What is Make It Easy?
Make it Easy is the combination of two groups of friends who want to share their dedication and passion for analog photography.
The idea behind Make it Easy is to provide an environment where people of any background can learn, share and practice analog photography.
Make it Easy came about when The Photo Parlour in Nottingham and Take it Easy Lab in Leeds decided to see how they could create a space to support people, from beginners to current practitioners, in making the mystery of analog photography simple. Through online resources, as well as physical access to facilities such as cameras, darkrooms and scanners, our aim is to help people start making photographs instead of taking them.
A little about The Photo Parlour
The Photo Parlour was launched in April 2013 by Daniel Wheeler in Derby. He began by providing black and white film photographers with the space and the necessary facilities to develop film and make black and white prints, as well as take part in a variety of workshops and exhibitions. We then expanded and moved our facilities to Nottingham.
This new site was formerly ran by Mick Payne as a professional lab and testing house for AGFA Photo which he had run for 20 years until his retirement in 2015. This move gave us much more space and enabled us to offer professional dip and dunk film processing and hand printing services for both colour and black and white film photographers as well as studio hire, gallery space and workshops.
As well as a professionally equipped darkroom and film developing facilities, the Photo Parlour offered a friendly and welcoming space for photographers to meet and share work and ideas. They would host regular social events and exciting workshops for all photographers whether they shoot film or use digital.
The Photo Parlour's mission was to keep traditional photography and its processes alive by offering equipment and facilities which are increasingly becoming rare, expensive and sought after, to all types of photographers. With a fixed monthly membership, its members could make use of all the facilities and resources available as well as benefit from being part of a thriving local community.
Over 7 years running as The Photo Parlour, the space became a hub for photographers and the home of Off-Centre; Nottingham’s independent photography festival and Nottingham Centre for Photography and Social Engagement.
These entities enabled The Photo Parlour to use photography as a tool for social change and provide creative support for communities in the Nottingham area as well as opportunities for all photographers to have their work reach a wider audience.
This new site was formerly ran by Mick Payne as a professional lab and testing house for AGFA Photo which he had run for 20 years until his retirement in 2015. This move gave us much more space and enabled us to offer professional dip and dunk film processing and hand printing services for both colour and black and white film photographers as well as studio hire, gallery space and workshops.
As well as a professionally equipped darkroom and film developing facilities, the Photo Parlour offered a friendly and welcoming space for photographers to meet and share work and ideas. They would host regular social events and exciting workshops for all photographers whether they shoot film or use digital.
The Photo Parlour's mission was to keep traditional photography and its processes alive by offering equipment and facilities which are increasingly becoming rare, expensive and sought after, to all types of photographers. With a fixed monthly membership, its members could make use of all the facilities and resources available as well as benefit from being part of a thriving local community.
A little about Take It Easy
Take it Easy Lab is a family-run indie film lab based in Leeds. Set up in September 2020 by cousins Liam Henry and Joe Singleton, as well as business partner Nick Baines, the lab has now developed over 60,000 rolls of film and grown to a team of 10!
Offering both mail-order and drop-in services, the team are passionate about making sure everyone gets the best film experience possible. Take It Easy Lab doesn't just provide a service that ends with getting your photos back, we offer an inclusive space where amateur, pro, and everything in between can come together, learn and share experiences through exhibitions, events and resources.
