A trip through time

Whitefish residents and visitors can take a walk back in time at Stumptown Old Time Photos.

The business opened June 1 in the space below The Toggery on Central Avenue.

Owners Becky and Todd Horning said old vintage photos have been a fun hobby for them throughout the years.

“We’ve always enjoyed having our photos taken with old time photo studios. We had our first ones done at Kansas City Worlds of Fun and used that for our save the date card, and over the years as our kids got older we’ve had them done in various places. It’s just been fun,” Becky said.

Opening a photo studio has been a big change for the Hornings.

Last month they sold Amazing Crepes after 13 years of owning and running the restaurant.

Starting from scratch has been the biggest challenge, Becky said.

“Starting it from the ground up, especially here. We started Crepes 13 years ago during a recession and now it’s gotten really busy. So we’re going to that busy pace to trying to get the word out and marketing here,” she said.

Luckily, they’ve had some available resources.

First, they bought a Polson-based antique photo studio’s setup to help hit the ground running. And in January they attended the Antique Amusement Photography International convention to learn from more experienced business owners.

“We went there and met all these people in the industry and got to train with them. There was just a ton of information and it was really helpful,” Todd said.

At Stumptown, customers can place themselves in a variety of historical sets, including an old jail-house, the Roaring 1920s, a Victorian home, a bathhouse and a Frontier trapper scene.

Prints come in 8x10 and 5x7 inch sizes, and digital and matted copies are also available.

Some local businesses, like Glacier Cyclery and Nordic, have come to Stumptown for a fun photo and a team-building activity.

For the Hornings, the vintage photos are a way to get a quality photo with a fun memory attached.

“It’s an affordable family photo, and it’s different. We’ve used them for Christmas cards and stuff,” Becky said.

“They’re just fun,” Todd added. “You get to be a goof, it’s about being goofy.”

The business is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday through Saturday.

For more information on Stumptown Vintage Old Time Photos, visit www.facebook.com/stumptownvintagephoto. More example photos are available at www.instagram.com/stumptownoldtimephoto.