OCCUPATION: Photo developer
Name: Lori Bolen
Company: Motophoto
Thumbs up: “I like working with the public, especially when they get their pictures. You can go around the world looking at other people’s vacation photos. There’s a lot of lab work involved, and I like the technical end of developing.”
Thumbs down: “I’m inside all the time, and there are a lot of chemicals in the air. I have asthma and the chemicals affect me a little bit.”
Next step: “Photography is just a hobby. I just finished college and plan to study business administration next.”
Advice: “It’s challenging, but it’s not the most difficult job either.”
Salary range: Photo-finishing workers can earn from $5.50 to $10 an hour, depending on experience.
Fringe benefits: Depends on the size of the company. After 2 1/2 years with her company, Bolen said she gets paid vacations and sick time.
Hours: Many places have day and night shifts, and the workweek can be full or part time. Bolen works a flexible, full-time schedule during store hours.
Educational and training requirements: Few employers require formal education in photography development, and most training is learned on the job. But there are about 50 community colleges throughout the state that offer two-year programs in development and printing of both black-and-white and color film.
Size of work force: In Orange County about 1,050 developers.
Expected demand: With the public’s continued interest in photography, the need for developers is expected to grow throughout the state, especially in metropolitan areas.
Job description: Photo developers measure, mix and apply chemicals necessary to “fix” a permanent image on film. The image--a negative--is processed again to produce a print with normal hues, tones and colors. Much of the processes are automated in many labs. Other duties might include initial checking in, quality control and splicing broken or separated film.
Major employing industries: Large processing companies, portrait or commercial studio labs, print media and small, independently owned stores.
Advancement: Promotions include darkroom technician, manager and photographer. For more information: Call or visit the job service window at any office of the state Employment Development Department. In Orange County, the offices are at 900 E. Pacifico Ave. in Anaheim, (714) 978-7421; 233 E. Commonwealth Ave., in Fullerton (714) 680-7800; and 1001 S. Grand Ave. in Santa Ana, (714) 558-4294.
