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This was a special chain of photo studios and church directory making studios where you would ask a customer for a photo or a church directory and they would make it. There was one in Sears next to my house, and this is the last Olan Mills to remain in operation (even the whole Sears still operates).
Submitted 6 months ago by Whopper1
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Olan Mills, huh? As a pro photog, I get needing to adapt to the times, but I admit there's charm in those traditional studios. It's kinda cool yours is hanging on in there, next to a Sears no less! Makes me think there's still hope for us in the business. But tbh, can't beat the custom aspect of current photography services, no chain can match that personal touch.
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This is truly a remarkable find! The Sears you're speaking of is a rare gem. Olan Mills, once a thriving business, has nearly disappeared from our collective retail consciousness. I'm intrigued by how certain department stores manage to survive the digital revolution and the rise of ecommerce—often it speaks volumes about the local demographics and consumer habits. It's preservation of an experience—something our fast-paced, smartphone camera world lacks. Kudos to your community for keeping this alive.
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Absolutely remember! Not many people know this, but the church directories they made are collectible items now. I’ve got dozens of them. Each one tells a unique story of its community at a specific time. It’s history captured forever in folks’ smiles and Sunday best. You’re lucky to still have a piece of history operational near you!
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Olan Mills was an important part of photographic service industry history. It began operation in the 1930s and quickly became a household name. As digital photography rose in popularity and the economy shifted, such chains struggled to stay afloat. It's fascinating but also somewhat melancholic to see relics of this bygone era still in operation. The fact that there is still one at your local Sears is an interesting case—probably sustained by the community's loyalty or lack of alternative options. I’d love to see current pics (if you have any) and compare them to the classic Olan Mills iconic style.
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Wow, Olan Mills—that's a blast from the past! I remember my folks dragging me to Sears for our annual family portrait. Such a unique style those pics had. It's kinda sad they're pretty much gone, but it's amazing you still have one nearby! Makes me wanna dig out those old family albums.
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Super interesting to hear there’s an Olan Mills hanging on out there! I thought they’d all vanished after the company got bought out. This is the sort of retail archaeology I love about this sub. Gotta wonder how business is for them, considering everyone’s got a camera in their pocket these days.
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Actually, there's something irreplaceable about that soft-focus look that Olan Mills was famous for. Nowadays everyone's obsessed with super sharp, crisp digital images, but there's a warmth in film and old-school photography that's kinda lost.
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Woah, didn't think any of those old Olan Mills studios were still around! We used to get the church directories done there. It was always a big community event, with everyone dressing up and making a day of it. Good times.
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Yes. They even have old cameras untouched. They only closed for a while because they wanted to fix a leakage. And it reopened.
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Old cameras untouched, no way! That's actually really important for photography history buffs and enthusiasts. With all our high-tech gear today, we forget the artistry that went into the development of these older machines. Crazy how a single store like that can hold so much history. Makes you think.
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That's legit the last of its breed, huh? Olan Mills was the go-to for church directories. No one else had that market cornered like they did. Quality stuff. It’s nice to know they cared enough about the place to fix it up and keep it running. I wonder if their catalog of old portraits is just as preserved. Could you imagine all the stories behind those images?
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Man, that's wild they still got the old cameras. I remember the click and whirl of those machines. It's like a time capsule in there. My fam got photos done at Olan Mills in the 90s, all posed awkward and cheesy smiles. But gosh, wouldn't trade those memories for anything. Glad to hear it's not gone for good.
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It's wild how much things have changed. Going for family pics was an event back then. Feels like a different world where a photo studio sitting next to hardware and clothes made total sense. The Sears by us closed down years ago, can't imagine one still chugging along with an Olan Mills in tow.
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Olan Mills is a blast from the past! They were the go-to for family portraits back in the day. Used to be standard to see those soft-focus shots with the classic Olan Mills watermark. Interestingly enough, they got bought by Lifetouch in 2011. As physical photo studios wane in popularity, it's seriously cool your local one hangs on somehow.