Once, there was a small camera store on River Street in Manistee, Michigan. My dad—a tall, lanky guy with a laugh that you can hear from two blocks away—took over for a guy named Ed Hokanson in 1984 and kept the name Hokanson’s Camera. I grew up in the place. Between the store and backstage at the Ramsdell Theatre, both within walking distance, there was far from a lack of artistic influence in my upbringing.

I started “working” there on Saturdays when I was 11, only a couple of hours each week. I didn’t do much other than dust cabinets, walk to the post office to check the mail, and keep my dad company. It wasn’t very demanding for a first job, but it was a fun way to earn an allowance. Once I got a little older, I started to take on more responsibilities: working with customers, developing film on “the machine,” scanning and restoring family photos, and most importantly, learning the fundamentals of photography (film and digital). I fell deep into the world of photos.

It only made sense to continue with this fascination when it came time for college. I started by packing up and moving to Kalamazoo to be a part of the photo program at Western Michigan University, where my sister had gone and done the same thing ten years before me. After some time there, discovering who I was artistically, I took my first trip to the picturesque Upper Peninsula and was wooed entirely. So, I packed up again, this time heading north to Marquette, Michigan, finishing my BFA in photography at Northern Michigan University.

Still, my summers were spent at Hokanson’s during all my schooling. I started using everything I was learning at college to educate and assist my community members, some of whom were there to purchase their first-ever digital camera. We were always very community-focused.

In June 2020, after 88 years, Hokanson’s Camera closed its doors for the last time. My dad kicked off his retirement with one final message: “I want to thank all the wonderful people of our community for their loyal support all these many years. It has been my great pleasure helping you preserve your family’s memories. It has given me great pleasure to do so. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart.” Today, I proudly display the Hokanson’s Camera sign in my photography studio.