Best Camera Store: Paul’s Photo

aul and Mark Comon (manning the scissors) celebrate the opening of their Creative Photo Academy last summer with members of the Torrance city council and Torrance Chamber.
aul and Mark Comon (manning the scissors) celebrate the opening of their  Creative Photo Academy last summer with members of the Torrance city council and Torrance Chamber.

aul and Mark Comon (manning the scissors) celebrate the opening of their Creative Photo Academy last summer with members of the Torrance city council and Torrance Chamber.

When Paul Comon opened Paul’s Photo in 1961, the Southern California Photo Dealer’s Guild had approximately 140 members. Since then, most of those camera stores have closed. Paul’s has flourished.

Last year, the trade publication Photo Industry Reporter named Paul’s the United States 2012 Dealer of the Year.

Comon credits his longevity to the fact that he focused on cameras and teaching photography when most other stores depended on photo processing, which was displaced by digital photography.

Comon taught photography at adult schools for many years. Last November he opened the Creative Photo Academy next door to his store.

Comon also credits his store’s longevity to his son Mark, who started working in the store 35 years ago, when he was 14.

“I would have had problems coping with change and technology without Mark,” the 80-year-old Comon told Photo Industry Reporter.

Mark’s wife Sheryl and their son Zachary, a college student, also work in the store.

Mark credits family for his store’s success, not just his personal family, but Paul’s family of longtime employees and longtime customers.

23845 Hawthorne Blvd, Torrance. (310) 375-7014. PaulsPhoto.com

Runner up: Silvio’s Photoworks 22409 Hawthorne Blvd Torrance. (310) 546-5491. Silvios.com


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