Analog photography sees resurgence in Latvia, says Baltijas Foto Serviss manager

Roberts Tenass, manager and son of the owner of Baltijas Foto Serviss (BFS), a family-run business, is witnessing a renaissance in analog photography. He notes a shift from the 1990s, when picking up developed film was a communal event, to a renewed appreciation for the tangible process of film photography.

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In the 90s, there was a phenomenon that has almost disappeared – you would come to pick up your film, and if it included all the pictures, everyone in the store would look at the pictures and giggle. At that moment, you relive this event once more.

Tenass describes his role as multifaceted, encompassing management, logistics, and even hands-on tasks like pumping out floodwater from the basement. This reflects the reality of small businesses where employees often wear multiple hats. He finds himself navigating the complexities of planning future projects while also being involved in the day-to-day operations.

The BFS facility is a labyrinth of rooms dedicated to film processing. Tenass shows the area where film negatives are cut into sheets for clients and points out stacks of empty film cassettes. These are not discarded but are part of the essential materials for the service they provide.

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I am a 'semi-manager,' he jokes, as his duties are not only related to planning future projects, like helping the family business grow. 'I sometimes joke that in small businesses, you are the manager, the loader, and the cleaner. When our basement flooded, I took off my shoes, went into the water, and pumped it out.'

While Tenass himself photographs only as a hobby, his father, Andris Tenass, is a professional photographer whose reputation helped establish the business. BFS started in the mid-1990s, catering to the needs of magazines and newspapers that exclusively used film. The team worked tirelessly, often until the early morning hours, building a strong reputation that led professional photographers to recommend BFS, driving significant growth.

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I only photograph at a hobby level. My father is a professional photographer, that's how he got all those clients. We started in the mid-90s. Then all the magazines and newspapers photographed with film, and then they all came to us. We worked until two or three in the morning back then. That was a big party.

Tenass acknowledges the unique experience of analog photography, where the anticipation and surprise of seeing developed images offered a distinct form of engagement. He suggests that in today's digital age, there's a growing desire for this more deliberate and tangible photographic process, contributing to the resurgence of services like those offered by BFS.

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They built us such a reputation. If they were asked as professionals – where should one go, where should one get it done, they said: come here. That gave us a big boost.