Sitting in an attic somewhere collecting dust are two disposable film cameras from a family vacation in 2008. Fortunately, for Rochester residents, the ability to breathe new life into such relics is simple: Scott’s Rochester Photo Supply.
Since the 1970s, the building at 1755 East Avenue has housed four iterations of photo laboratories — Carhart Photos, Scott’s Photo, Scott’s Photo by Rowe and now, Scott’s Rochester Photo Supply. The small business offers services such as film processing, scanning, high-quality printing, camera repairs, image restoration and camera sales, catering to everyone from experts and professionals to hobbyists and beginners.
Scott’s is the last operating full-service camera store and film lab in a city once known as The World’s Image Center, established by George Eastman and Kodak. Should it bear the weight of upholding Rochester’s film photography legacy? One young photographer was willing to find out.
In January 2025, veteran owner Richard Rowe handed over the keys to 29-year-old Tatiana Ariola. After 63 years in the photography industry, Rowe chose to sell, not to step away, but to keep the spirit of the Photo City alive and pass the baton on to the next generation.
“I’m very, very sad we’re in this position in Rochester, which used to be the photo Mecca,” Rowe said. “I’m sad we’re the last people standing, but, on the other hand, I’m thrilled we’re the last people standing. Tatiana has some ideas I think will make the business grow and become even more stable.”
The store has become a part of Rochester iconography — not just to the photography community, but to the city at large. Faded brick walls, a vinyl “We do film” sign clinging to the front window, the faint metallic tang of film developer in the air and fluorescent lights bouncing off glass cases color the sensory-rich experience of Scott’s.
Most employees have been with the company for decades, throwing familiar smiles to the store’s regulars. They bear witness to growing families, developing photos of pregnancy and birth. They help uncover lost memories of great-grandmothers long passed and faces nearly forgotten. In doing so, they become honorary members of the family. New owner and self-proclaimed photo nerd Ariola understands the importance of maintaining that reputation at Scott’s Rochester Photo Supply.
“Rochester is the birthplace of modern photography, and people come here from all over the world because of that history,” she said. “To be the last camera store and film lab still operating with a storefront right down the road from Kodak is way bigger than us.”
Film photography is experiencing a renaissance with the younger generation, gaining popularity for its aesthetic quality and lengthy processing window. Film presents an augmented view of life. Colors are dulled and the image fuzzy, like looking at the world through glasses of the wrong prescription. It demands care, patience and deep understanding, challenging modern ideals of instant gratification and planned obsolescence. Both Rowe and Ariola began their photography careers working with film, each growing a lasting respect for the measured art form.
“I apprenticed for my dad, and the first thing he had me do was work in the darkroom developing sheet film, 8×10 negatives,” said Rowe. “From an early age, there was a certain magic in working with film.”
Today, Scott’s develops anywhere from 60 to 90 rolls of film per day, which makes up a large portion of the company’s business. Film is tangible and fragile, it requires presence and skill; it is the antithesis of the digital age. Ariola attributes film’s resurgence to a cultural shift among young artists, who are discovering the same magic Rowe first felt in his father’s darkroom.
“Digital photography went so far, it’s so high quality that you can see every pore. It’s so technically accurate that it’s not creative anymore,” she said. “You take hundreds of photos on your phone and never look at them again. With film, it’s a much more intentional slowdown and nostalgia. It makes you feel like these shots are more important.”
When Rowe chose to sell the business, he wasn’t letting go of its legacy; he was investing in it. Ideally, Scott’s Rochester Photo Supply has a long life ahead, as Ariola has plans to expand educational programming and deepen community involvement. And for now, the resurgence of film photography keeps the dedicated team at Scott’s thriving six days a week. rocphotosupply.com
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