Located beside the Bundy Museum of History and Art in Binghamton’s West Side lies a quaint blue building home to Binghamton Photo. The space offers numerous services, including a community darkroom, gallery and event spaces and a photo processing lab where customers can drop off film to be developed by the team.

As the only darkroom space in Broome County, Binghamton Photo provides a much-needed space for local artists, according to Alexis Tauterouff, the darkrooms manager.

“Binghamton Photo was a passion project that the Bundy Museum had been hoping to develop for years, in equal parts in support of making a unique creative outlet accessible, as well as highlighting local history,” Tauterouff wrote in an email. “The space has always been women run, opening in 2017 and spearheaded by exhibitions designer and darkroom director Olivia Tonin. In its earliest iteration almost all of BP’s equipment was donated by local photographers and SUNY Broome’s communications department, a huge support system when we first opened and with whom we retain a good relationship. Education and accessibility has always been a shared goal.”

Leading up from the entrance of the building lies the main floor, which features a gallery space showcasing the work of members on a two-month rotation. The space is configured with a winding path of open rooms with partition walls, allowing viewers to take in the artwork section by section. The basement offers a fully equipped community darkroom available for use at $10 a day.

In addition to providing standard services like film scanning and printing, the community-driven business provides a safe space for local artists, beginners interested in photo processing and community members looking to stay connected within the Binghamton arts community. Binghamton Photo provides camera rental services, along with workshops and classes for anyone interested in developing their knowledge of photography.

Binghamton Photo is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. During business hours, students can stop by to use the darkroom or check out ongoing projects.

“We have paired with the university a number of times for exhibits, which are always free and are open to the public,” Tauterouff wrote. “In good weather we hold photo walks where photographers of all different ability levels and mediums are welcome, have workshops open to the public to share different photographic processes and highlight local talent within our community in our gallery.”

Reflective of the vintage decor signature of the Museum, the upstairs floors display mock rooms that feel much like eclectic time capsules, reminiscent of a historical past. A permanent Ansco exhibit is also installed in the building, featuring a range of vintage cameras and equipment, dedicated to the camera manufacturing brand formerly located on Main Street.

Currently, Binghamton Photo is holding a photo exhibition by artist Austin Horst, which is on display until March 2 in the third-floor gallery of the Museum.

“We get to share people’s passions; not just for art, but for their loved ones, their favorite locations, their fondest memories,” Tauterouff wrote. “Our members and customers invite us into their lives and we get to watch them grow as artists and individuals. We’re honored every time someone comes in, whether they’re a curious and eager beginner or they have a lifetime of photos and stories, and we’re allowed to be a small part of their journey.”