Flagstaff Camera LLC / The Framing Department - Flagstaff, Arizona

Jen L.

I came in looking for some film for an old Canon AE-1 and the guy was so helpful, recommended cool film, cleaned my camera a little, explained the best way to load the new film etc. Not to mention gave some great recs for hiking. Terrific customer service, a wealth of knowledge, and so friendly! Highly recommend for anyone looking for camera stuff / film in the Northern Arizona area!

Kyle A.

Just had some work done and completed as of today. It was such a wonderful experience. I wasn’t entirely sure what I wanted and gave a general idea. And they took it and ran with it. The creativity was wonderful and the end product was equally wonderful. I cannot recommend them enough from the product they produce along with the brilliant customer service.

Michael C.

This will be the only place I go for film development and scans from now on. Amazing, high resolution scans. And for those curious/concerned, they can do Harman Phoenix and not make it look like garbage, which a lot of places seem to have trouble with.

A great local shop that deserves the film communities support!

Vivian M.

Staff was massively helpful, Matt and Taylor are an incredible wealth of knowledge in both digital and film photography!!!! The prints in their monochrome gallery are gorgeous, and the platinum-platinum prints are fascinating!!!! I didn't even know that was an option prior to coming in!! Weekly film development and gorgeous digital scans make my film photography work flow go so smoothly!!! 11/10 every time, I love the whole place🤣

Andrew J.

The TLDR for this review is as follows: If you are looking for a camera store / developing lab / printer / framer staffed by experts in their craft, look no further. Hidden Light's unwavering commitment to rendering their services at the highest standards and their dedication to customer satisfaction is second to none.

How did I come to this conclusion? See the footnotes below...

I stumbled across this absolute gem of a camera store by sheer luck in the days leading up to a two-week rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. For months I had been sitting on a number of rolls of 35mm film in need of developing, so I reached out on a Saturday morning and was fortunate to catch the owner, Matt. We chatted briefly about Hidden Lights' developing services before the conversation shifted to camera gear and what I should take with me on my trip. Up to that point I hadn't stepped foot in his shop or given him a dollar of my business, but Matt gave me the time and consideration of an old friend. By the time I hung up the phone I had made up my mind, the Xpan was going with me! ... or so I thought.

After dropping my spent rolls in the mail I realized that I hadn't followed the procedure outlined on their website for sending in film. (They probably would like the name and contact info for the person sending in film. Who would've thought?!) In an effort to right my wrong, I reached out two days later when they opened for business. Instead of Matt, this time it was his wife Kristen who answered the phone. Kind and understanding, Kristen took down all of my relevant info and payment details. Right from the jump it was apparent that she was a wealth of information as well, so I asked her for her thoughts on what I should bring with me on my trip. When I told her that Matt had recommended I take my Xpan her response was one of incredulity. "He told you to do what?!" We both had a good laugh and after I filled her in on the camera gear I had available to me, she wisely (as I would soon discover) nudged me towards my DSLR.

When I finally made it into Flagstaff forty-eight hours before the start of my rafting trip, I had yet one more fire that I needed Hidden Light's help in putting out. While packing up for my trip I noticed that the remote shutter release for my 5D Mk IV wasn't turning on. Assuming that it was just a dead battery in need of replacing I stopped in Hidden Light and was greeted by Vivian who would end up being the real MVP of this whole story.

After swapping out the old battery for a new one, I was crushed to discover that the remote shutter release was still not working. I had brought a 10-stop neutral density filter to use down in the canyon, and now, with a broken remote shutter release, any hope of long exposure photography was quickly evaporating. Well that was until Vivian literally and figuratively saved the day. Even though it didn't benefit Hidden Light in any way, Vivian was able to find a third-party shutter release on Amazon and sent me the link. By the time I walked out of the store I had a new shutter release on order, and by the following night it was delivered to the Whole Foods down the street.

I can't begin to find the words to express how much Vivian's help saved my trip, at least as it pertained to taking pictures. If I had to guess I would say that 75% of the photos from my rafting trip were taken using a tripod and the remote shutter release that Vivian sourced for me. Without her quick thinking I don't believe I would have been able to put my order in with Amazon in time to get it delivered before the start of the trip. So if you're reading this, Vivian, THANK YOU!

Hidden Light continues to earn my business over and over again with their developing and scanning services, their expert guidance, and their stellar customer service. Love this place.

Mel

I can't explain how much I love this shop- whether it's help troubleshooting a camera, the development process, or getting supplies, hidden light is amazing. Scans are great too! I was in a pinch and needed some b&w developer the other day, and I was delighted to find they had some in stock. Love this place.

Autumn S.

The person, I can't remember their name, with the long hair that helped me with my camera this afternoon was beyond patient and helpful. I have an older, thrifted Minolta camera that was giving me a couple issues I was not sure how to diagnose because I have only recently begun to shoot film. We were there 15 minutes past close and they, along with the super kind owners, had no problem staying and making sure I was set to go with a camera in good and working condition, going as far as cleaning the lenses and mirror and putting new felt on the mirror for me. It's hard to find customer service and an environment as welcoming as this one❤️

Ary C. (. F. S. S.

I've been wanting to get my DSLR back up and running and over years of moving, a few things have gotten lost. One was a lens cap. I wanted to support local before going online in replacing things on it. Was able to get a lens cap that fit quickly, and we were able to just look around after that. The vibes were warm and welcoming, and my partner and I really enjoyed the atmosphere. It's amazing to know there's a local business that can process and print film photos still.