Ahrend Studios to replace family photos

FALLBROOK — Bill Ahrend and Shelby Houskeeper of Ahrend Studios are feeling blessed because of the “Trial by Fire” they have gone through due to the October Rice Canyon Fire. Both are residents of Valley Oaks and lost their homes but not their friends and community.

For 54 years Ahrend Studios has called Fallbrook home, through the good times and bad. Though many would see the fires as a tragedy, they see it as a new beginning and look forward to the future.

As photographers, treasured memories of loved ones and events are an important part of their lives. Their first thoughts went not to their own tragedy but to the plight of those who may have lost their treasured family portraits.

Within a week of the fire a longtime friend and customer caught up with Houskeeper at the Local Assistance Center set up at the Community Center. She was very distraught over a picture that had been lost: a photo of herself and her brother as small children. The photo had been taken by Ahrend’s father, Floyd, in the 1960s.

When Houskeeper stated that Ahrend Studios still had the negatives and could reprint the portrait, the woman broke into tears of joy.

As local business owners, Ahrend and Houskeeper wish to do what they can to help others who have been affected by the fire. They are offering two things that may ease the pain of the recent tragedy.

First, they are giving a Free Portrait Package, which includes an indoor sitting and two portrait units (see their ad on page A-7). They hope that this will help to create new family memories.

Secondly, they will be opening their negative archives on January 11-12 and 25-26 for all Fallbrook residents to look up their family’s negatives. Any negatives 10 or more years old can be had to keep and put away for safekeeping.

There will be no charge for those who lost their homes, and if they wish for them to be reprinted at a professional printing lab, they will do it at cost.

All other residents may purchase file bags for $20 each and reprints can be made at 50 percent off the current prices.

For more information, contact Ahrend Studios at (760) 728-7613 or visit their store at 211 East Alvarado Street between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.