Behind The Lens: Take It Easy Lab

Hello! We’re Take It Easy Lab, a family-run indie film lab, based in Leeds, offering mail-order and drop-in services. We’re all about delivering the best possible film experience to everyone. But we’re more than just a film lab. We believe that film photography should be approachable and accessible to people of all backgrounds and skill levels. We’re an inclusive community space offering creative support through events, talks and shared resources.

Our journey with film began in 2008 after one of our founders, Liam, graduated from Leeds University with a Photography degree. He started working at Snappy Snaps, where he met Nick Baines, a fellow film enthusiast. When the store shut down, Liam bought the old film developer, asking Nick (and later cousin Joe) if they’d be up for starting something new. They were.

In 2011, the three launched a small lab called No Culture Icons Developing, running it for six months out of a friend’s space. Life took them in different directions, and the lab was paused. But the passion never left. Fast forward to 2020, Nick mentioned the old machine in storage and it sparked the idea again. They got to work, slowly rebuilt, and that’s how Take It Easy Lab was born. Founded on friendship, film, and a lot of patience.

What started as a small team of three has grown over the last six years into a wonderful team of 13. Some of us are from Leeds, others found their way here through study or for the creative community, but we’ve all ended up in the same place through a shared interest in film photography. That mix gives the lab its character and keeps things interesting day to day.

Photography plays a big role for us, but not in the same way. Some of the team work part time as freelance photographers, while others simply enjoy shooting in their own time and staying connected to the process. That balance keeps the lab grounded, and helps us understand anyone who comes through the lab.

Everyone has their own approach to film. Some lean towards colour, others stick with black and white. We’ve got 35mm shooters, 120 fans and a couple large format nerds. That range of preferences always shapes our conversations as a team and when giving advice to customers. There’s always someone who understands a particular process or perspective. What we do all share is an appreciation for film. It gives you room to interpret things in your own way, from the choice of format to the stock you shoot. It’s what we enjoy most about being a part of the wider film community.

For us, meaningful escapism is found when you pick up your camera as you head out. All of a sudden, your everyday trip to the supermarket becomes a chance to slow down and make a photograph. To notice light or composition in a new way. To come away with something you’ve created rather than just another errand ticked off.

With film cameras specifically, there’s even more to be drawn to. The process becomes as much a part of the enjoyment as the result. Loading a roll, finishing it over time, waiting to see what comes back from the lab. It gives you a way to be more present with what you’re doing. Similar to putting on a record or making a proper coffee. Small things, but they change the pace of your day. Film does the same. It gives you space from everything else, without even needing to go far.

Photography plays a huge role in our wellbeing. As we mentioned previously, it forces you to slow down and focus on what’s in front of you. That’s mindfulness, and it can be surprisingly refreshing! At the same time, photography offers a way to express yourself creatively. Everyone has their own perspective, and making photographic work is a great way to explore it.

There’s also the community it brings. Here in Leeds, we’re lucky to have such a supportive photo community. Every month we run a photo social where people bring prints or projects to share. It’s a great chance to connect with people who share the same passions, and that sense of connection is another big reason photography is good for our wellbeing.

We’re all pretty familiar with Passenger as a brand, and there was a genuine level of excitement around the selection process. Everyone had pieces they were naturally drawn to, but there was still a lot of thought put into how things would come together visually. It felt easy picking items that would work well for the shoot since they’re all items we’d naturally want to wear!

Fleeces came up a lot, they’re a staple in most wardrobes. When you’re out shooting, you’re often moving between indoors and outdoors and dealing with weather that doesn’t quite settle. So understandably they were a common choice across the team. A few people leaned towards the waterproof jackets, which makes just as much sense. If you’re carrying cameras, you don’t really want to have to call it a day when the weather turns. You need something that holds up and lets you keep going without thinking too much about it.

The accessories helped bring everything together. We picked up a few caps, and then the Boondocker and Dry Bag backpacks too. Good storage is a big part of shooting on film. You’re often carrying multiple cameras, rolls, and bits of equipment, so having something durable and well thought through is important.

Overall everyone came away feeling genuinely happy with what they picked, and that shows in how comfortable everyone felt wearing them through the shoot!

We constantly have music on in the lab, though we’re not overly precious about what it is. A lot of the time we’ll opt for NTS Radio, or we’ll go by era: 70s Disco, 90s R&B - it really depends on who’s nearest the speaker and what kind of mood they’re in!

On birthdays, we like putting on the top hits from the year the person was born. Always gets a laugh!

Where to begin! Leeds is one of those places where you don’t have to look too hard to find somewhere good. Everything’s pretty close together, and there’s a nice mix of well-known spots and newer places doing their own thing.

Food-wise, you can’t go wrong with Bundobust. It’s a vegetarian Indian street food powerhouse and a true Leeds staple. House of Fu is a solid choice too, and the Brunswick is one we always end up at when we’re out with the team (try the burger). White Cloth Hall is also great when no one can decide on what to eat - loads of pop up options and a great atmosphere.

The coffee scene is just as good. Laynes Espresso and North Star Coffee Roasters have both been leading the way for a while, and now you’ve got places like Kapow Coffee, La Bottega Milanese and Raw Coffee which are always reliable. For the shoot, we spent some time at Archive, just outside the centre. Good coffee, good food, and there’s usually something going on in their event space!

We’re a little biased, but Leeds really is a great city, especially if you’re a foodie.

We’ve got a few things coming up, but one we’re really excited about is our new Beginner’s Photography Course at the lab.

It’s a relaxed, small-group set of 6 evening sessions, led by our Head of Community and Education, Dan Wheeler, and it’s all about helping you get hands-on with your photography. We cover everything from using your camera creatively to thinking about how to build a body of work. There’s plenty of time for feedback, guidance and a bit of experimentation, so it’s a really supportive space to develop your skills.

The course wraps up with a small exhibition, which is a fun way to share what everyone’s been working on and celebrate the progress made. It’s open to anyone, whether you’re shooting on film, digital or even just your phone. If you’re curious about learning more, all the details are on our website!

The team arrives around 9am and, before anything else, coffees are made for everyone. The developer is switched on, scanners started up ready for the day to begin. Any leftover orders from the previous day are finished off in time for that day's orders to be booked in.

Royal Mail drops off our post bags at 10am, packed with mail order film from all over. The orders are logged in to our system and customers get a quick note to let them know that their film arrived safely. Then it heads to the developer. Each roll is attached to a leader card and lined up in the queue. On a busy day, there’s a mountain of film waiting. We generally process 200+ films a day, plenty to keep the developer busy!

Once the film comes out of the developer as dry negatives, it gets rolled up and passed on to the scanning team. We have five scanners in total: four Noritsus and one Aura 35. Each roll is checked carefully for scan lines or scratches, and any minor adjustments that need to be made to make sure the images come out correctly.

After the film has been scanned, the images are emailed to the customers and negatives are passed on to the post out team to be packaged up and posted out. Royal Mail collects all the orders we’ve completed throughout the day at 4pm. The team starts winding down the machines and we give the lab a clean up. At 5pm the doors to the lab close and, unless we have a workshop or social event that night, everyone heads home, ready to do it again tomorrow!