Best Resources for New York Photo and Video Enthusiasts
Written by Alyssa
Most people know that for artists, New York is the place to be. It was the first place in America to be introduced to photography, and many influential photographers have gotten their start in the city. So finding the right service for your needs can be overwhelming. Luckily we have done the work for your and found some of the local, and well known spots in the area.
Photo and Video Services
As a scanning company that values top quality, we know how important it is to have the right equipment, Whether you are a professional photographer/videographer or just a hobbyist, these businesses will help you along on your creative journey, whether you are looking for a new camera or a place to shoot, check out these local places that could help you out:
Equipment Shops and Rental Facilities
For a shop to cover all your photo needs, look no further than B&H: photographer’s go to for all cameras, and equipment from computers to lighting, projection screens to drones.
Want to try before you buy? Scheimpflug offers a comprehensive rental service of equipment for all your photo, audio and video needs.
Got all your gear but nowhere to go? Hudson Yards Loft and Urban Myth Studio offer shooting locations for photographers and videographers in need of studio space.
Film Development and Printing Services
Need some quick 4×6’s of your newly scanned slides printed for the cousin’s reunion? Check out Quick Color Labs for all your basic printing needs from business cards to canvas prints.
Many professionals trust Griffin Editions’s high-end service to print quality enlargements of their digital and analog photography. They also offer film processing for 35mm, 120/200 film, and large-format sheet negatives up to 8×10.
Have even bigger film? LTI Lightside processes film up to 16×20” as well as offering traditionally printed enlargements, exhibition framing and editorial retouching.
Want to develop the film yourself? New York has a number of community darkrooms:
- Bushwick Community Darkroom has reservation-based black and white rental in Brooklyn.
- Gowanus Darkroom offers a color darkroom rental and even a large format enlarger.
- Live upstate? Binghamton Photo has a full-service lab, community darkroom and stocks film.
Resources for Historical Research
Whether you are just starting out on your family history journey, or you started researching genealogy before it was cool, diving into the study of heritage is a fascinating and complex pursuit. Luckily there are lots of museums, historical and genealogical societies, which have extensive archives and artifacts to be explored.
Societies and Databases
New York Historical Society has both a museum and a library with extensive exhibitions and collections.
Want more? The New York Genealogical and Biographical Society provides a comprehensive guide of societies by county, ethnicity, city and regional organizations.
Looking for a specific town or county? New York History Net lists all the local Historical Societies addresses and phone numbers alphabetically by town. This AHGP site links to the websites of many societies and museums.
Start Your Journey Online
Like family who utilize EverPresent photo and document scanning services. Many states and societies have begun digitizing their important collections to make them more accessible to the public. You can search through these online databases for information on anything Empire State related.
- Browse through the Digital Collections of the New York State Archives
- Want to check the papers? NYS Historic Newspapers allows you to search their online database for free, by date, newspaper, county, state or keyword.
Historical Museums
Museums are important locations of collection and presentation: making historically significant objects accessible to the public for education and learning. New York has made lots of notable contributions to American society, and especially the development of film and photography.
- Learn the fascinating story of how George Eastman changed the face of photography with his company, Kodak at the Eastman Museum, in Rochester, New York.
- From the ice age to the Eerie Canal learn about archaeology, geology and more at the New York State Museum.
- Fully immerse yourself into the 19th century at Genesee Country Village and Museum. Classes, fairs and re-enactments are just a handful of the offerings this place provides.
Broaden your horizons
Head outside for a change of pace
With the amount of things to do on the internet these days it can be hard to remember to get outside for fresh air. But there is nothing more inspiring than nature. So stop scrolling through Pinterest and make your own memories at these awesome outdoor spots -and don’t forget your camera!
It’s hard to escape the bustle of the city, and everyone knows about central park. Escape the crowds and tourists with a trip up to Fort Tryon Park, with its manicured gardens, views of the water and the Met Museum Cloisters looming like a castle in the natural backdrop.
If you follow any travel or landscape photographers on instagram, you’ve probably added Watkins Glen State Park to your bucket list. It is hard to believe this magical place is located right in the Finger Lakes region.
Can’t convince the kids to go on a long hike? Maybe they’d go with a llama. Dakota Ridge Farm, just north of Albany, offers llama treks, where you walk through the woods with your very own camelid companion.
These art museums for a rainy day
Get inspired even on the rainiest days by checking out a local gallery or museum.
- Fotografiska is a unique museum exclusively housing galleries displaying some of the world’s best of photography.
- The International Center for Photography offers unique rotating exhibitions as well as workshops and classes for continuing education.
- View some of the massive Cooperstown photography archive at the Fenimore Art Museum, which also boasts an eclectic collection of art and a research library.
Enroll in a class
You may have heard it said that anyone can be an artist- and it’s true! Taking a weekly class on a one day workshop can help you hone your skills or teach you something completely new. Check out the course selections at some of these art centers.
- Want to learn how to edit your newly digitized photos? Attend an “Editing and Workflow” class through Photo Uno.
- The Center for Photography at Woodstock provides open forum critiques, workshops and lectures.
- Rhinebeck Photography and Arts Center has classes in photography, printing, and Photoshop editing, as well as travel workshops.
- Offering lectures, classes, and even yoga in the gallery’s Munson Williams Proctor Museum Arts Institute has enough variety to keep everyone in the family happy.
Our New York Locations
Learn about our New York digitizing services.