PHOTOLAB BERKELEY IS ALSO PHOTOLABORATORY.COM
Andrea McLaughlin, founder
In the 1970s, Photolab emerged as a pioneering rental darkroom on Alcatraz Avenue in South Berkeley, near the Oakland border. As black and white photography experienced a vibrant resurgence, Photolab rapidly expanded, becoming a cornerstone for photographers seeking top-tier services and expertise.
In 1981, Andrea McLaughlin orchestrated a leveraged buyout of the business from John Clements and Karen Kerschen, following a year of exemplary management that showcased her leadership and vision.
In 1989, Photolab’s visionary owner, Andrea McLaughlin, embarked on an innovative journey by studying Photoshop at PhotoMetro in San Francisco. This was during the early days of Photoshop, before version numbers existed and when extracting images from a computer was a significant challenge. Andrea proudly retains her first print created with Photoshop 1.0.
By 1991, Photolab had relocated to its current state-of-the-art facility on 5th Street in West Berkeley, marking a new era of growth and excellence.
Andrea's Legacy
Photolab of Berkeley has continued to innovate and lead in the field of photographic services. Under the dynamic leadership of Andrea McLaughlin, the lab embraced cutting-edge digital technologies while maintaining its roots in traditional film processing. Photolab expanded its offerings to include high-quality digital printing, advanced photo restoration, and professional scanning services. The facility on 5th Street has become a hub for photographers of all levels, providing expert guidance and state-of-the-art equipment.
Photolab’s commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction has solidified its reputation as a premier destination for all photographic needs.
Andrea Entwistle McLaughlin, age 72, passed away on Jan. 6, 2024, after a hard-fought battle with breast cancer. She was insatiably warm, intelligent and fervently determined.
Remembering Andrea McLaughlin (1951-2024) owner of Berkeley’s Photolab
The Photolab Gallery
"I love black and white film photography and I love digital photography. I use Lensbabies. My favorite regular lens is 24mm. My every day camera is an iPhone 6 Plus and I frequently work with two Nikon F3s or my Nikon D90. Some of my favorite photographers include Henri Cartier-Bresson, Helen Levitt, Nicolas Nixon, Vivian Meyer and Sabastiao Salgado."
~ Andrea, circa 2014
SHOW YOUR RANGE
An example of Andrea's infinite range
Remembering Andrea
Owner of Berkeley’s Photolab since 1981
Thanks to McLaughlin’s dedication and passion, Photolab remains one of the last fine-art photo processing labs in the Bay Area.
Original Berkeleyside article
Andrea Entwistle McLaughlin, age 72, passed away on Jan. 6, 2024, after a hard-fought battle with breast cancer. She was insatiably warm, intelligent and fervently determined.
Andrea was born on November 14th, 1951, in Vineland, New Jersey. She relocated to Berkeley in 1978, where she lived the rest of her life.
In 1981, at the age of 30, Andrea took over as owner and manager of Photolab, a position she held for the rest of her life. Thanks to her dedication and passion, Photolab continues to enjoy immense success and remains one of the last fine-art photo processing labs in the Bay Area. Photolab started as a specialist in black and white developing and printing. Over the years it expanded into color and then made the transition to digital printing. Photolab remains a paragon of the Bay Area photography community and will continue welcoming photographers of all kinds to create memories and carry on the legacy Andrea created.
Andrea was on the advisory board for the Laney Photography Department and helped them develop their programs. She was also a benefactor for the Berkeley High School photography program, and hired several Berkeley High students to work at her lab.Aside from her successful career, Andrea had a variety of hobbies. She enjoyed traveling, reading mystery novels and capturing photos of her community, family, friends, and her adorable cat, Gilbert.
Andrea is survived by her loving husband, George; her son, Alexander; her daughter, Grace; and her sister, Marie. She was preceded in death by her mother, Edith Entwistle, and her father, Robert Entwistle.
