I found my film family at Gelatin Labs

A detailed review, and the story of how my first roll became a lifelong friendship, all made possible by my all-time favorite film Lab and their friendly staff.

When I started my film journey in January 2025, I knew absolutely nothing about analog photography. I drove to Maplewood (New Jersey) and walked into Gelatin Labs headquarters during a freezing day in January, it was the closest lab to my home, and I was looking to buy my first roll of film for my Nikon L35AF.

What I discovered there completely transform…