Business & Tech
Homewood Officially Welcomes New Photography Studio
Colin and Angela Thomas just opened up shop on Dixie Highway in effort to showcase their business and The Homewood Project.
Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld got the chance to exercise one of his favorite official duties on Saturday: ceremonial ribbon cutting.
The formal event was held in honor of the opening of Thomas' Photographic Services, Homewood's newest storefront.
Business owners Colin and Angela Thomas beamed as Hofeld sliced through the blue ribbon with traditional oversized scissors.
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"It's official, you're taxpayers now," Hofeld quipped.
Later, Hofeld carefully divided the ribbon into smaller pieces. He says it's part of another ritual that is dear to his heart.
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"I save a piece of ribbon for each of the openings, and my wife puts them in a scrapbook," Hofeld said. "It's always nice to welcome a new business to Homewood."
Colin Thomas, 30, said that the storefront at 18705 Dixie Highway will bring greater visibility to the couple's business, as well as their gift to the community: The Homewood Project.
The Homewood Project is a straightforward plan to a create yearbook of small-town Illinois life by photographing the people of Homewood in front of their respective homes.
"I was driving around one day and hearing a lot of bad news about Homewood," Colin Thomas said. "I thought, 'wouldn't it be great if we had a town yearbook, with people photographed in front of their house, the way they did 100 years ago?'"
As an incentive, homeowners can book a photo session Monday through Thursday for just $20. Weekend costs are only $5 more. For that fee, homeowners will get lighting, setup, light retouching (to obscure identifying information such as house numbers or license plates) and a 5x7 print.
Thomas is also trying to get Homewood businesses to join the project, which is online at thehomewoodproject.com. He promises that all participating businesses will receive a link on their website.
Anyone interested is invited to stop by the business and pick up a brochure about The Homewood Project, which features Colin and Angela Thomas themselves on the cover. Inside, it reads, "Who are the people in your neighborhood? We are helping you find out! Be a part of your community and help preserve history while it's happening."
