All eyes are on The Lab

Much more than a photo studio

As a young photographer's assistant, Emil Eskesen traveled around the world and worked in the major international studios. These experiences inspired him to create a place that could provide photographers with the best working conditions and bring the right people together. Today, The Lab contains eight studios, The Lab Kitchen and Silver Lab and counts clients such as Bolia, Illum, Zara, Financial Times, Ganni, H&M and Vogue.

In demand by international brands and photographers

"We are good at bringing the right people together in the right setting. When you book a studio at The Lab, you also get the opportunity to rent first-class photography equipment, help to build the right setting, the possibility for catering in The Lab Kitchen, and access to our large network. And if you need, for example, a cat or an excavator, we can get that too," says Emil, smiling.

The business was created through organic growth and an unusually good eye for the needs in the market: "We have never done this to make money. We've done it because it's fun to bring the right people together - both internally and externally - and make things happen. From that, the success that now exists has grown," says Emil.

Good atmosphere and Danish pragmatism

"We hear both from foreign and Danish photographers who work a lot abroad, that we are on top and perhaps better than all the studios that were my role models in London, Paris, and New York. Because we are located in a fantastic building, offers the right facilities, and has a very pragmatic and Danish way of doing things," says Emil.

He attaches great importance to creating a good atmosphere and always tries to greet everyone and look them in the eye. “We have many photographers and models who arrive early in the morning directly from the airport. So, it is important to make sure they feel welcome and comfortable here. That's why coffee is always ready, and we try to create a pleasant atmosphere where people feel safe and relaxed," says Emil.

From analogue to digital and back again

In the basement of the large, old industrial building is the analogue laboratory Silver Lab, where the development of analogue films and images takes place in darkrooms. In fact, from the start in 2001, The Lab was an analogue photo laboratory that Emil and his former partner had in a small room in the large building. As the digital development, the machines were sold and given away but now Emil has bought them back and added the coveted Silver Lab to The Lab universe which every photography geek can now only gape with excitement: "We have acted on gut feeling and taken big chances – without the big market research. This is how the business has worked all along.”

New focus on employees and the future

"Throughout recent times, together with my current partner, I have focused more on management and our staff. I am proud to have created a workplace with many different types of people and, not least, to help develop and educate young people. Our new focus is to futureproof, so it's not all on me. We're just now figuring out how to screw it all together in the future so that it remains a success without me having to work many hours," says Emil, who is looking forward to continuing the journey of success, where he is always looking for the next good opportunity to make The Lab an even greater success.

The Lab & Lund Elmer Sandager

The Lab's permanent contact in Lund Elmer Sandager is partner Henrik Stamp, who is a specialist in real estate and, among other things, helps with tenancy legal challenges in The Lab's buildings which are an old factory.

"Henrik has been our permanent lawyer for over 15 years. We have a funny relationship because he sometimes hits me in the head and says that we must have a board and need to get control over this and that. None of us owners are interested in paragraphs and long meetings. That's why it's good that Henrik knows us and can be the adult," laughs Emil and continues: "He is pragmatic and has a hands-on approach, which appeals to me a lot. He just gets things done. That's just what we need so that the legal details don't take up much space.”