Wow, what a trip! Go us!

The studio belongs to the Antique and Amusement Photographers, International (AAPI) organization… it’s an organization that’s been around now for 26 years and was originally started by a group of people that banded together as an “industry” to bring their issues with the current processes of the times to the then film, paper and chemical companies that were involved with dark room printing of photographs.  Many of those original members are still involved with the organization and I’m very pleased to be able to call them my good friends…

Well, each year we have an annual convention.  This year it was held once again in Las Vegas, the first one was there and it’s bounced around the country but a lot of us like the Vegas option….

One of the great attractions to the convention is the annual photo contest.  We have 30 categories and we generally enter between 5 and 8 entries each year. If you’ve visited the studio you’ve likely seen a few photos on the walls that have won blue ribbons… well, we have a new one to add to the wall this year… and not only did Natasha’s photo win a category blue ribbon… (drum roll please….) She won BEST of SHOW!!!!  So very proud of Natasha and her efforts and I’m sure if you’ve been in the studio and worked with her you’d know how great she is to to work with!!  Congratulations Natasha, it’s a great accomplishment!!

Here is her Ribboned Photo…Natasha Barriger Doc Wenzel's Old Time Portraits

Here’s the entire wall of Blue Ribboned photos… A lot of great photos on that wall!  Makes Best of Show a very proud moment for this owner!

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The next great news…!  Yes, it kept getting better… This is our staff photo.  Martin’s idea, he’s the guy in the front counting the money, I’m (Jeff) on the right and Natasha is on the left… not only did we get a second place for the category but we brought home a Technical Excellence award.  This one is particularly special to me because it’s a decision by the Photo Contest committee who’s given these awards each year, we hand out five.  I’m a member of the committee and for obvious reasons had to excuse myself from voting for my own studio’s photo but out of all the 300+ photos that were on the walls for the competition… ours was pulled off by another member of the committee and given the award via a vote by the committee.  Go us!!

Doc Wenzel's Old Time Portraits

But WAIT!  There’s more!  I’ve been involved with the association for awhile having served on committees and on the Board in the past… this past year we undertook redoing the AAPI website (www.oldtimephotos.org) to a new and much easier to update WordPress platform… so basically since my second year in the association I’ve been as active as I’ve been able to try to help the association that’s been so good to me… last year I was awarded our service award and this year I received the Martin Glaser award… it’s a very special award for the association and I am very honored be on the list of my very good friends for having received the award.  🙂

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We added a new set and a lot of new costumes… a lot!

Here’s a glimpse of the new set and one new costume… The boss man (pictured) went a little crazy buying new costumes this year… he’s been institutionalized since… 🙂  Come by and check it out!

Martin and I studied ideas from the photo contest that we liked and felt we could reproduce in our studio… we moved the photo booth over a bit and added this new set!  We went for a much more “moody” look than our other set… check out our Facebook page for some examples… http://www.facebook.com/docwenzelsphoto 1 photo 2

He did it AGAIN!!! Go Martin!

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This time it was a photo OF him that took the Blue Ribbon at the Annual Antique and Amusement Photographers, International (AAPI) convention in Galveston, TX.  Last year, his first time entering might I add… he took the Best Wedding category, this year, Self Portrait.  Congrats Martin, a great photo!

Also check out our Facebook page to see some of the work that Martin’s doing for our customers!!  http://www.facebook.com/docwenzels

We’ve MOVED!!! … and it was a QUICK one!

We’re now located at 700 Cannery Row M, so we’re just across the street in the other building, between Bubba Gump’s and the women’s restroom in the 700 building!

We would love to see you!

Here is an early AM photo from today, working on getting the lights up, the power on and things in place to open today!1-opening

Open up that great new door!! We’re open for business!!! 2-opening

Our second sitting of the day!!  Three really great sittings today at the studio!3-opening

 

On my way out today heading for the hotel after 13 hours at the studio!  Thank you Dad for your help with the move, never would have managed without your help….4-opening

A new “style” comes to Cannery Row’s Old Time Photo studio!

Based on Monterey County’s own John Steinbeck’s book Cannery Row… We’ve added a new “theme” to our studio on Cannery Row!  You can call it a world exclusive I guess! We’re the only Cannery Row in the world! 🙂  Here’s a glimpse of what it’s like…130521_1139

The book Cannery Row details the life on The Row in the 1930’s… the country was in a depression, canneries were busy on The Row and a group of “fellas” were hanging out near the very location of our studio!  For the ladies, we’ve put together some more “respectable” dresses (thank you to our costume vendor for help with this project!!) or you can slip into something a little more… well… and transform into one of Dora Flood’s “girls”…!  We’ve got sizes to fit the full range, kids up to adult!  Stop by and check it out…  We hope to see you soon!

Hello world!

Welcome to our new website! It’s going to be a work in progress for a bit… I’m trying to update and improve while away from the “office” as best as possible! 🙂

Thanks for visiting, stay tuned!