Arnold Baron, a name that is inextricably linked to photography in Assen, died unexpectedly last Saturday at the age of 77. With his business Foto Baron, he was part of daily life in the city for decades, where generations of Assen residents had their passport photos, wedding reports and family portraits taken.
Together with his wife Marja, Arnold Baron ran a family business that for 40 years moved with technical changes, economic peaks and valleys, and an increasingly digital world. The craftsmanship and personal attention kept the business standing proud every time.
Baron started his career in 1974 at a photo shop in Oosterwolde, while he was training to become a reportage photographer. He grew into a studio photographer and made all kinds of things, such as family portraits and wedding reports.
In 1984, Baron and his wife took the step to start their own business. They started modestly, at the time at the large parking lot where Ceresplein is now located. Baron introduced a concept that hardly existed in the Netherlands: the one-hour photo service. In other words: hand in the roll and an hour later the prints were ready. That approach was an immediate success.
The business expanded steadily with a studio, its own frame shop and a wide range of cameras and photo products. Due to the redevelopment of the area, Foto Baron had to look for a new location. It was found on Groningerstraat, right next to the city hall. It turned out to be a perfect location for the many passport photos that the people of Assen quickly had taken.
The rise of digital photography presented a new challenge, but Foto Baron managed to remain relevant. Print photos, enlarge them, organize them into albums, or bring them to life on canvas; that quality remained indispensable. To remain competitive, Foto Baron joined the Foto Group in 2019, a network of young entrepreneurs with branches throughout the Netherlands.
Son Dave grew up in the business for decades and became co-owner. The Baron couple took a step back last year at the 40th anniversary and officially handed over the store to him. Arnold Baron found a new way to spend his time in music, among other things. He presented his own program at Omroep Assen on Monday evenings Arnold’s Blues and more.
Arnold Baron leaves a rich and recognizable trail in Assen through the thousands of photos he took. His family continues the company with the same values that he found important and his craftsmanship continues to live on in the city.
On Friday from 7:15 PM to 8:15 PM there will be an opportunity to pay your last respects to Arnold Baron at the De Boskamp funeral home in Assen. The funeral will take place privately.