Margrit Owner – Operator
Kayla- Manager
Marissa – Designer, printer and technician
Jessica – Customer Service, Lead Lab technician
Marina Montoya
Customer service, Lab technician
Pricilla Martinez
Customer Service, Lab technician
Arrow Photo: Preserving Memories on the Central Coast
Arrow Photo is nestled in the picturesque city of Santa Maria, located on California’s stunning Central Coast. As a professional photo lab, we are dedicated to providing our customers with exceptional service and quality. Our expertise spans a wide array of services, including film developing, studio photography, video transfers, slide and negative digitizing, photo scanning, designing, restoration, and various forms of photo printing such as canvas and metal printing. We also offer unique photo gifts and much more.
Our Mission
At Arrow Photo, we understand the invaluable role your photos play in your life. Our mission is to honor these cherished moments by delivering products you will adore. Our ultimate goal is to see our customers smile. With many years of experience, we possess the knowledge and expertise to make your images look their best. Our work is crafted with skill and pride, ensuring you love the final results. By producing our products in-house, we guarantee a faster turnaround time. We continually innovate, striving to bring exciting new products to our clients, using only the finest materials available.
No job is too small or too big. We are here for you!
Our Team
Our friendly, knowledgeable, and dedicated staff are experts in their field. We are available via phone, text, email, and in-person to assist you with any inquiries. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we are always happy to help!
A Rich History of Arrow Photo
Arrow Photo’s journey began in 1943, when the esteemed photographer Wynn Bullock established a commercial photo lab in Santa Maria, CA. Bullock’s extraordinary work is celebrated in over 90 major museum collections worldwide.
In 1952, Hank Datter acquired the business, moving it to the historic Santa Maria Times building, and later expanding to a larger facility in Old Orcutt, CA. The location at 207 West Main Street was a camera store at the time, with a wholesale lab in Old Orcutt supplying photo finishing services to drugstores as far as King City.
In 1979, I joined Arrow Photo, bringing my expertise in camera sales and a two-year education from a photo school in Germany.
Expansion and Innovation
By 1983, Arrow Photo had evolved from a wholesale photo lab in Old Orcutt to include its first one-hour photo-processing lab, with locations in Orcutt, Santa Maria, and Atascadero. However, the advent of digital cameras and home printers led to the closure of these one-hour locations.
In 1994, Arrow Photo relocated to 429 East Main Street. This new location boasted a convenient drive-up window, a studio, a retail camera store, and a photo lab.
During this transition, my role was pivotal, especially in setting up the photo lab. My former boss, Hank Datter, often emphasized the need to embrace digital printing. With this vision, I meticulously outlined our services and conducted thorough research in the industry. My efforts successfully transformed the lab from analog to digital, making us the first digital lab in Santa Maria.
Embracing Change and Upholding Legacy
This was a groundbreaking achievement, particularly because many of our customers were unfamiliar with digital photography and printing at the time.
In 2011, following the passing of my boss, I took over the business and relocated it to 700 East Main Street.
Driven by a deep commitment to uphold his legacy, my goal was to provide exceptional customer service, fulfill genuine needs, and deliver high-quality products that I could be proud of. To achieve this, I decided to refocus the company as a photo lab only, rather than a camera store. With the rising trend of online camera orders, investing in camera inventory seemed unnecessary. I restored the original name, transitioning from Arrow Camera back to Arrow Photo, a name that resonated with the business’s origins.
Through challenges, innovation, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to quality, Arrow Photo continues to thrive today, honoring its past while embracing the future.
Upholding High Standards
I firmly believe in the importance of never settling for mediocrity and being driven to fulfill our customers’ needs. Providing personalized and fast service without compromising on quality is essential. My passion for photography and dedication to maintaining high standards in quality, color management, and customer service have been crucial to Arrow Photo’s success. I am continuously reinventing myself, driven by challenges and staying ahead of technological advancements.
