About us

A few lines about the Store and Staff...

Lake Shore Camera Exchange, Inc. was born August 1st, 1984 with a mission to be"...Focused on YOUR photo needs." Customer service is the owner (Gregg Hickman) and staff's goal and maybe why after twenty plus years, we are still your one-stop photo and digital imaging source.

Gregg has been deeply involved in photography since he got the "bug" in 1963, from traditional training to free-lance for twenty years before opening Lake Shore Camera Exchange in 1984.

Dawn Hickman is the balancing personality and always makes everyone feel at home when they come into our little shop. Gone are the days of intimidating "Photo Geeks" pouncing on you to make you feel forced into something you do not understand. Dawn has taught us all how to be be a customer needs advocate instead of sales help or "photo geeks." Without a doubt she is the most successful customer advocate and photo sales associate in the Tampa Bay area. She has attained many awards for her creative portrait photography over a twenty five year career as a portrait photographer and she heads up the Studio division at LAKE SHORE CAMERA EXCHANGE. Her personal style of making you feel at home adds the perfect blend to the sales staff. Please visit our "Studio" web page to learn more.

Thomas Bailey A graduate of Lincoln College and The Winona School of Professional Photography, he also attended McKendree College. After his formal education Tom has attended over one hundred continuing education programs and seminars in all phases of traditional and digital photography. Just to make things interesting he also has a Certificate of Completion from PTEC in Breads and Pastries.

While still in school he worked as a newspaper and wedding photographer. After college he purchased a photography studio in Monmouth, Illinois. During this time he was asked to become the first photography instructor at Carl Sandberg Community College.

In the mid 1970’s He purchased Cameras, Film, Etc. in St. Petersburg, Florida, a camera store and photo-processing firm. When the opportunity to retire was presented in 2003, Tom decided to do just that, retire. Retirement did not last very long; he became the assistant manager of the Ponderosa Family Steakhouse in Bradenton. After several months he once again tried retirement only to become the camera store manager of a camera store in Bradenton. When Lake Shore Camera Exchange knocked on Tom’s door in the fall of 2005 he left the position in Bradenton and joined us at Lake Shore.

Active in the community and business organizations Tom is a three time Past President of the Florida Photo Marketing Association, has served two terms as a Territorial Vice President of the Photo Marking Association International. An active Rotarian for over 30 years, and a Paul Harris Fellow, he is a Past President of the Rotary Club of St. Petersburg West. He has industry certifications as a Certified Photographic Consultant, Certified Retail Photo Processor, and is a Member of the Society of Photofinishing Engineers. He is often asked to provided information and insight to major publications and TV stations, the Photo Marketing Association International referred many reporters to him on the subject of the Advanced Photo System.

There is never a need to feel uncomfortable about visiting your neighborhood camera store where we are "...focused on YOUR needs."