Benjamin Paul Camp

A brief disclaimer: I’ve been going to Wing’s for a long time. My entire experience as a photographer has been heavily influenced by the amazing people who work there.

This is a story about Wing’s Camera & Digital, one of the oldest and last full-service camera stores in Atlanta, Georgia. The store offers services including buying and selling cameras, as well as repair and cleaning. Whether you're trying to get into film photography or upgrade your digital camera, Wing’s is the place. The store serves as a crossroads for all disciplines and interests within the medium of photography.

Wing’s is owned and operated by Mike Morrison. According to Morrison, the store was founded in 1912 by a photographer named Henry Wing. In the 1950s, the store was sold to Edna Smith, known as "Smitty." In 1968, Morrison’s father bought the black-and-white film processing lab from Smith, and it’s been in the Morrison family ever since.

During the interview, I was surprised to hear that Morrison wanted to retire. “I’ve got a sick wife at home,” Morrison said. “I come in, do what I can each day, and then I go home to care for her. That’s why I want to retire—because of her health and my own.” Morrison also mentioned he’s looking to sell the store, which leaves its future uncertain.

Morrison said he’s happy with everything the store has done to keep the art of photography alive. According to him, Wing’s is a trusted name because it’s one of the few places left that can answer people's questions. They aren’t in this business for the money; the goal of Wing’s is to keep cameras and photographic gear in circulation and in the hands of people who will use them. The store is “operated by photographers, for photographers.”

Photographers of all levels go to Wing’s. “Everything from ‘I just bought a camera on eBay and don’t know how to work it’ to professional wedding photographers,” Morrison said. The staff at Wing’s take great pride in being able to help anyone who comes through the door. If they don’t have the answer, they will help you find it or put you in contact with someone who does. The staff are often more excited about the camera or the project than the actual customer.

Tap Images to enlarge…

***Photographed above*** From left to right, these are the people who work at Wing’s Camera & Digital (along with the name of the first camera they owned): Mike Morrison (Pentax Spotmatic), Patrick Walker (Cannon 80D), Vivan Greco (Petri Flex), Casey Coyne (Pentax Spotmatic F), Zack Holden (Contax Aria), Justin Sengvilay (Nikon F3HP).

Photography, as a whole, is just as nuanced as the cameras used to make a photograph: the photographers, the intent, the subjects, the audiences, and the platforms are so complex that one can hardly quantify them. Wing’s is a means to an end, that end being the art of photography.

The End.

Special thanks to “The Photo Spot” for film processing.