A SMALL family photography business that has been running for almost 60 years is ringing the changes by investing in the latest environmentally-friendly technology to keep up with changes in the industry.
Stait Photography was set up in Morpeth in 1953 by Alfred Stait, and is now run by his son Ken. The business started out developing photographs for local newspapers, taking wedding photos across Northumberland and selling cameras.
But Mr Stait says he is constantly aiming to introduce new services to keep up with the rapid pace of change in the photography world since digital cameras became commonplace.
Mr Stait, who employs four staff at the shop, said: “It’s a constant investment going on now. You really are looking for ways that customers can get more.
“Everything is much more on demand. And you’ve got to have more services that people can pick from.
“Photography has changed so much since my father started the business and it is important to stay one step ahead of technology.”
He has installed five photo kiosks which customers can use to manipulate their digital images, cropping and enlarging until they have the result they want.
Mr Stait says the difference with this system is the lab where the pictures are printed. It is the only one in the North and one of just a handful nationwide to use green processing techniques.
He said: “Our eco green labs run on dry technology and contain no chemicals whatsoever.
“This was one of the first labs of its kind to be installed in Northern England and one of only three in the UK.
“Unlike other labs, it contains no bleach, developer or other harmful chemicals that were traditionally once used by photographers and processors. This is a much more clean, green way of processing.”
The equipment can transfer images from memory sticks, CDs, DVDs, SD cards, mobile phones and other digital media.
Mr Stait says the printing kiosks are easy to use and is confident anyone can get to grips with them in just a few minutes.
But he does have help on hand to assist people who reckon they are complete technophobes.
The shop has also introduced other new services including printing photos on large canvases and producing collages and photo books while customers wait.
For more on Morpeth’s retail boom, see Wednesday’s nebusiness.
Photography has changed so much since my father started the business
