Splendid Photo

Whether you’re a film expert or just dipping your toes into the world of analogue photography, Splendid should be on your list. Founders Sean Aickin and Darren Cliff have created a store that feels closer to a welcoming art space than a camera shop. They want to make film accessible to all.

Inside, rolls of negatives hang from racks, a scanner from the 90s clicks and thumps. Local zines fill the shelves. They sit alongside secondhand cameras and scores of photography equipment for sale — tripods, bags, filters. The team is passionate and knowledgeable and the service, simply splendid. 

While Splendid is one of the last remaining film labs in Wellington, it’s certainly not stuck in the past. “Instagram saved film photography,” Sean points out. Many of Splendid’s customers come with social media in mind. Splendid caters to them with specific products to make film accessible in a digital age. One of these is their own branded 35mm film roll, with the price including the cost of developing. All images are then digitised to make it easy for customers to share photographs online. 

Splendid is passionate about participating in and uplifting the local photography community. The team has been a major champion of Wellington artists since opening. “The Wellington art scene is very healthy,” the pair says proudly. “We always try to sponsor events, get behind photographers and sponsor printing.” Every Friday, they feature a local artist on their Instagram who wins free development and scans.

Their customers are varied; some come for nostalgia, others, who grew up in the digital age come in search of something tactile. “A lot of photography is about documenting,” says Darren. At its essence, Splendid offers its customers a slower, more measured lens through which to view the world and document their lives. “People connect with that,” says Sean.