South Dakota Harold’s Photo Centers chain celebrates 100 years in photography business

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Harold’s Photo Centers is celebrating its 100-year anniversary of providing photography services, equipment and development in South Dakota and Iowa. The company’s 100-year history proves its success in adapting to the ever-changing technology of the photography industry.

Harold’s Photo Centers began in Sioux Falls. Emil C. and Agnes Hanson, who moved to Sioux Falls in 1910, purchased Floe Studio and renamed it Hanson’s Studio. Their studio quickly became a popular portrait location for family, children, wedding and graduation photographs. In the 1930s, Emil and Agnes’s sons Harold and Howard joined the business. They opened additional studio locations, including a complete camera store and photo lab.

Harold’s Photography on Phillips Avenue, which opened in 1938, became one

of the first color photo labs in the Midwest in 1962. Later, stores were added in Sioux City, Brookings and Yankton, and the business grew into a regional photographic retail and photofinishing leader. Harold’s Photo Centers was also one of the first businesses in the region to offer one-hour photofinishing.

A fire destroyed the Phillips Avenue location in 1991. After that devastation, the company focused on adding retail stores throughout the city. Today, there are four Harold’s Photo Centers in Sioux Falls.

Digital photography changed the industry, and Harold’s Photo Centers was one of the first in the region to print digital photos. Today, Harold’s Photo Centers specializes in using digital technology to print photos on T-shirts, canvas, greeting cards and other gift items. Harold’s Photo Centers currently operates eight retail photo stores in South Dakota and Iowa, a central production lab and several online photo web sites.

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