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About Us

Margrit Owner – Operator

Kayla- Manager

Jemme – Lead Technician

Lauren – Lab Technician

Jessica – Customer Service

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 in the Community

Arrow Photo’s roots date back to 1943 when renowned photographer Wynn Bullock opened a commercial photo lab at 120 Church Street, Santa Maria. Wynn Bullock was an esteemed American photographer with work featured in over 90 major museum collections worldwide. In 1952, Hank Datter purchased the business, moving Arrow Photo to the old Santa Maria Times building at 207 W. Main Street. The business flourished, and by the late 1950s, Hank expanded operations to include color photo processing at a new facility in Orcutt, CA. This expansion enabled Arrow Photo to serve camera and drug stores along the Central Coast, all the way to King City.

Margrit Holmes, our current owner, joined the team in 1979. Born and raised in Germany, Margrit attended photo school in Germany and furthered her education in graphic imaging and management at Allan Hancock College. Her passion for photography and dedication to maintaining high standards in quality, color management, and customer service have been pivotal in Arrow Photo’s success.

In 1983, Arrow Photo opened its first one-hour photo-processing lab, followed by additional locations in Orcutt, Atascadero, and Paso Robles. However, as digital cameras and home printers gained popularity, the one-hour locations closed in 1994, and Arrow Photo relocated to 429 East Main Street. The new location offered a convenient drive-up window, studio, retail camera store, and photo lab all under one roof.

Embracing Change and Honoring Legacy

In 2011, following Hank Datter’s passing, Margrit Holmes, who had worked with Arrow Photo for 32 years, decided to preserve his legacy. Recognizing the challenges posed by the digital era and online competition, Margrit refocused the business by phasing out the camera store and reverting to the name Arrow Photo. Today, we proudly serve the community from our current location at 700 East Main Suite 102 in Santa Maria.

At Arrow Photo, we remain committed to preserving your precious memories with the same dedication and quality that have defined us for decades.