About Wayne Camera Center
By Joel Lebowitz, Owner 

1955 was a banner year for the Township of Wayne: not only did Wayne’s first modern shopping center open its doors, but also its first full-service camera store, Wayne Camera Center.

Under its first owner, Bill Orkulsky, Wayne Camera Center became a household name, synonymous with photography. Anybody who needed advice on the latest photographic equipment or technique knew to come to Wayne Camera Center (then located in the Preakness Shopping Center). Subsequent knowledgeable owners continued Wayne Camera Center’s growth into the respected establishment it remains today.

In 1980, Wayne Camera Center was purchased by its current owner, Joel Lebowitz. Joel is a former photographic store manger, as well a member of the New Jersey Army National Guard, where he was the chief photographer. Joel brought with him to Wayne Camera Center a wealth of knowledge and experience that has enabled him to serve the community and township of Wayne for over 25 years.

The late 1980s brought changes to the photographic industry, most notably the advent of 1-hour film processing. Wayne Camera Center was at the forefront of this wave of new technology, with the installation of its first 1-hour film lab. While many other retailers also jumped on this bandwagon, only Wayne Camera Center delivered the quality work that Wayne Township residents came to expect.

The 1990s brought more changes. The development by Kodak of the first 1.4 megapixel sensor for use in photography, and the introduction by Canon of the first consumer-based digital camera, began a revolution in the art of photography. In the past, consumers had generally purchased one camera for the entire family to use, but now every member of the family wants their own camera. Combining the functionality and easy use of a point-and-shoot camera with the advantages of a digital camera, digital photography makes taking pictures easier and more fun than ever!

Wayne Camera Center did not sit still while the digital market place began to boom. To meet the needs of their digital photography customers, Wayne Camera Center invested in a digital processing lab and consumer-based digital printing kiosks. This doubled the store’s printing capacity, enabled photo restorations to become less expensive with faster turnaround times and higher quality standards, and let us offer a multitude of new services to our customers.

In July 2007, Wayne Camera Center relocated (from Preakness Shopping Center) to its current location in the Ramapo Shopping Center, on Hamburg Turnpike at Valley Road. The move allowed Wayne Camera Center to install two more digital photo kiosks, and open up a custom-framing department, a photo gift center, and a relaxing photo lounge.

In November 2007, Wayne Camera Center launched its online printing service, allowing customers to order prints and photo gifts over the Internet, from the comfort of their homes, offices, etc.

Wayne Camera Center has proudly served its community for over 50 years, and hopes to continue doing so for many more years to come. For this we thank the township and our community for their ongoing support!