Alkit story of reinvention, volume growth, and the future of photo printing

Few companies embody the resilience and reinvention of the photo imaging industry quite like Alkit. Founded in 1936 by Alfred and Kitty Buchbinder, the Long Island-based family business has navigated nearly 90 years of industry change — from retail camera stores and professional film sales to wedding labs and, today, high-volume school, sports, and event photography.

On a recent episode of the Dead Pixels Society Podcast, Alkit president David Buchbinder joined host Gary Pageau to reflect on the company’s evolution and what’s driving its success in today’s volume market.

Alkit’s early years were rooted in retail and professional film distribution in New York City. Under second-generation leadership, the company shifted toward wholesale and professional lab services, becoming a trusted supplier to fashion and commercial photographers. But when digital arrived in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the family faced a defining moment.

“We had to make a big pivot,” Buchbinder said. “Film was a huge part of our business. When digital came quickly, we knew we had to adapt or move on.”

That pivot included expanding into branded Kodak Image Center retail stores in Manhattan — an ambitious move that ultimately proved unsustainable due to high rents and overhead. The next reinvention came with a relocation to Freeport, Long Island, dramatically reducing costs and setting the stage for Alkit’s entry into high-volume photography.

By 2004, Alkit began shifting from wedding and portrait work into schools, sports, and event photography. The move proved critical.

“If we didn’t make that pivot into volume, we wouldn’t be having this conversation today,” Buchbinder said.

Today, Alkit serves photographers across the volume spectrum — from schools and preschools to dance, gymnastics, seniors, and sports leagues. The company has expanded far beyond traditional prints into a full lineup of specialty products, including magnets, buttons, acrylic blocks, canvas wraps, mounted prints, and framed displays.

The growth of online ordering platforms has been central to that expansion. Rather than build proprietary software, Alkit partners with leading providers like GotPhoto, PhotoDay, and Captura.