The Donegal Camera Centre was established in June 1997 by myself Mark Wickham and I’m proud to say that my photographic journey still continues to this day.
My story: I always had natural curiosity for technology growing up and this led me to develop a keen interest in photography. Little did I know that my hobby would take me on a photographic career spanning 30 years. I studied professional photography in Dublin and trained in various photographic outlets from professional studios to camera shops. As well as a growing interest in photography I also discovered a love for dealing directly with the public, so after much consideration, I decided to take the brave move of opening up my own photo shop.
I opened the shop in 1997 and became the first 1 hour photo in Donegal Town. When I first opened the shop, film development was a big part of the business but gradually over the years I have witnessed a transition from film to digital. For most people, cameras have now been replaced by smartphones. Gone too are the big minlabs for photo processing, the company has now reinvesting in the latest digital equipment for improved print quality. Business is always changing and I too have had to adapt to an ever evolving market.
Today the Donegal Camera Centre is still a thriving photographic hub with a host of new services. After almost twenty five years in business , I’m very much looking forward the next chapter for my business . I still really enjoy interacting with new and existing customers and using my experience to fulfill their requirements. I feel very lucky to have worked in an industry that challenges and interests me, as the old saying goes “when you do do a job you love you never have to work a day in your life”.
