SHARP STANDS TALL IN DIGITAL AGE. There is something ceremonious about film photography, and part of that process – at least in Eau Claire – often involves Sharp Photo & Portrait. (All photos submitted by Sharp staff)

In the past year, I’ve acquired two priceless artifacts: an Olympus Stylus Epic from my grandparents and my mother’s Minolta Maxxum Qtsi. These 35mm cameras mark my investment in capturing visual stories through film photography.

Each week, I make a visit to Sharp Photo and Portrait (3306 Mall Drive, Eau Claire), where the staff I’ve befriended welcome my rolls of film to scan. Visits to the shop have become more than just a routine – they have turned into moments of connection, revisiting memories with friends and family.

The company was founded in 1986 by Bill Eklund, current owner of Sharp Photo and Portrait. The business began as a one-hour photo lab, developing and printing C-41 color print film.

Sharp Photo has since seen a resurgence of customers, drawn back for the same quality services that originally built the business’s reputation.

A collection of vintage film cameras is on display, each with a strap attached. Sharp Photo and Portrait offers various camera brands — Canon, Minolta and Pentax — which customers can purchase.

Brady Eklund, a staff member at Sharp Photo, works behind the scenes to organize film drop-offs from customers. At the photo lab, the staff is dedicated to educating customers who want to sharpen their photography skills.

Jordan Coffland, a regular customer of the photo lab, often carries a point-and-shoot camera to capture life’s candid moments. With the help of Sharp Photo, he can receive tangible memories of his family in just a couple of hours.

“There is something great in the physicality of film; there is a bit of a ceremony to it as well,” Coffland said. “The anticipation of waiting for your film and then getting to see it – you live the moment all over again.”

Sharp Photo and Portrait currently processes and digitizes film for photographers from all across the country. Eklund said about one-third of film processing and scanning orders are based right here in the Chippewa Valley.

”

I ALWAYS SAID THAT WE WOULD BE THE ‘LAST MAN STANDING’ IN THE FILM DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS.

We are local, with the best film developing and scanning equipment in the world. Right here in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

BILL EKLUND

SHARP PHOTO & PORTRAIT OWNER

Lerdall examines a film negative up close, to prepare for digital scanning. Once you send film negatives through their processor, the rolls get hung up on a rack to wait to be scanned, she said.

“One of our best customers locally is a retired professor from UW-Eau Claire who has gone all in to film cameras and film photography,” Eklund said. “Now, he travels the country looking for artistic sites to photograph in black-and-white and color.”

Annika Lerdall, a staff member at Sharp Photo, specializes in developing and scanning both color and black-and-white film. Lerdall shot photos on film on and off for six years before working at the photo lab.

“I started with very minimal knowledge, but working in the lab environment has taught me so much about different aspects of the photo world, not even just film,” Lerdall said.

Visit Sharp Photo and Portrait at their Eau Claire location to explore their photo-developing services, cameras, and film rolls.

Max Childs, a black and white film developer at Sharp Photo, stands in front of the Eau Claire location with film cameras wrapped around their neck. About one-third of the photo lab’s film scanning comes from film rolls in the Chippewa Valley.

Learn more about Sharp Photo & Portrait's services on their website • Keep up with Sharp Photo on Facebook and Instagram • Questions? Stop by in person to chat with the staff at 3306 Mall Drive, Eau Claire.