Leigh Visual Imaging offers the full spectrum of Photography + Sign and Graphic Design & Production
Leigh Visual Imaging Solutions is essentially two companies in one. There is the Photo and Imaging side that does everything from corporate photography, product shots, aerial photography, and architecture as well as photo retouching and fine art printing. The Signs and Graphics side can design and produce a sign on any material under the sun as well as brochure and publication creations. Every type of business and personal visual communication can be done at this one location.
Interview Q&A
How long have you been in business?
Leigh Photo & Imaging has been offering the highest quality photography services in Central New Jersey since 1945.
What is your primary product or service?
In 1945, Francis Leigh founded Leigh Photographic, and since then Leigh has gone through many stages of growth. Leigh now offers many other services besides photography, but we don't forget where we came from! We are proud to announce our 2nd anniversary of Leigh Signs. From building graphics to POP Displays and everything in between, Leigh Signs will help you craft a solution to fit your sign and graphic needs.
How did you first become interested in your line of business? (if owner) - What is your background? (If owner or store manager)
When Francis Leigh founded Leigh Photographs in 1945, 35 mm film had only been around for 10 years, and you only had two choices, Black & White or Black & White. Francis Leigh took a liking to photography at an early age. As a high school sophomore, the young Mr. Leigh was already setting up a darkroom in the basement of the family home in Hamilton Township. His first commercial clients were local drug stores for whom he processed film.
After graduation from Hamilton High School, Mr. Leigh held a few odd jobs before entering the Navy during W.W.II. After serving in South America patrolling for submarines from a dirigible, he attended the Navy Photo School in Pensacola Florida. Upon his discharge, Mr. Leigh opened his first commercial space (outside the family homestead) on East State Street in Trenton in 1945, where he specialized in commercial, industrial and aerial photography.
Using a 4x5 Speed Graphic camera, he shot assignments for such clients as The Saturday Evening Post, AT&T, Lenox China, Time Magazine and the list goes on. Finding that he required larger accommodations than were afforded by his address on East State Street, Mr. Leigh moved the business to Olden Avenue in 1955. Leigh Photographs went through a growth phase, investing in new medium format equipment, to supplement the 4x5 cameras that were currently in use. (It was about this time, early 1960's, that NASA was in the fledgling stages of developing digital imaging technology.) After spending ten years at Olden Avenue it was time for another move; this time to Parkway Avenue in 1965. Leigh Photographs was by now operating a full service lab, offering film processing as well as color and black and white printing. Our first E-6 film processor was installed at this location. Then, as now, the E-6 was the gold standard for slide film processing. (Texas Instruments patented the first 'filmless camera' in 1972.) 1980 brought with it yet another move, this time to our current location here in Princeton Junction. One year later, Sony released an electronic still camera based on its video technology. While keeping an eye on industry trends, Mr. Leigh, along with his director of operations at the time Peter Dawson, made the commitment to digital imaging; purchasing a whopping 4 megapixel digital camera and computer as well as the software to run it.
How do you differentiate yourself from other businesses in your category and area?
It's not our products,
It's not our services,
It's our process!
Simply put, we work closely with our clients to come up with a solution together and dovetail it to budget.
How many locations do you have and do you have plans to expand?
We have only one location, in Princeton Junction. Our offices are conveniently located near major transportation routes, and feature over 2,000 square feet of studio space with overhead door access.
Provide detailed directions to your location
We have a PDF on our website with a full description of directions from all points.
http://www.leighimaging.com/contact.php
What type of payments do you accept?
Cash, all major credit cards & checks
Which areas do you service?
The Princeton area, Central New Jersey and beyond.
We have hand delivered as far away as New York and Philadelphia, but have shipped all around the world.
Who owns your company or runs daily operations?
Peter Dawson, Owner.
Miles Truesdell III, Operations Manager.
(and Francis Leigh is still in attendance daily!)
What are your hours of operation?
Monday thru Friday from 8:30am - 5:00pm