One agreed. However, new technology had to be produced. All that Frau Brockmöller had left was an empty shop in the western town. But where do you get a poster machine? Phonebooks were sourced from Belgium, Holland, and America through the consulates, and she phoned across the continents in search of a manufacturer. Surprisingly, the way to the required working tool was significantly shorter: In Offenbach she was looking for. A poster maker for 1250, - DM was ordered and in total invested the adolescent businesswoman up to 25,000, - DM in the establishment of their poster store, and started in 1978 their own business in the western town of Hansalands.
Nostalgic photos should be. Much higher quality than the previously sold posters. The studio should be set up between the General Store and the Sheriff's Office. Ms. Brockmöller invested a further 100,000 DM in photographic technology, studio lighting and darkroom. The equipment was supplied by AGFA and assembled. It was also an AGFA employee who taught photography to Mrs. Brockmöller and gave her tips and tricks. The antique studio has hardly changed since then.
The photos were exposed on a photographic plate and developed immediately after exposure in the darkroom to develop. At that time, the darkrooms were indeed stock-dark. The well-known red light did not exist yet. When dealing with the chemicals, therefore, a spatial feeling for the chamber and a lot of practice was necessary. For a picture, the studio team needed about 30 seconds to develop and a little time to dry. After about 45 seconds to one minute, the finished image was ready to take on the sales counter.
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As the cameras became digital, and computers became more and more affordable, Ms. Brockmöller decided to stick to the tried and true analog photography for now. She organized the last stock of photo materials. Only since 2006 does the studio team work digitally. This also brought with it some spatial changes. Flash was no longer needed. And the wine red curtain had to make way for the change to a continuous lighting, because he was simply too dark in the pictures. A translucent fabric had to be applied in its place, which was lightened by a backlight. This, however, was the only change in the background.
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Asked if she had ever thought about further changes, Ms. Brockmöller replied with a smile that there were ideas, but changes were generally rejected by the guests. So you just rejected the considerations again.
Meanwhile hang in the antique studio to the 60 costumes and countless props. The selection ranges from cowboy to gentleman over the big landowner to the cavalry and the Indians. Even the Mormon costumes have the studio in stock, and the children can fall back next to the popular Wild West theme on Viking and Knight costumes.
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The choice of costumes is decided at the time of the Wild West. "The man is looking for". However, only his own costume. Depending on the choice of topic, the women and children are appropriately dressed by the employees. Above all, the props have a special effect on children, whether pistol or rocking horse. A large repertoire of hats is available to ladies, and men can enjoy blunderbuss or commander's sabers.
The price list for group photos reaches up to the 10 people. However, larger groups can be photographed, especially if children are present. Then group photos can be made up to the 16 people. The more people need to be accommodated in the picture, the more sink in the bustle. Partially, people in the background could only be costumed with a hat, because everything else was no longer visible, Mrs. Brockmöller told us.
Whether the doors will continue to open in the near future is still unclear. After 35 years of operation and at the age of 75, Ms. Brockmüller plans to retire soon. So far she has not been able to find a successor. The step into self-employment often discourages people today. However, she has set herself the 40 years of work to do full, as long as the health plays along, to finally go with 80 years to well-deserved retirement.
She also hopes her team will one day take over the business. After all, women and men are more of a family to them than just employees. In general, colleagues are the most important thing for Ms. Brockmöller. Without her, she says, she would never have gotten this far. Because now she can say that her pictures can be found all over the world. Over the years, Lizzy's Antik Photo Studio has been a constant at HANSA-PARK, which is often used by foreign guests. And since the style has also kept constant, Lizzy's images are unmistakable, no matter which continent they're on.
Lizzy's antique studio is a piece of history, in one way or another. And if anyone still asks who Lizzy is, he realizes quite quickly which nickname the CEO Anneliese Brockmöller hears.
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