Good Printer rec?

[Alyson]

I'm playing with film again and looking for a good B&W 120 printer in the area who takes initiative and knows when to burn/dodge/etc, and how to really polish off an image- not just run it through on auto pilot.

I don't care if they work with a storefront/lab or independantly- but I really do want someone who sees printing as another art form and not just a process.

I'm very slow with film right now, so it can be a casual on the side kind of person as well. I process it myself, I just need the printing portion.

Any suggestions?

[René]

I would suggest taking a class at a community college just to have access to the lab. I’ve done it and a lot of folks in the last class I took were there for that very same reason. And I promise you, no matter how much you know, you will learn something new in the process. I also believe post processing is part of the art YOU create and you may be happier having control of the final prints yourself.

[epoh]

You'd probably save yourself some money that way too! I'm not sure where in the metroplex you are, but the north campus of the Tarrant County College actually has a really good photo department. They have two seperate labs (one for color and one for b&w) and a studio that you can schedule time in.

[Alyson]

I hear you guys, and if I weren't going to be running deadlines and was doing just "me" stuff I'd totally be with you... but my goal is to transition to my bronica for my portrait business within the next year and I would have to lessen my client load to be able to print all their orders and proofs myself. At least until all my kids were in school, after that I could very well be able to. It would work ok right now while I'm just practicing and getting to know my bronica better, but once I start integrating it into my business I fear I'd be unable to keep up.

But your advice has sparked the idea for me to do it anyway- just for fun- so I am looking into signing up, so I can get some lab work in. But I still think I need to find a printer for my client work.... I just don't feel up to reducing my client load enough to carve out the time to print their work myself (though maybe the class will change my mind?)

[Pikachu]

I always had good results from BWC labs on Maple Ave. They do a lot of commercial work.

[Alyson]

Thank you so much, I will give them a try!