BY KEITH LACEY
As a professional photographer for a quarter
century, Ray Bernstein knows better than most a picture speaks
at least a thousand words.
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name="valign" top > The name of Ray Bernstein's new
business, Photosonstuff, located in the former Bay
Used Books location on Lasalle, sums up the nature of
the enterprise perfectly. |
The owner of Northern Sports Photography for
the past 15 years, Bernstein, 48, is hoping the proliferation
of digital photography will translate into a successful new
business venture he's called Photosonstuff.
Located at 664 Lasalle Blvd., in the former
Bay Used Books location, the name of Bernstein's new business
venture says a lot. Using digital photgraphy, images and
computer software, Bernstein and his staff can transpose photo
images onto "stuff," including clocks, tiles, T-shirts,
jewelry, blankets, candy tins, place mats, coasters, pet tags,
puzzles and seat cushions.
"When it comes to photography, paper is
boring," said Bernstein. "There will always be a place for
traditional photography, but the new digital age means you can
take an image and your imagination and the sky is the
limit."
Using sophisticated software, Bernstein's
retail outlet showcases numerous items he's confident will
prove popular with customers. Included are pictures of
youngsters' faces on clocks, photographs of lakefront
scenescapes transposed inside decorative picture frames and
charm bracelets showcasing pictures of loved ones.
"With the digital revolution, almost everyone
has a digital camera and computer," said Bernstein. "Our
business is all about taking digital photographs, or any
digital image for that matter, and placing them on anything the
customer might come up with."
The price range for items will range from $9
for a dog tag to more than $1,200 for a full floor mural, said
Bernstein.
"The client tells me what they want, we will
work with them and give them what they want," he said.
Bernstein expects a lot of his business will
involve parents and grandparents taking pictures of their
children and grandchildren and having them transposed onto
household items such as clocks, T-shirts and furniture.
Pictures of family pets, favourite garden
settings and vehicles can just as easily be transposed onto
tiles, T-shirts or murals, he said.
The new location will also allow Bernstein
and his staff of eight, including his wife Sue, to continue to
expand Northern Sports Photography, which specializes in team
pictures of amateur minor hockey and soccer teams across
Greater Sudbury and Ontario.
If the business takes off, Bernstein plans to
expand Photosonstuff to Manitoulin Island, North Bay and one or
two other locations in the next couple of years.
"Franchising is definitely part of our
plans," he said.
Northern Sports Photography started in 1991
with Bernstein using his photography skills to take action
shots of youngsters playing hockey, baseball and soccer in
North Bay and Sudbury.
He expanded using word of mouth and contacts,
and soon had dozens of clients across Ontario.
Last year, Bernstein had contracts to
photograph youngsters from 32 minor hockey and soccer
organizations across Ontario. He also photographs several major
dog shows across Ontario and the United States each year.
The advent of digital photography means there
are many more competitors in the sports photography field.
Bernstein admits to being tired from years of travelling to
shoot minor sports teams, so he hopes to pour many more hours
into Photosonstuff and use freelance photographers more often
to operate Northern Sports Photography.
Photosonstuff is open noon until 8 pm Monday
to Friday and noon until 5 pm on Saturday.
For more information, call Bernstein or a
member of his staff at 524-1924.
