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Vannucci Foto & Video has adapted to 75 years of change, but one thing remains at its core: family.
The shop, at 8 W. Fourth St, in Downtown Williamsport, is owned and operated by Ryan and Beth Rafferty.
The business specializes in museum quality printing, photo restorations and manipulation, photo enhancements, and slide and negative transfers, video transfers, video editing, and video content creation.
"Additionally, we specialize in custom framing and matting," Ryan Rafferty said. "We have been at the cutting edge of photography, videography and audio services for over 75 years, which allows us to offer specialized services for all the technologies that have been available for close to eight decades."
The Rafferty's took over the business in 2000 and have proudly carried the tradition that the Vannucci family started.
"My family was approached about buying the business for two main reasons," Ryan Rafferty said. "There was a desire of the founder to keep the shop a family-run business. The second was the knowledge and experience of my father, Mike Rafferty, and the lab experience of my brother and brother-in-law Brennan Rafferty and Joe Nevill. For our family, it was an honor to take over a business with such a fine reputation and a chance to work together."
Each member of the Rafferty family involved in the business has brought their own unique talents and skills to the business over the years.
"My father started as a photojournalist for local papers," Rafferty said.
Ryan Rafferty's brother and brother-in-law ran and worked at corporate photo labs.
"As for my wife and I, we both joined the business as the digital revolution took over in the early 2000s. We have been training in all the latest cameras, software, and printers since they began to emerge on the market," Rafferty said.
Since the Vannucci's began the business in 1947, a lot has changed in the technology used. The Rafferty's have worked diligently to remain aware and involved in the newest products to offer their customers.
"Our business changes as quickly as technology changes," Rafferty said. "We are constantly learning and updating in order to keep up with a business landscape that changes by the day."
Most recently, Vannucci Foto & Video transferred 8mm film reels from the 1920s into high definition 4k digital files for a professional presentation.
"The different tools and technologies for this one job spanned close to a century," Rafferty said.
Although the Rafferty's have owned the business for decades now, they still enjoy a relationship with the Vannucci's.
Within days of taking over the shop, Putsee Vannucci, the founder, and his wife became regulars at the store.
"Putsee's presence and knowledge were invaluable when it came to the quality of our products and traditional customer service," Rafferty said. "The Vannucci family are valued friends to this day. They attended our Grand Opening when we moved downtown and still stop in for work and visits regularly."
For the Rafferty's, running the business has been an ongoing source of pride and lifelong memories.
"Every day is literally working in a highlight reel," Raffery said. "We are lucky enough to see Christmas, birthdays, and special occasions every day in pictures and film. For us fixing a damaged family heirloom, printing a set of baby pictures, or transferring home movies to a format that allows a family to view it for the first time is an honor to be part of and a highlight every time."
Moving forward, the hopes for the future are simple. "We strive to be as synonymous with quality as possible," Rafferty said. "We hope to be the place that our community continues to trust with the care and preservation of their memories. We simply want to keep carrying on the fine reputation that we have been honored with."