’s why we don’t apply color correction by default. The photographer made intentional choices before the roll ever reached us, and we want the scan to reflect that vision honestly.

Developing and scanning isn’t about fixing — it’s about faithfully translating what already exists.

We invest in our team and equipment. For a small storefront, we have a large, well-trained team, which allows us to keep everything in-house and offer same-day service without sacrificing quality.

Because development, scanning, and printing all happen under one roof, we can move efficiently while maintaining control over every step of the process.

Speed matters — but craftsmanship always comes first. Our reputation is built on both.

Yes — we’ve been on Pico Boulevard since 1992, moving just across the street in 1994.

Being part of the Pico-Union neighborhood has taught us the value of community and the importance of supporting each other through both rough and good times. Pico-Union is a diverse, vibrant area, and photography here isn’t just about art — it’s about memory, documentation, and family history.

We’ve seen generations come through our doors, bringing in everything from everyday snapshots to deeply meaningful moments. It’s a reminder that photography lives inside communities, not just cameras.

Absolutely. Technology has constantly changed — machines disappear, software evolves, and certain processes become harder to maintain.

Some of the most important lessons have come from working with older equipment and manual processes that require patience and precision. Those moments taught us to respect the craft and to preserve knowledge that could easily be lost if no one is willing to maintain it.

Our day starts with prayer. We thank God for the opportunity to be here, to do this work, and to serve our community. That moment sets the tone for everything else — staying positive, grounded, and intentional in how we show up for one another and for our customers.

That mindset carries through the day. The energy we bring into the lab matters, and we’re very mindful of creating an environment that feels welcoming, calm, and respectful — not just for the work, but for the people trusting us with their memories.

We hope the heart of J&F stays exactly the same — the vintage feel, the nostalgia, the connection to film, serving those who walk through our doors, and staying true to why we started in the first place.

What we hope changes is our ability to expand in a way that allows us to better serve our community. That means a larger space and improved workflows — all with the goal of creating greater impact, accessibility, and care for the people who trust us with their memories.

Film below by the J&F team, @jaylunskyler, and @beacasso.

Be sure to give them a follow and check out their website to ship and send your film scans!

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