A Brief History of KenMar Studio

“Why is my studio named KenMar?” I hear that question often, and the answer is simple: it’s my parents — Kenneth and Margaret. They started KenMar around 1954, the year I was born. I grew up with a camera room in the house and a darkroom in the basement. For a long time, I thought every kid lived that way.

I didn’t plan on becoming a photographer. The profession chose me. Part of my last name, Kunst, means “artist,” so maybe it was inevitable. But the real turning point came when my dad and his assistant were in a car accident. They needed help. I needed a job. That was 1984. I stepped in temporarily… and never stepped out.

KenMar 2.0 — Building the Dream

Within five years, my wife Debbie and I had quadrupled the business and bought the studio from my parents. By 2002, we went from working in my parents’ living room to one of the largest portrait studios in the state, complete with several acres of wooded land and a bubbling stream. We built our dream studio — literally.

During those years, I learned a lot from my dad. Mostly by trying all the things he told me would never work. He was usually right. I made a lot of mistakes. I admire him deeply. In many ways, I’m still working for him. His name is still on the building, and I still want to make him proud.

A Blessing and a Curse

Somewhere along the way, my eyes learned to see everything as a two‑dimensional image. I can’t turn it off. If someone is standing in front of a tree, my brain tells me the tree is growing out of their head. It’s a blessing and a curse — but mostly a blessing, because it means I get to do what I love every day.

I Don’t Have to Work This Much — I Get To

I’m still at the studio 10–14 hours a day. Not because I have to. Because I get to. The studio is my playground. I build, paint, landscape, design, market, tweak the website, play in the stream, trim the trees, plant the flowers… my hands are in everything. My imagination is in everything.

KenMar 3.0 — A Family Legacy

Debbie handles most of the sales, production, accounting, and clerical work. Our daughter Sarah orchestrates the chaos into harmony. This is our family’s life’s work — three generations deep.

We specialize in high school seniors and families, with 99.9% of our photography created right here on our property. Many of our marketing successes and awards came from friendships formed through WPPA. I’ve earned more awards for high school portfolios than all area photographers combined — including 19 years in a row of top honors.

A Lifetime in the Craft

Since 1985, I’ve been a member of PPA, WPPA, and FVPPA, serving twice as President of FVPPA and now as historian and archivist for WPPA. I earned my Certification in 1990, my Master’s a few years later, and even received a national ANNE award for marketing. Awards are nice, but the real thrill is seeing what I create every day.

Artist at Heart

I’m still that college kid who got interrupted between semesters. Still curious. Still learning. Still playing guitar in my head. Still keeping up with new music and culture. Working with high school seniors keeps me current — tragically hip for someone in their mid‑60s.

I’ll see you at KenMar Studio, where I’ll be teaching posing and lighting, sharing what I’ve learned, and creating portraits that feel honest, timeless, and unmistakably you.