Vahrenkamp takes “Best of Show” at the 2015 AAPI Photo Contest…

Bill Vahrenkamp with Imaging Spectrum in Plano, Texas earned the Best of Show for the 2015 AAPI Photo Contest held in January during the 2015 AAPI Convention and Trade Show. His photo, which won first place in Most Creative Portrait-Not Digitally Enhanced category, took the top honor from out of all 30 categories. Vahrenkamp also had a total of six first place photos including one Technical Excellence. Todd Corneil, the Photo Contest Chair, presented Vahrenkamp’s with the award during the backless ball ceremonies at the Orleans Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. There were over 346 photo entries in the competition.  To see all the first place winners, go to https://oldtimephotos.org/2015-photo-contest-winners/

The winners for all categories are as follows:

Best Portrait of a Man –
First – Bill Vahrenkamp with Imaging Spectrum, Plano, TX
Second (tie) – Karla Barnett with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO
Second (tie) – Jennifer Ricci with Old Time Portraits, Baileys Harbor, WI
Third – Paul Gunn with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada

Best Portrait of a Woman –
First – KJ Dong Jia with Allways Antique Photo, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Second (tie) – Angela Isaac with Instant Ancestors, Inc., Kissimmee, FL.
Second (tie) – Chelsea Bates with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO
Third – Alex MacPherson with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada

Best Portrait of a Baby (age up to 2 years) –
First – Karla Barnett with Busters Old Time Photos, Galveston, TX
Second – Paul Gunn with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada
Third – Melissa Schoonfield with Yesteryear’s Photographic Emporium, Rehoboth Beach, DE

Best Portrait of a Child (age 2 to 12 years) –
First – The Staff of Judge Roy Bean’s Old Time Photos, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Second – Natasha Dragomirova with Flashback Photos, Ocean City, MD
Second – Rachael Zuleger & Carissa Bouie with Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN
Third (tie) – Ashleigh Davis with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO
Third (tie) – Alexis Pierce with Old Time Photos Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN

Best Portrait of Children –
First – Jessica MacNeill with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada
Second – Faye Boughton with Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN
Third – Nikki Hodge with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO

Best Portrait of Two Persons –
First – Jessica MacNeill with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada
Second – Jay McLure with Flashback Photos, Virginia Beach, VA
Third – Liza Xenzova with The Antique Photo Parlour, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Best Group Portrait— 4 to 9 people –
First – Nikki Alexander with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO
Second – Alex MacPherson with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada
Third – Richard Millener with Millener Productions, Big Bear Lake, CA

Best Group Portrait—10 or more people –
First – KJ. Dong Jia with Allways Antique Photo, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Second (tie) – Ella-Jo & Todd Corneil with Todd’s Old Time Photo, Medora, ND
Second (tie) – Elizabeth Lexchel with Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN
Third – The Staff of Judge Roy Bean’s Old Time Photos, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Most Humorous Portrait –
First – Ashleigh Davis with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO
Second – Elizabeth Lexchel with Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN
Third (tie) – Jessica MacNeill with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada
Third (tie) – Daria Ochulina with Yesteryear’s Photographic Emporium, Rehoboth Beach, DE

Best Victorian Themed Portrait (2 or more people) –
First – Kayla VanBrabant with The Antique Photo Parlour, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Second – Ella-Jo & Todd Corneil with Todd’s Old Time Photo, Medora, ND
Third – Karla Barnett with Busters Old Time Photos, Galveston, TX

Best Western Themed Portrait (2 or more people) –
First – The Staff of Judge Roy Bean’s Old Time Photos, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Second – Ella-Jo & Todd Corneil with Todd’s Old Time Photo Medora, ND
Third (tie) – Greg Stein with Flashback Photos, Virginia Beach, VA
Third (tie) – Chelsea Bates with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO

Best Civil War Themed Portrait (2 or more people)
First – Tim Burke with Old Time Photos Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
Second – The Staff with Judge Roy Bean’s Old Time Photos, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Third – Faye Boughton with Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN

Best ’20s Era Portrait (2 or more people)
First – Jessica MacNeill with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada
Second – Ella-Jo & Todd Corneil with Todd’s Old Time Photo, Medora, ND
Third – Nikki Hodge with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO

Best Wedding Portrait (An Old Time photo of 2 or more people)
First – Kayla VanBrabant with The Antique Photo Parlour, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Second – Cody Wiseman with Goodtyme Photo, Keystone, SD
Third – Angela Isaac with Instant Ancestors, Inc., Kissimmee, FL

Best Boudoir Portrait (1 woman)
First – Jessica MacNeill with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada
Second – Jennifer Lewis with Instant Ancestors, Inc., Kissimmee, FL
Third – The Staff of Judge Roy Bean’s Old Time Photos, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Best Pirate Themed Portrait
First – Alex MacPherson with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada
Second – Angela Isaac with Instant Ancestors, Inc., Kissimmee, FL
Third – Karla Barnett with Busters Old Time Photos, Galveston, TX

Best Steam Punk Themed Portrait –
First – Nathaniel Burke with Old Time Photos Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
Second – Derrick Gillikin with Instant Ancestors, Inc., Kissimmee, FL
Third – Faye Boughton with Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN

Best Portrait of Any Other Era
First – Alex MacPherson with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada
Second – Nikki Hodge with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO
Third (tie) – Martin Schmidt with Doc Wenzel’s Old Time Portraits, Monterey, CA
Third (tie) – Skip Hill with Old Time Photos Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN

Best Native American Themed Portrait
First – Angel Andringa with The Antique Photo Parlour, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Second – Erica Lannon with Flashback Photos, Virginia Beach, VA
Third – The Staff of Judge Roy Bean’s Old Time Photos, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Best Portrait of a Senior Citizen (One or more people, all must be 60 years or older)
First – Bill Vahrenkamp with Imaging Spectrum, Plano, TX
Second – Nikki Hodge with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO
Third – The Staff with Judge Roy Bean’s Old Time Photos, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Most Creative Portrait—Not Digitally Enhanced
First – Bill Vahrenkamp with Imaging Spectrum, Plano, TX
Second – Ashleigh Davis with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO
Third – Alex MacPherson with Grandpa’s Antique Photo Studio, Cavendish, PEI-Canada

Most Creative Portrait—Digitally Enhanced –
First – Elizabeth Lexchel with Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN
Second – Jason Shatzer with Flashback Photos, Ocean City, MD
Third – Nikki Hodge with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO

Best Chromakey Portrait –
First – Bill Vahrenkamp with Imaging Spectrum, Plano, TX
Second – Fionnghuala Smith with Cobh Pastimes, Cobh, County Cork, Ireland
Third – KJ. Dong Jia with Allways Antique Photo, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Best Matched Use of a Portrait and Poster Mat –
First – Ella-Jo & Todd Corneil with Todd’s Old Time Photo, Medora, ND
Second – Alyssa Raynie with Old Time Photos Parkway, Pigeon Forge, TN
Third – Faye Boughton with Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN

Digital Poster –
First – Bill Vahrenkamp with Imaging Spectrum, Plano, TX
Second – Katie Livingston with Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN
Third – Caitlin Blaedow with The Antique Photo Parlour, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Best Amusement or Entertainment Portrait –

First – Jena Kottra with Professor Bellows Photographics Bloomington, MN
Second – Nikki Alexander & Nikki Hodge with Busters Old Time Photos, Branson, MO
Third – Derrick Gillikin with Instant Ancestors, Inc., Kissimmee, FL

Best Portrait of a Pet(s) or a Pet(s) with Its Owner(s) –
First – Elizabeth Lexchel with Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN
Second – Aimee Glandt with Goodtyme Photo, Keystone, SD
Third – Kamila Bikbulatova with Yesteryear’s Photographic Emporium, Rehoboth Beach, DE

Best Self Portrait –
First – Bill Vahrenkamp with Imaging Spectrum, Plano, TX
Second – Ella-Jo & Todd Corneil with Todd’s Old Time Photo, Medora, ND
Third – Ann Haislett with Yesteryear’s Photographic Emporium, Rehoboth Beach, DE

Best Portrait of Your Staff –
First – The Staff of Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN
Second – Caitlin Blaedow with The Antique Photo Parlour, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Third (tie) – Kamila Bikbulatova with Yesteryear’s Photographic Emporium, Rehoboth Beach, DE
Third (tie) – Ella-Jo & Todd Corneil with Todd’s Old Time Photo, Medora, ND

Best Holiday Greeting Card
First – The Staff of Judge Roy Bean’s Old Time Photos, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Second – The Staff of Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN
Third – Ella-Jo & Todd Corneil with Todd’s Old Time Photo, Medora, ND

Technical Excellence –

Faye Boughton with Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN in Best Matched Use of a Portrait and Poster Mat
Bill Vahrenkamp with Imaging Spectrum, Plano, TX in Digital Poster
Ella-Jo & Todd Corneil with Todd’s Old Time Photo, Medora, ND in Best Self Portrait
The Staff of Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN in Best Portrait of Your Staff
The Staff of Professor Bellows Photographics, Bloomington, MN in Best Holiday Greeting Card

2015 AAPI Service Award

Jeff Mulvihill, the 2015 Service Award recipient with Derrick Gillikin

Jeff Mulvihill, the 2015 Service Award recipient pictured here with President Derrick Gillikin

The AAPI Service Award goes to a AAPI Member who has gone above and beyond for the Association. This year’s recipient of the AAPI Service Award went to Jeff Mulvihill, Jr. with Doc Wenzel’s Old Time Portraits in Monterey, California.

Jeff has supported the association by serving on the AAPI Board of Directors, as Treasurer for the Association, and various committees including chair of the 2014 Financial Committee. He diligently worked behind the scenes helping to put together the 2015 AAPI Convention and constantly had a eye on the AAPI financials. Congratulations Jeff! Well deserved.

The 2015 Martin & Bertha Glaser Award Winner

The Backless Ball

Todd Corneil, the 2015 Martin & Bertha Glaser Award recipient, pictured here with Jack Glaser

The 2015 Martin & Bertha Glaser Award was presented to Todd Corneil with Todd’s Old Time Portrait Studio in Medora, North Dakota. The Martin & Bertha Glaser Memorial Award, established in 1998, is the highest honor in Antique & Amusement Photographers International. It is bestowed annually to a member who has given years of dedicated service to AAPI and the Old Time Photo industry. Todd Corneil is just that person. He has been involved in AAPI since 1995 and has been an active member of the Photo Contest Committee including serving as Chair this past year. He served on AAPI’s Board of Directors from 2008 to 2010 and has been behind the scenes help with the Conventions over the years. He is a shinning example of dedication to AAPI and the industry. Congratulations Todd!

In Memoriam – W. H. “Rebel” Brooks

Rebel BrooksW.H. “Rebel” Brooks

June 17, 1926 – May 4, 2012



W.H. Brooks, better known as “Rebel,” 85 years young, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family May 4, 2012. Rebel, an AAPI charter member and Board member owned and operated Old Tyme Photos in St. Augustine, Florida for 23 years. He was inducted into the AAPI Hall of Fame in 2008.

He was born in Oklahoma in June 17, 1926. Rebel was an honorable veteran of World War II. He came to St. Augustine in 1987 and opened “Old Tyme Photo.” He retired from photography in 2008. To cherish his memories are his devoted loving life partner of 28 years, Carol Mundy; granddaughter, Shelly Stoddard, and her husband, Ben; great-grandchildren, Hannah and Joshua of Crystal, Minn.; stepson, Dwayne Mundy, and wife, Penny Nieman, of Gainesville; stepdaughter, Danita Mundy, and special friend, Kathleen Stark, of Palm Coast; step-granddaughters, Alex Looke, and husband, Dan, and Arielle Mundy of Tallahassee. Rebel was preceded in death by his children, Sherry and Dennis Brooks.

In Memoriam – Bertha Furman Glaser

7 Martin GlaserSeptember 2011

Bertha Furman Glaser







Bertha Glaser, mother of AAPI member Jack Glaser of Flashback Photos, passed away on August 13, 2011. Mrs. Glaser was preceded in death by her husband, Martin, for whom AAPI’s highest honor, the Martin Glaser Memorial Award, is named.

Mrs. Glaser was involved in the layout and design of the early Flashback Old Time Photo Studios and loved designing and buying costumes. According to her son Jack, “My mother enjoyed seeing customers having a good time while having their portrait taken.”

Mrs. Glaser rests at Forest Lawn Cemetery near Norfolk, Virginia.

In Memoriam – Anthony “Tony” Bohanan

April 2010

Anthony (Tony) Bohanan

Old Time Photographer and longtime member of AAPI Anthony Bohanan passed away March 30.

Tony, with his life partner, Julie Ann Gubisch, operated Tony’s Old Time Photo Studio in downtown Victoria, British Columbia, the studio he founded more than a quarter century ago.

Tony had many friends among AAPI members who will remember him for his fun-loving personality and for his signature clerical collar and black coat.

A native of Liverpool, England, Tony was born August 2, 1931. He led an adventurous life as a traveler to many destinations across the world. He served in the National Service Gurkah Greenhoward British Army for four years and with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police auxiliary during the 1970s. Immigrating to Canada with the dream of locating in British Columbia, Tony had a real passion for photography that led him to open Tony’s Old Time Photo Studio. For the past 25 years he has entertained thousands of visitors and tourists from across the globe.

His colleagues in the local Downtown Victoria Business Association wrote that Tony’s passing marked the “death of a downtown institution.”

“His good sense of humor and love of joke-telling will be sorely missed, not just by his friends in the downtown, but his friends all over the world. His business will still continue with his partner in life and in business at the helm.”

Services were held April 6 in Victoria, with internment at Royal Oak Burial Park. Donations in Tony’s memory may be made to British Columbia Cancer Agency.