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www.gippslandtimes.com.au Sale Camera House employee snaps up two photography awards

Josh Farrell

MOST Sale residents would recognise Findlay and Weymouth Pharmacy adjacent to the clocktower in the centre of town. Not everyone would know, however, of the Camera House store nestled inside. Sue Wilson and Suzanne Thatcher, who are behind the counter in this section of the pharmacy, have a passion for cameras and photography. Nevertheless, Ms Wilson was surprised to take out two categories at the Camera House franchise awards for photography. Camera House hosts a two-day seminar each year that culminates in the store of the year and the photographer of the year awards. Camera House franchise Ms Wilson only joined the company in the past 12 months and entered the competition with no expectation of winning, but hoping for a place. “I was really surprised — some of the other photographs were amazing,” she said. It is a great achievement considering she has only been taking professionalstandard photos for a relatively short time. “I only started taking photographs properly three years ago,” she said. “All Camera House employees can

Sale Camera House’s Sue Wilson’s ‘Boy on swing’ which won the won Camera House franchise portrait of the year category.

enter, so I did not think I would win.” The awards are a great achievement for not just Ms Wilson, but the Camera House store Sale. Ms Wilson and Ms Thatcher have immense pride in their store and have enjoyed the growth in the regulars that they see. “We are pretty happy with how it is going,” Ms Wilson said. “Customers know that we know what we are talking about.” As one of the only Camera House stores east of Melbourne, they service much of the Gippsland region — even getting customers all the way from Bega. The store has had a large amount of growth in the past 12 months. “We have had reps [representatives] from Nikon and Canon who cannot believe how many cameras we are selling,” Ms Wilson said. “It’s so much fun ... we just want to provide good service.” While Ms Wilson took out the individual photography awards, the Sale store narrowly missed out on the Camera House national store of the year. The team at Camera House Sale is looking to continue the growth, implementing a range of programs for their consumers to help improve their knowledge of photography. The Sale Camera House social club provides an opportunity for beginners to learn the fundamentals of photography before joining a local camera club.

Top right: Sale Camera House employees Suzanne Thatcher and Sue Wilson bring their passion for photography to their work. Photo: Josh Farrell Right: Sue Wilson’s photo which took out the shoot local award at the Camera House franchise awards.