"It seems like only yesterday in some ways," says Waco Hill, owner of The Photo Finishers on Albert Pike. "Since 1988, I had worked for the largest photo lab/studio operation in the country, been a professional photographer in my own right (photographing in studio, on location and weddings) and accepted a position at a professional lab environment for one of the largest 'pro labs' in the country in a 'you are the manager in the office' position. But after settling in, I found that I missed the hands on interaction (being able to help clients). I discovered I didn't like being cooped up in an office all day 'out of the action,' so I decided going out on my own was the thing to do. So, way back in 1996, I took the entrepreneurial plunge and opened The Photo Finishers in Hot Springs."
For 20 years, The Photo Finishers has been serving the photo imaging needs of clients in Hot Springs and all over the United States. From very humble beginnings, the list of basic photographic services has expanded to encompass truly professional, old-fashioned, full-service processing and printing services such as film developing (color and B&W-35 mm and medium and large format), cutting edge printing from digital files (camera and phone-created files), with all files individually color and density evaluated by trained human eyes prior to printing so the finished prints are as good as they can be, video services, professional photography, and photo education classes. A self-service kiosk is available for those clients who wish to print their own images with all photographs printed on professional Kodak paper.
"The Photo Finishers has always been a unique enterprise, and to my knowledge, we offer the most complete variety of imaging services (photo and video) available anywhere under one roof, and I think we have been very successful with providing our clients with the kind of services they want and just can't find anywhere else," states Hill.
"It's really hard for me to think of any photo imaging service -- traditional or digital -- that we have not provided over the years. It seems like we do it all right here in our little shop on Albert Pike. Basically, we do all the things that others do, and most everything they can't. When I meet someone new and they ask what do we do, I just don't know where to start!"
Quick start photo classes
The newest service to be offered is one that the owner says clients have been requesting for years, photo education. "We find that consumers are investing in these advanced cameras that are advertised as simple, but they discover the results are not what they hoped for. The solution really is not in the equipment, but in the operator. The classes are probably the thing I get asked about the most, but it has just taken me a good while to carve out the time in my schedule to develop and create the curriculum and get it all together in a logical and enjoyable method, but we are in full swing with our PHOTOMakers Quick Start Live Events."
Quick start classes are two fast-paced fun hours where professional photographers share basic and advanced tips and tricks to get attendees up to speed on their equipment. Anyone interested in the classes should call, visit http://www.thephotofinishers.com or email [email protected] today as we will have a pretty limited availability and there is a great deal of demand.
A great staff
"I have had the opportunity to work with a lot of great people over the years and my current staff is no exception. I am very excited about our current group, including Sandy Rader and Kayla James. Sandy is the store manager and principal photographer and brings with her a wealth of experience in photography. Kayla is fast becoming a grizzled veteran and doing great work in our digital transfer and video departments, growing in knowledge and experience every day. I am excited and fortunate to be working with them both, and I am sure our clients look forward to seeing their smiling faces each day as much as I do.
"With everything we have to offer, the staff we have on board, and the community of Hot Springs, I'm really excited about what the next 20 years here in Hot Springs will bring."
Since 1996, The Photo Finishers has been located at 1819 Albert Pike Suite F in Hot Springs. "Visit our website, call and stop by to celebrate our anniversary all year long, including the release of brand new 'How to' videos, classes, photo club, memorial and remembrance services, as well as once-in-20-years special offers and discounts."
For more information about The Photo Finishers' Photo, Video and Portrait Services, call 501-624-4029 or visit http://www.thephotofinishers.com. For specific information about class schedules, visit our website or email [email protected] or call 624-4029.
Business on 06/13/2016