VALDOSTA — Gene Shearl is well-known for the six-year presence of his previous business, Photo 1. The store, located on North Ashley Street, offered studio and event photography, a one-hour photo lab and photo processing and also sold a variety of camera supplies and accessories.

Although his passion lay in portrait work, retail consumed the majority of his time. Soon, digital cameras replaced traditional cameras and demand for digital processing and home printing quickly overwhelmed demand for lab processing.

Shearl’s success in event photography, especially weddings, grew as the financial need for the retail portion of business lessened. He experienced inner conflict until finally coming to the decision that a major change was necessary.

April 1, he opened Shearl Imaging in a much larger location at 2722 N. Oak St. The new business offers copying and restoration of photographs, slide to print to digital conversion, portraiture, and even photography.

Shearl Imaging is also a print fulfillment center for Bravo Photos, a Savannah-based company that hosts online photo galleries for photographers and newspapers like The Valdosta Daily Times. Customers visit the appropriate Web site’s photo gallery and place an order for photos that is sent to Shearl, who processes and ships the order to the customer.

Shearl’s son, Aaron, joins him as a partner photographer and is quickly improving his skills to the point of excellence.

The move was a great decision for Shearl who is pleased with the location and the opportunities it provides.

“I’m deliriously happy with this facility and the space it offers. It has incredible potential allowing me to be creative with more sets and props to create heirloom portraits,” he said.

His customers’ interests in the new services has surprised him. Many even converted to digital just to continue as a customer.

“This will give me the opportunity to concentrate on what I set out to do six years ago. I can now develop a presence as a photographer and continue to build my skills,” he said.

Shearl sees great success in the new business’s future. He believes he will be able to offer even higher level photography services and hopes that he and his son will become interchangeable parts. The added space will also make room for added personnel — enough to handle the larger accounts he has been forced to turn down in the past.

“We are going to be the preferred provider for all photography services; not just for Valdosta, but the whole region,” he said. “We already have wedding commitments on a regionwide basis, and I see our other photography services expanding to that level as well.”

Shearl Imaging is open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Studio hours are available by appointment only. Contact Laura Reese, customer contact manager, for information, consultations or appointments at (229) 247-2001.