The Big Picture at Glenview's Motophoto

Motophoto owner and operator John Kim took about 95 percent of the countless framed photos that line the walls of his store, at 1903 Glenview Rd. in downtown Glenview.  

Rows and rows of portraits, wedding photos and family gatherings are arranged across the store, displaying more than a decade of work Kim has put into the store and the photography craft. 

The sign outside the store says one hour photo, but Motophoto offers so much more.

"If you do only print business, it will not survive," Kim said of today's retail photography industry. "Sometimes people don't print [at the store], but they need a frame or photo album."

With today's line of digital camera and high quality printers, making photos at home is easier than ever. Even an iPhone could make beautiful images that would make a dinky, single-use camera slump its shoulders.

But there are still certain occasions when people need to hire a professional photographer, or use his services. 

"I have my own style, when people come into the store, they see what I can do. People are looking for something special," Kim said. "I go out and do weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. I have my own portrait studio."

Kim moved to the United States around 1983, and quickly went to work for a family member repairing cameras. He opened his store in the early 2000s, offering full service photography, but some people still come in to get their old 35mm cameras repaired. 

"People still like the old camera," Kim said. "Even with digital, people have to know how the camera functions."

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