Studio History

Edward Fox Photography A 100 Year Tradition

By Lou Jacobs

IN 2002, CHICAGO'S EDWARD FOX PHOTOGRAPHY studio celebrates 100 years of wedding and portrait photography, and despite its advanced age, its business and staff are thriving. Edward Fox arrived in the U.S. from Russia when he was 15 to live with a photographer cousin who taught him photography and English. In 1902 at the age of 22 with $93 as capital, he opened the Edward Fox Photography Studio. When he later married Anna Clyman, an American, they lived above the studio, says their grandson, Richard Nopar, now head of the firm. He adds, "As an immigrant Edward feared financial failure, so he and Anna worked harder, a true mom and pop business. Luckily, their studio was in a neighborhood where many newly settled immigrants proudly sent professionally made pictures back to the old country, and Edward was behind the camera for every picture. Portraits of families, communions, graduations and newlyweds were their mainstay business. Curiously, it was customary for brides, grooms, and wedding parties to come to the studio after the ceremony, and before the reception. This tradition ended in the mid-fifties when candid photography became popular.

"Even during the Depression," Richard continued, "wedding photography hardly waned, so Edward Fox was moderately successful. During World War II departing servicemen married their sweethearts in record volume and Grandpa set a record, I think, by shooting 39 wedding portraits in the studio one April day in 1942."

"Charlotte Nopar, Edward's daughter and my mother, spent her life at the studio as a salesperson, colorist, and peacekeeper. I was her only child and in her whole 88-year life she did everything that was not photographic and never took a picture, but her passion for the business was equal to Edward's." When Richard came to work in 1948 directly out of high school, family history was perpetuated. "With my lack of college I needed a challenge," he told me, "and after joining my grandfather I was inspired to earn the Master of Photography degree when I was only 26, the youngest person in the country to have done so."

After Grandpa Fox died in 1960, (while completing a photo sitting!) the studio moved in new directions. Where formerly they did only in-studio portraits, Richard, now president, expanded into candid wedding coverage, slowly at first with a staff of five which increased steadily.

Since the mid-1970s," Richard claims, "I believe we have photographed more weddings with love and care than any other studio in the country."

Ken Nopar, Richard's son, joined the studio in 1989. Charlene Martin, Director of Marketing and Sales is celebrating her 25th year with the studio. Ken and Charlene have developed the corporate market, photographing award presentations, groups, conferences, executive portraits and holiday parties. In addition, the studio photographs nearly 100 golf outings each year.

Actually, Edward Fox Photography is the second oldest family studio in the U.S., Bachrach of Boston is the oldest. Edward Fox was the father of a hardworking dynasty and a life-size bronze sculpture of him in tie and jacket behind a view camera stands outside studio headquarters. Hardly anyone who reads this is likely to live long enough to enjoy the studio's 200th anniversary, but don't bet against it.