I had heard so much about this place but had never been. I was amazed the moment I walked in, seeing all of the different areas for each major brand and felt like I was walking into the Disneyworld of photography. I had mostly given up photography a couple of years ago after doing it semi-professionally for years but a friend asked if I could photograph her wedding and I caved. I needed a specific lens but didn't want to have to buy it, so I rented it through Hunt's online rental system. The process was super easy and it was very affordable. Pickup was quick and the lens was fantastic. Everyone there was knowledgeable and friendly and the visit alone made me crave getting back into photography again. If only I had infinite amounts of money... it would be a dream to have a shopping spree there. Highly recommend a visit and the rental program, especially if you're looking to try some gear before you buy. read more

Their developing work is as good as ever, but the quality of their scans has been significantly reduced. I first noticed with my last batch that the 135 scans they did, supposedly at "full resolution" were noticeably pixelated, with jagged edges visible at 100%. I was surprised, since this problem was not present the scans this same lab had done for me in years past. I called and they agreed to re-scan them on a different machine, which ended up producing scans of about 1/4 the resolution of the original job. I finally talked to the manager of the lab who admitted that they deliberately reduced the quality of the scanner's outputs, so even though they bought a machine that can do impressive 30MP files, they no longer collect that much data off the film. They refunded me, but refused to change the settings on their machine. So even though you're still paying the full cost for "high res" scans, you're getting significantly less quality now. This isn't just lazy, it's bad business practice. Their lab work is fine, but if you're looking for quality scans, look elsewhere. Their results are garbage, and they don't even care. read more

Great service. Very knowledged staff. Down side, not cheap, but if you are new, the best read more

Nick (the sales associate) was awesome. I knew what I wanted when I came in but he did old school hardware store in 90s style 'dad's building something in the backyard' level convo with me and tbh I really appreciated it. I bought less than we talked about/looked at, but I feel like he genuinely was happy I walked out with what I wanted/needed to accent my lighting kit for a last minute shoot. Dude even tried to see if rentals were a better option cuz I was on a bit of a budget (they weren't but I appreciate the option). He even helped carry new gear to my car. 10/10. Go pats. read more

Went to Hunt's a few days ago thinking I wanted a canon R5ii, but after some excellent conversation with the very knowledgeable Gregg Skelly, I went with the R6II and and extremely happy. I've been growing my photography business for the last few years and I'm entirely self taught. The value of being able to go into a. Store like this with so many knowledgeable people is off the charts, I'm so happy I live in the Northeast because I couldn't find anything like this where I used to live in Florida. read more

Hunt's Photo & Video - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

Brad at Hunt's Photo (Melrose) is the real deal. He's a knowledgeable photographer who listens and then matches you with the right gear. Over multiple purchases, he's helped me pick out a range of cameras and lenses (both new and used), and every recommendation has been spot-on. What I appreciate most is his advice. As I've gotten deeper into sports and portrait photography, Brad has taken the time to explain tradeoffs, suggest practical setups, and make sure I understood why a certain lens/body made sense for what I'm shooting. No pressure, just genuinely helpful guidance from someone who knows his craft. Highly recommend asking for Brad if you're shopping at the Melrose location. read more

What amazing customer service!! Thank you to Steven Davis and the whole staff. For amateurs to professionals they have all the information you need. read more

Amazing customer service. Best prices in the business. Quick turnaround. Would definitely recommend!

I recently took my first Hunts multi-day workshop - New Orleans and Bayou. It was fun. Great location and instructors (Bob and Jeff) who knew photography and wanted to share. They were always available for questions. Great experience and I would consider Hunts workshops again. read more

This is my go to for anything camera and photo related. Their staff is always knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. Their prices are competitive and customer service is second to none! read more

The trip to Basque del Apache and White Sands was fabulous. So many great photographers in the group that went in December 2025. Hunt's has really improved my skills and helped me navigate from point-and-shoot photography to using more of my camera's functions. Now I shoot in aperture most of the time and have taken some fantastic photos. I highly recommend their trips! read more

Awesome store with extremely helpful staff especially Mike. I came in with a camera issue and no idea what was wrong with it. Mike did a very thorough check of the camera to check for potential causes of the issue and was able to figure out exactly what was wrong with the camera. He helped me fix what he was able to and gave me step by step instructions on how to do the last part that required connecting to a personal computer at home so that I would know how to fix the rest on my own. He also had incredible tips about camera management and usage and shooting hockey footage. He was so helpful and clearly passionate about supporting others interested in photo/video. It was a great experience at Hunts in Melrose, this will definitely be my go to spot from now on! read more

Registering a COMPLAINT. Subject: Request for Refund Due to Unprofessional Conduct by Don Toothaker I wrote this letter to Hunts Photo Adventure Travel in February 2025. "I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to formally request a refund of my $7,236 fee for the photography tour to Sicily scheduled for January 28-Feb 7 2025, which I had to cancel. My decision to cancel was prompted by deeply concerning behavior exhibited by the tour leader, Don Toothaker, in a recent online post that I believe reflects poorly on both Hunts Photo Education and Experience Sicily. The post, which generated over 211 comments (which are still posted on his FB page) included inflammatory references to historical figures like Hitler and Trump, and displayed a pattern of aggression and bullying towards me and all the individuals who disagreed with his views. This behavior not only fostered a hostile environment, it opened a Political forum for extreme hateful comments and unpleasantries which left me feeling extremely intimidated and uneasy about participating in the tour. I was looking for a relaxing photo tour-yet the photo leader Don Toothaker showed me an evil, disgusting side of him-causing me doubt in his ability to be a good leader! As a participant, I signed up for a photography tour, expecting a positive, creative environment. Instead, I was confronted with a political discourse that was both offensive and unwelcoming. The aggressive responses from Mr. Toothaker towards dissenting opinions were disheartening and made it clear that this tour would not provide the supportive atmosphere I anticipated. I have documented and have hard copies of all 211 comments to illustrate the nature of his conduct. While I understand that my cancellation may have been deemed late, I believe that the circumstances surrounding Mr. Toothaker's behavior warrant reconsideration of my case. I feel it is essential for Experience Sicily and Hunts Photo Education to be aware of the detrimental impact that this kind of leadership can have on participants and the reputation on both Experience Sicily and Hunts Photo Adventure. I respectfully request a full refund of my tour fee, as my experience with Mr. Toothaker's conduct has created significant concerns about the environment I would be entering. I hope you will take this issue seriously and act accordingly. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your prompt response. Sincerely, Laurie McCormick Response: Hunts Photo and Video adamantly denied my request and told me my negative experience and loss of $7236 was insignificant to their business because they highly regard this photo leader over customers. I have lost over $7200 due to Hunts Photo and Video because they hire and support this unacceptable behavior from uneducated people like Don Toothaker! DO NOT DO BUSINESS WITH HUNT PHOTO AND VIDEO COMPANY. AND KERP CLEAR OF DON TOOTHAKER. read more

Compared to its little brother in South Portland, this place is epic! Definitely an in-store photographers dream! They have lots of stuff for sale: cameras, lenses, tripods, bags, lights... lots of photo paper! Actual photo paper! Portfolios, negative cases, film... you name it. Appears to have lots of rental options too. I'm from out of town so I don't know how the photo processing works but wow, what a great store. I wish there was something like this up in Portland. read more

Great selection and knowledgeable staff, but I wonder if they possibly sell returns or floor models without telling one. My brand new Nikon Z8 had an oily spot on the sensor (which they cleaned). My new tripod was scratched, including the logo. read more

Place has stayed around while others have gone away. Even with the internet it still remains alive and well. And thats a plus when you need to hold and test out equipment rather than buy online and deal with all that. read more

Chris from internet sales - did a great job of making sure that I got my new camera for vacation in Acadia. He responded to emails quickly and changed my delivery so I would have the camera a few days to get used to the new menu system. Hunts is New England local business who prices are the same as other business that don't have local stores. So buy local! Thanks! read more

Hunt's Photo & Video - Fall in Acadia, Maine - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

One of the last remaining physical stores where a person can buy, and sell their photography and video equipment. Nearly everything is available for the needs of today's digital and film photographer and videographer. The staff is very helpful and knowledgeable in the ins and outs of this vital line of business, for amateurs and professionals alike! read more

Hunts has helped me with service on my old 2008 Nikon Coolpix camera (yes, I still use it. The prints have different qualities than iPhones.) They are so knowledgeable, and every bit of advice becomes a small tutorial. Julia helped me on the phone to access Paint to resize these photos. Now, thanks to her, I have a new skill. Keep it up. read more

I never go anywhere else for trusted assistance on camera advice. They have sold me two lenses that I absolutely love. I am an amateur photographer and they are always helpful in making sure I don't overspend for what I use the equipment for, don't make me feel bad for not fully understanding my camera and don't overcharge. The staff is wonderful there ( I am so mad I don't remember the gentleman's name but he had glasses) and everyone was feeding and petting a deaf dog there so much so that the dog paid attention only to those with the Hunts nametag. - smart dog. Never had a bad experience here and will absolutely replace my older camera here when I have to. read more

Amazing help, year after year! In the Melrose store, General Manager, Scott Levin, patiently explained everything I needed to shoot a large event/membership drive for free headshots. He found used stands and lighting to keep the cost down. More importantly, Scott gave me a mini-course on how to use everything -- even recruiting a co-worker to be a test subject on the showroom floor. I couldn't be happier. read more

Hunt's Photo & Video - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

Attended the Bosque del Apache photo workshop and had an amazing time. Instructors had excellent local knowledge and technical skills along with wonderful personalities. Excellent instruction and individual attention. Provided a great experience in the area, with a variety of photo opportunities, which is impressive considering the area is generally pretty small. Always had something new and interesting to photograph. Highly recommend Don and Keith as instructors and would definitely sign up for another workshop with either of them, They were caring, thoughtful, and extremely helpful in the field and back during editing sessions. read more

Knowledgable and experienced employees, a wide variety of goods and services. I've been shopping there for 30 years! They're great!

This review is strictly for an online order. I'm reviewing this location because its address was on the shipping label. I was looking for a black Fujifilm X-T3 body a few weeks ago. There wasn't a big price different between old and new ones, so I wanted to get a new one. Turns out it was sold out at the major retailers (B&H, Adorama, etc.), which was a blessing in disguise. I got to really digging and found a lot of great local camera shops across the country. Most of the stores were either sold out of the camera or were selling it for much higher than what the bigger stores would have sold for. Then I found Hunt's. It was the last place that had the camera in stock for the price I wanted. I know they price match, but I didn't even need it! Anyway, I was skeptical, but the website had a "is this really in stock?" option that I tried out and someone named Chris responded almost immediately. He reserved the camera for me and shipped it out right away after I ordered. There was a huge delay in shipping (UPS' fault, not Hunt's) and Chris was incredibly accommodating. He filed a claim with UPS quickly and worked with them to get the package back on its way to me. Overall, I can't recommend Hunt's enough. I'm sure most of the reviewers and readers will be from the Greater Boston Area, but hopefully this review will help others with making their online purchasing decision. read more

Hunt's Photo & Video - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

Professional, knowledgeable people to deal with. When I recently had an after-purchase issue, they addressed it promptly and successfully. Big shout out to Gregg Skelly and Cole Bellamy of the Melrose store for their much appreciated timely assistance. I'm fortunate to have a bricks and mortar store of this caliber within an hour's drive. read more

Excellent service, knowledgeable staff, and a great assortment and selection of top of the line equipment for your photography needs.

I've done business with Hunt's for about 15 years since they sponsored a table at Mid-Atlantic NatureVisions. I chose them as my primary internet photo store, because of their first-rate customer service and follow-up after the sale. Some of the NYC big stores put you on a huge waitlist, but Hunt's seems to be able to get the merchandise quickly. Recently, I did business with Gregg Skelly for the first time and can't say enough about his help with my Z8 purchase and later with some Nikon souvenirs. A pleasure to work with a pro. I'll definitely be back for more when I need lenses and other supplies. read more

Walked in a few weeks ago and was shocked how helpful the folks were. I came in to look at new canon cameras, and Steven was the first to explain all the new features. I didn't end up buying the camera but did pick up a drone battery and Micro SD card. Very nice place, definitely will return when I'm ready to sell out for the camera! read more

Hunt's Photo & Video - Canon - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

Brad Mintz from the Melrose store is by far the best pro you will ever meet when it comes to choosing a new camera. Brad knows everything about photography and will guide you through on what is the best choice for you with no pressure (not the most expensive or trendy item). His patience, knowledge and guidance were key for my decision into getting my first mirrorless camera, lenses and the gear that comes along with it. Brad is one of the reasons businesses such as Hunt's Photo are still successfully operating. He helped me in two different occasions - one of them he stayed way overtime on a Saturday evening - only to accommodate my endless inquiries as I was getting ready to travel. Althought not all Hunt Photo's stores achieve the same level of professionalism and excellence as demonstrated by Brad, and I am grateful to Chris Hames (Melrose store Manager) for directing me to him during my initial inquire. read more

Brad was so helpful answering all of my question and helping me figure out what I needed!

Been a customer of hunt's since 2018, primarily go there for film developing and scans, results are always great, fastest service around. You can expect excellent customer service at any of their many locations, but Melrose is definitely my favorite because that's where film developing center is. Staff is very polite, knowledgeable and with great attitude. Special thanks to Judi and Chris! read more

Hunt's Photo & Video - One of the photos that they developed and scanned for me - Photography Stores & Services Near Me - Melrose, Massachusetts

I have been enjoying the Photography adventures with Hunts in 2023. It is a great way to learn and enjoy some amazing places on our planet. The knowledge and work they do behind the scenes comes through in the workshops. read more

I recently purchased an Olympus SLR camera from Hunt's online store. The price was unbeatable. The service that followed cannot be described similarly. First of all, I made my purchase with a debit card through Hunts' website, which went through perfectly fine. Several days went by and I did not receive a confirmation email that my order had shipped. Puzzled, I contacted Hunts through their online support email. I received a response promptly from the Internet Sales department with bad news - due to an irrational fear of credit card fraud, Hunts does not process orders of a high value that are paid with credit cards. Huh? Not only was this disclaimer not put in a place where a buyer could be made aware of it, but nobody from Hunts reached out to me to tell me of this fact, and let my order sit in limbo for days on end. Frustrated but still wanting to place the order, I complied with Hunts' request to pay instead through PayPal. Whatever. I will say that they issued a refund back to my card very quickly so that I could place the order again. They even shipped my order out the same day and expedited it. Things were looking up. Until they weren't. Those of us who live in metropolitan areas on busy streets in apartment buildings do not always have secure locations for UPS drivers to drop our packages off to. Because of this, UPS and other major shipping carriers offer a nifty service whereby the receiver of packages can sign up online with their address and choose to automatically reroute their packages to a secure, vetted access point. I am one such person. Now and again, shippers of high value items will place restrictions on packages that break this usually easy flowing process, and prohibit shipping companies and receivers of packages to choose where and how their packages get delivered. This in and of itself is understandable and I have no problem with. Whenever this does happen on a rare occasion, I simply reach out to the seller and explain my situation, they contact UPS, and I am able to retrieve my package at the location of my choosing. With Hunts, it was like pulling teeth to get this done. I first sent an email to request that the restrictions on the package be loosened. They replied and denied my request. I then called to ask why, and to further explain that this is a very normal, routine thing that happens very securely by UPS. They would hear none of it. In a similar vein of irrational fear that prohibited my purchase by debit card, Hunts was deathly afraid of fraud, and thought that a thief would somehow get my package if they allowed me to pick it up at a secure access point. I should also add that when UPS attempted to deliver my package at my address and was unable to like normal, they planned to reroute it to an access point for pickup anyways! The difference? I could not choose which one, and the one restricted choice by UPS was a location that was only open Monday-Friday 9am-5pm! A location that I SPECIFICALLY avoid because those are my exact work hours. After a long winded explanation to them that there was indeed no possible way for this to happen, as I would need to show up with a photo ID to the UPS access point and sign for the package, they still would not give in. Instead they proposed that I wait for the package to be sent back to them and get a refund. What? Not only would they lose a sale, but with minimal effort they could just allow me to retrieve my order. I begged and pleaded for reason with several members of Hunts' staff, trying in every way that I could to assure them that I was in fact the customer (who else would care this much and have all of the order information?) and that there was nothing unsafe about allowing me to pick up my package at my usual UPS access point. They argued and resisted, and told me that it simply could not be done. Knowing how ridiculous they were being, I persisted until finally they agreed to "look into it." Not long after, I received notice that they could in fact reroute my package, and that they had done so. Thanks...I think. They knew and I knew from the start that this was possible, but for whatever reason (fear?) they ate up my time and stressed me out for literally no reason. I am happy and thankful for the ultimate correct resolution, but I will not be shopping here again. I get it, it's a smaller company and they take more caution than big sellers, but that does not mean your default posture is to treat customers like potential criminals, and give them an incredibly hard time. read more

Staff was nice, store looks great. Website is TERRIBLE. I called to reserve a rental and was told all rentals are done online. This is a silly policy when your website doesn't work. Glitchy, confusing, and unclear about the policies. I sent my colleague to pick up the rental and he was told it had to be a credit card. Would've been nice to know that beforehand. There's a link in the confirmation email that vaguely mentions it, no one is going to click that link and see that. You need a website overhaul it's 2022. I will not be renting here if I have the choice in the future. read more

This was the best customer service I think I have ever received. Andres & Sara were phenomenal at explaining things, taking the time to help me and my client get what we needed to execute a successful video shoot. Helped us with anything we needed and went above and beyond in the service department. Next time I come to Massachusetts I definitely will be using Hunts again. Such an amazing place with great employees. I downloaded Yelp just to leave this review. Incredible place I highly recommend! read more

This review is for the Melrose location: I'll be honest, I dread going to camera shops like this. I've had too many experiences of condescending salesmen talking to me in a patronizing way or just blowing me off. I used to do a lot of my own developing and printing, ran the darkroom at my college, and T.A.d photo classes, so I'm not completely inexperienced. I'm just not up on all the new stuff out there. I came in to the store to look at a new or used camera to buy. I also brought my old one to see what the trade in might be. I was lucky enough to have Steve helping me. He was great. Very friendly. Answered all my questions and treated me with respect and dignity. He asked the guy that handles the trade-ins to look at my current camera. Trade-in guy was pretty cold and not very talkative. (my typical experience). Kind of looked down his nose at me. Once that unpleasantry was over, Steve picked up with me again. He spent time going through the camera I already have and recommending ways that I could get out of it what I wanted (the reason I wanted to trade it in). He also helped me set up the app that allows you to use your iPhone as a remote, and recommended some accessories too. (They didn't have the accessories that I needed, so I had to order them elsewhere.) This to say that he spent time with me regardless of how much he could make in sales. I so appreciate being treated like a valuable human being in a mostly male environment. When I do make my next camera or camera accessory purchase, I'll head over to see Steve again for certain. If any business wants to attract more female customers, THIS is how you do it. Thanks Steve! read more

Amazing customer service everytime! The last foothold of a specialized service combined with excellent pricing. Amazon hasn't killed off all the retail experiences .... Yet... read more

Time and again Gregg S. has assisted me . He is knowledgable, listened to my questions, asked me about my primary concerns, and helped me to make my decision. At no time did he try to up-sell me. Gregg is my to go guru. read more

This lab is one special place where even when things go wrong with your film, they will go above and beyond to fix the problem, Alan Asadorian, director of imaging with 40 years of experience in film developing is the Sherlock Holmes of finding what went wrong and ensuring it doesn't happen again. Thanks again Alan! read more

Went in for the first time today after many months of wondering whether I should stop in and ask about classes. I was really into photography when I was younger but got away from it after college, so I was thinking about taking a refresher course and then some more advanced courses because there's always something new to learn. Also, Mr. M just happens to be in the market for a specific kind of camera so I say, that's serendipitous, why don't we stop by Hunt's after work and you can take a look at what they've got, and while we're at it I can ask about their classes. Easy peasy, right? This afternoon we walk in, explore the aisles for a few minutes (this is the place to buy camera bags, man, they've got everything). Chat with the young women running the photo processing department; they're friendly and knowledgeable and yes, they can print your photo on just about anything. Then we head across to the camera department. The air turns chilly. We scan for a salesperson; they're all men, all older, all busy with customers. Except one guy, who stands near us, frowning, arms crossed. Okay, guess it's this guy. The hubby asks about the particular camera he's interested in. It's an older model, but it's got the features he wants. Salesguy: "Yeah, the Mark 2. That's an old camera. We don't have it." Mr. M: "I know. But it has the features I'm looking for. Plus, I noticed on your website that there's a used one available on back order. Would you know when that might arrive?" Salesguy: (shrugs) "We don't know when it's coming in. It'll get here when it gets here." (uncomfortable silence) Me: "So ... um ... do you guys carry any new cameras that are similar?" (thinking, WTF, shouldn't you be guiding us toward the shiny new cameras; why am I doing your job right now?) Salesguy: "No." Me: (trying to get some kind of engagement out of this guy) "So ... I see you guys have some older film cameras in the display case. Do you refurbish older cameras?" (Because I have this old Olympus that I dearly love, and some folks are really enthusiastic about film and it's always fun to compare film vs. digital and maybe, just maybe, that's this guy, right? HAHA WRONG) Salesguy: "We don't do that here. Maybe you could find someone online who does that." (longer, even more uncomfortable silence) Mr. M: "My wife is interested in taking some classes. Do you have any information about that?" Salesguy: "No. There's probably some information out on the floor somewhere. Maybe you could look around." And that was our entire interaction with the camera sales department at Hunt's in Melrose. A hale and hearty "Fuck you, go away, we're not interested in your money." That's a shame, because we were in a buying mood when we walked in. Neither of us is in much of a mood right now to step foot into a Hunt's again, much less spend money there. What really disappointed me is that, 20-odd years ago, I used to WORK in a camera shop. I sold cameras and film. I processed photos. It was a fun shop to work in, plus I got a really good employee discount on film and developing (the most expensive part of owning an older camera). There were a lot of camera shops back then. Some were fun, like my store. Others were filled with recalcitrant old assholes who didn't want to talk to you unless you oozed money, and good luck if you were female or a person of color because they wanted nothing to do with you. So I know a shitty attitude when I see it. Here's the thing. Dedicated camera shops are almost entirely gone. There are very few places that a customer can walk in and get really good feedback and information about their gear, tips on taking great photos, etc. I'm absolutely floored by the interaction I had today. It's not the experience I expected to have going in. I was hoping this would be a great camera store very near to me where I could take classes, buy gear, and have an enlightening conversation about photography. Instead I'm going to have to search elsewhere. I'm not sure I'll even take up photography again, if this is the battle I have to fight every time I walk into a camera store. read more