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In the beginning....a long, long time ago in the dark ages of a home made black and white dark room...
Forster Photography started like most studios...as a hobby. Steve Forster won a
camera for selling magazines in the 7th grade and enjoyed the magic that came with pushing
the button and stopping time. Years later Steve worked in a graphic arts pre-press
shop where several of his co-workers had "nice cameras". Steve purchased
his first a twin lens Yashica D (medium format 120 film) and began to explore the real
magic of photography.
Within months he was introduced to what would become the real love of his
life and sole mate for over 30 years. Carol was the lady that encouraged Steve to
contunue his photographic growth. Together they photographed their first
wedding before they were married. Steve and Carol recall how difficult it was to
come up with 24 different views on that first wedding. Now it is not uncommon for
Steve to create 250 or more images at a wedding.
Knowing that it was going to be very difficult to start on his own, Steve
went looking for a job as a photographer. After being turned down by almost every
studio in Wichita, Ks, he was finally hired by the studio he really wanted to work with in
the first place. Since it was in the winter, and business was slow,
Steve worked half day at a color lab hand printing black and white photographs, ate his
lunch as he drove across town and then worked for the studio in the afternoons. His
first job was to finish orders...he was a "production assistant"! After a
few months, he was able to also promoted to a "photographers assistant".
Now he was able to be present during photography sessions and actually learn how to make
the images he desired. From Roy Meyer and Dean Ebel, co-owners of Meyer &
Ebel Photography, Steve and Carol learned the art and business management of operating a
photography studio.
Meyer & Ebel Photography began to grow and purchase studios from other photographers. On September 1, 1973 Steve opened the Lee Studio in Hutchinson, Ks. as manager. After a couple of years as manager, Steve & Carol decided to purchase the studio for themselves. So, in 1975, they did what they proudly call the "3B's". They bought the business in February, had a baby boy (their son Wade, born July 3rd) and bought a new bungalow. Carol had not really planned to work in the studio, but decided she was needed. Carol had the ability to focus on the details of a task and eliminate everything else until it is finished. She is still the main reason that Forster Photography actually operates successfully!
Steve and Carol decided to sell the studio a few years later and took a
little time off to try something different. They moved their family which now also
included a baby daughter Lindsay, to Olathe, Ks. where Steve worked for one of his Uncles,
a home builder. After nine months of being responsible for the construction of 36
houses and 18 duplexes, Steve decided to get back into photography. He liked the
hours as a photographer a lot better!
Steve and Carol looked for a studio to purchase and again contacted Dean
Ebel. Steve and Carol were not really interested in moving to Topeka, Ks. but
Carol's dad suggested that Steve "Call the man and make him an offer".
Steve and Carol knew the history of the Wichers studio well since it was part of the 7
studio group of Meyer, Ebel & Williams. On April 1, 1980, Steve and Carol became
the new owners of the studio and remained in Topeka until an ice storm knocked out
electricity for 5 days. Carol told Steve "It's warm down home; we're
moving"! (Carol was born in Dallas, and as you know, once a Texas, always a
Texan!) Steve and Carol came to Dallas area in 1987 at the recommendation of
relatives and opened Forster Photography of Plano, Texas.
Since arriving in Texas, Forster Photography has grown with the referrals
of satisfied clients. It's still a "Mom & Pop" studio because that's
the way Steve and Carol want it to stay. Steve and Carol do not want to loose
the personal touch that they have with their clients. So many of Forster
Photography's clients are good friends and Steve and Carol do not want to loose that close
relationship.
Over the years, Forster Photography has added some very important people to the staff. They are:
Their son, Wade, who is a wedding photographer, digital
artist and portrait photographer.
Their daughter, Lindsay, who is the designer of
all the wedding stories
Cheryl Simmons, who handles most of the order
production
Although many things have changed over the years, one thing remains the
same...making the very best images possible for each client! The Forster team is
committed to making sure each client knows that their decision to use Forster Photography
was correct.