New owners for Henderson Photography

Since July 2006, Henderson Photography, at 115 N. Jefferson St. in Mt. Pleasant, has been under new ownership and management.

By Larry Kershner

Since July 2006, Henderson Photography, at 115 N. Jefferson St. in Mt. Pleasant, has been under new ownership and management.

Wanda and Brent Broeker purchased the studio portrait business from Kalen Henderson, a business that Kalen started in her home in 1986.

While Brent serves as a high school baseball coach and instructor for Mt. Pleasant schools, Wanda runs the photography business, along with her assistant Jenna Herman.

Kalen assisted Wanda in the day-to-day operations for the first few months, and the business hasn't skipped a beat with the change in management.

Including herself, Wanda has a crew of 12 employees. Their primary business remains studio portraits, plus posters for high school and college sports teams, and photos for brochures for Midwest Old Threshers and a few commercial businesses.

Senior portraits are the bulk of the business, drawing clients from as far north as Mason City, as well as clients from Illinois and Missouri. She said seniors show up with a variety things with which to be photographed. Besides sports equipment, they've brought chainsaws, swords, guns, racing gear, pets, and one brought a semi truck.

Holding a B.A. degree from Kirkwood College, Wanda has been doing freelance photography for the past 12 years, primarily weddings. After teaching elementary art for the past 12 years at schools in Van Buren and Jefferson counties, purchasing the store last July was a chance for her to get closer to her family.

Her shop primarily uses digital photos, something she finds easier to use than 35mm film photography. Wanda said at 12 mega pixels per frame, it is much easier to manipulate the images.

You can read the entire story in our Jan. 19 issue.