Loaded latex dispersions of hydrophobic photographically useful compounds with a wide variety of polymer latices are prepared by preparing an oil phase solution of the hydrophobic compound or compounds, preferably essentially free of water-miscible or volatile solvent, combining the oil solution with one or more aqueous solutions, at least one of which contains a polymer latex, and mixing the combination of oil solution, aqueous solution and latex under high shear or turbulence sufficient to cause loading of the photographically useful compound into the dispersed polymer latex wherein the pH of the mixture does not need to be significantly changed.