Mommy and Me Date Night at Sip and Develop

Yes, I am excited to share that Mia and I stopped at Sip & Develop in downtown Silver Spring for a fun Mommy and Me Date Night. I know what you’re about to ask. Are kids even allowed there? Yes, they are!

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Disclosure: Our family was hosted to visit Sip and Develop to facilitate my review, but that does not influence my opinion. So, I am always going to keep it real!

Let’s get right into it.

It turns out that Sip and Develop is not only the spot for couples’ or girls’ nights out. The photography studio is also family-friendly, and you can bring your kids 10 years and older.

About Sip & Develop

Sip and Develop is the first and only Black Owned Business in the United States that creates a fun environment for families, friends, and couples to learn a new skill developing old school photography with no previous experience needed. If you are into photography or you are simply looking to learn a new skill in a fun and relaxing environment— this is the spot to go. In the studio you will learn how to develop photos from scratch, and you will be amazed in your ability to do it like a pro.

Location

8501 Fenton St, Silver Spring, MD 20910, United States

Hours of operation

Thursday to Saturday – 1:30pm to 11pm.

Sunday – 11:30am to 9pm

Cost

Camera Sign-out & Develop $65

Mini-Photo Shoot & Develop $65

Portrait in Studio $45

Print in Studio $45

What does Sip and Develop offer?

Sip and Develop is the spot for date nights, family gatherings, girls night out, and large group functions. The studio offers the following options for those interested:

Parties – Arrange an exclusive group gathering and have a great time developing photographs with the people you have selected to join.

Darkroom – Take some personal time in the darkroom and build your confidence in developing film independently.

Classes – An innovative and enjoyable way to learn about film development with a community of like-minded individuals in a fun-filled social setting.

Picture taking – Acquire the knowledge you’ve always sought in the field of photography and benefit from their professional services for all your photography endeavors.

Retail sales – Keep a lasting memory of your film development journey by purchasing fun and memorable merchandise.

Fun for the whole Family

Sip & Develop provides an exciting and enjoyable experience for the whole family. It also provides an opportunity for them to have some refreshments, gain knowledge in film development, and socialize with people you enjoy being around. Whether you are a photography enthusiast or simply looking for a fun activity, Sip & Develop has something to offer.

Couples Date Night

Couples date night at Sip & Develop is a fun and unique way to spend time with your partner. At Sip & Develop, couples can learn the art of film development and photo creation together. With a relaxed and intimate atmosphere, couples can enjoy a drink, conversation, and each other’s company while they work on their films.

Date nights are a great way to strengthen the bond between partners and create new memories. Their facilities are designed to accommodate couples, and their friendly staff is always on hand to ensure that everyone has a great time. Whether you’re looking for a unique and romantic activity or a fun and educational evening, Sip & Develop has the perfect setting for your date night.

Girls Night Out

Skip the bar and try something new with your girls. Sip & Develop is the spot to enjoy some wine and fun conversation. All while you and your girls learn the art of film development and create photos that can be displayed or added to a scrapbook.

Group Gatherings and Events

Group gatherings and events are a great way to bring people together and create new memories. Sip & Develop is perfect for group gatherings and events. Whether you are looking to host a birthday party, a team building exercise, or a night out with friends, Sip & Develop offers a one-of-a-kind experience that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

To plan your next event, you will need to contact then directly at hello@sipndevelop.com to request a quote for your event.

The working station at Sip and Develop

The Experience at Sip and Develop

We arrived promptly at our booking time and were greeted at the door by the owner Rashon Robinson. He immediately made us feel welcome and helped us settle in – you know, it was our first time at the studio, and I didn’t know what to expect. Rashon shared more details about how he came up with the business concepts, and quite honestly, I think it is super unique. We started with some drinks, or should I have said, a whole bottle of Moscato for this momma. Mia was a bit jealous that she was sipping on some good H20. LOL!!

After a few sips of our drinks and some great R&B music, it was time for us to do our photoshoot. Yes, let me tell yall the vibe was right because our photographers were enjoying themselves as much as we were. Mia and I got our photos taken, and then we began experiencing something you only see in movies. The Sip and Develop team walked us through the process of creating our films and photography step by step. The instructions were very easy to follow for me and my 8-year-old.

Our Mini Photoshoot at Sip and Develop

After we finished developing and preparing our photos, it was time to head over to the darkroom. Chile, this part was very exciting. The darkroom photography is used to process prints made from negatives. The room has various equipment, including baths containing chemicals and water. We first started by selecting the photo we wanted to create, and it was a thoughtful choice as you only get to develop one photo. I seriously couldn’t choose one because I loved them all! Then we used a machine called a film and negative projector that lights through the negative onto light-sensitive silver halide paper to make the print. After that, we use the chemicals to bring our Black and White photos to life.

Mia and I working on developing our images in the Darkroom

Sip and Snack

Sip & Develop Silver Spring guests can choose from a wide selection of refreshing drinks, including various cocktails, wine, beers, and soft drinks. Their menu features a range of light bites and snacks. I can only comment on the drinks, I had a nice bottle of Stella Rosa Moscato. 😊

Snack Menu at Sip and Develop

In addition to film development, Sip & Develop offers a range of merchandise that guests can purchase to commemorate their experience. Whether it’s a photo book, a print, or a custom-made frame, they have a variety of options to help guests capture their memories in a fun and unique way.

Things to know before you go:

Can you stop by a week or the day before your booking to pick up a rental camera? Yes, Sip & Develop allows the customer to get a camera and enjoy some outdoor photography before joining their class. That means that you will get to develop your photography in the studio with professional help.

Kids 10 years and older are allowed. However, if you have a younger kid that can behave and follow simple directions like Mia— you may have them join the class with you.

Don’t cancel; instead, reschedule! If you know that for whatever reason, you won’t be able to make it to your session. Please call them as soon as possible; per their cancellation policy, they don’t issue refunds, and if you need to reschedule your session, it must be done within 72 hours prior to your reservation.

Oh yeah, where to park? According to their website, there is a parking garage at Wayne Avenue Garage 60 where you can park. But honestly, we parked behind the Sip & Develop building at Whole Foods Market at no cost.

Have a song ready in mind for the 360-camera booth. It took me a while to pick a song!

You will only develop and take home one photo per person – but I can guarantee that you will feel proud of your own hard work.

Customers can also use the studio for family photography. Give them a call to learn more about this.

We are proud— look at how cute our photos came out!

The overall experience was a 9 out of 10 for Mia and I, because we were only allowed to choose one photo to develop. However, you can also save your negative images and come back to develop them. Sip & Develop was a unique and engaging experience that combines education, fun, and drinks! Our final photos were perfect, I still can’t believe with did it ourselves. Now our frames are hanging in the wall at our house.

We hope you enjoyed reading about our experience at Sip and Develop. If you end up visiting, please let us know how you liked it!