By Mac Hughes
At Imaging Spectrum, we love nothing more than shining a light on the labs and print shops that form this industry… and sometimes, make history.
This month, we sat down with Ava Kamm of Peoria Camera Shop, of Peoria, IL, a shop coming up on its 90th year in business, and one that recently made a little history of its own: five years ago, it became the first store in its nearly nine-decade run to be a woman-owned & operated business.
That milestone is only part of the story. Peoria Camera has stayed small and deeply personal by design — a team of six, led by two longtime full-timers who each bring their own specialty, and all-in on the idea that photography still means something to the people who walk through the door. That shows up in the little things: patient help for customers who feel lost with their phones and computers, canvases people can't stop complimenting, and a genuine excitement for the craft that outlasts any one owner or era of the business.
We talked with the store's owner about buying into a piece of Peoria history, what keeps her
passionate about the work, and how she's built a team — and continues to grow a business.
What's the story behind Peoria Camera and how you got started, and what's kept you passionate about it over the years?
I have always been very proud of my home town, Peoria, IL. It’s nothing fancy, but there’s always something fun to do if you know where to look. Peoria Camera has been around since 1937 (coming up on our 90 year anniversary!) and I feel that the opportunity to purchase the business has given me a place in Peoria history. Also, I am the first woman to own Peoria Camera so that’s kinda cool too. I bought the business 5 years ago and I’m getting the hang of it but I still have a lot to learn. The thing that keeps me motivated the most and brings me back to being passionate about the business is remembering why we all love photography so much and what it brings to our lives. For example, I love wildlife photography and dog photography and when I see a photo that really captures the essence of that animal, I get goose bumps. I know that everyone loves photography for different reasons and because of that, we are still here doing our thing.
Obviously success is built on having a great team. What makes your team
unique, and how do you think that shows up in the experience your customers get?
Everyone that works here ends up being very invested in their jobs which is why it’s a special place to work. The employees really care about the future of the store and they want it to do well. We are a small staff of 2 full timers and 4 part timers. Ted and Travis are my two full timers and they have worked here longer than me! Ted is our camera expert and knows pretty much everything about cameras from past to present. He is also our best salesman and prides himself on finding the right camera/lens for each customer’s needs. Travis runs the lab and does double duty as the store manager. These two guys really help me run the show. They feel a very strong connection to the store and always bend over backwards to keep everything running smoothly.
What's something your lab does that you're especially proud of — a service, a niche, a way you treat customers — that sets you apart from competitors?
I’m very proud of our canvases. They are really high quality and we get loads of compliments on them. Also, I think what sets us apart from our local competitors is that we have good quality prints and we can help people that are not “technologically savvy”. We have a lot of people that come in that are frustrated with computers and phones and just need a little extra help.
Can you share a specific moment or experience where working with Imaging Spectrum made a real difference for your business?
MacKenzie has been amazing to work with because he has helped me figure out what would be the best printer and software for my store. He really cares about his customers. He has even helped me with managerial issues that have come up and gave me really good advice and emotional support when I needed it. I feel like Mac has become a mentor/friend that I can call whenever I have a problem at the store that I am struggling with.
Give us a rundown of the printing equipment/gear that powers your lab — makes, models, and how each piece fits into your workflow.
We have a Noritsu 3202 wet lab printer and slowly transitioning everything to the Epson D1070 dry lab printers. We also have a Canon Pro 4600 for large prints and a Ricoh for printing calendars, greeting cards and business cards.
Learn more about the story of Peoria Camera at PeoriaCameraShop.com and @peoriacamerashop on Instagram
