Huub Spierings, 76, has had a photo shop in Bergeijk for fifty years, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for him to keep his Fotohuub shop afloat. Passport photos, rolls of film and camera equipment, he sells it all, but there is little demand for them.
Huub tries to keep his head above water while his big competitor, the mobile phone, gets better and better cameras. “The quality of phone photos is quite nice, but nothing prints anymore,” he says.
Huub’s passion for photography started early. First developing film, then developing rolls and printing. “I developed rolls of film in a soup plate, later I bought a tank, that was a bit easier.”
“I haven’t had a paycheck from this shop in 10 years.”
Huub came into the shop as a customer fifty years ago to buy photography equipment for his own hobby, but when he got the chance to take over the shop, he grabbed it with both hands. “I thought it would be fun, such a photo shop.”
Huub was able to get by just fine from the shop for years. “In the meantime, the case is no longer yielding,” he says. Every now and then he sells a photo album for the real photography enthusiasts, but barely enough to keep the shop open.
“I’d like to work for free, but I don’t want to put any money into it.”
“I haven’t had a wage from this store for 10 years,” says Huub. “but I continued because I like to do it and for the social contacts.”
With the advent of mobile phones, the demand for old-fashioned photography and photo printing is much less. That’s why he now plans to put an end to it. “I’d like to work for free, but I don’t want to put any money into it.” Instead of photography, he takes up his other hobby: painting.