The Team
Head nerd: Howard
Director, Idiot, Camera connoisseur.
Photography and cameras have been a fixture of Howard's life since age 16, and the passion has snowballed into a full time obsession. Business has traditionally run in Howard's family - from market stalls in Dewsbury to shops in Leeds - there’s almost seventy years of experience of trading to live up to. He's carrying the baton whilst helping to keep analogue photography alive.
Howard's personal camera setup has settled on a Hasselblad, Nikon F, and a Leica M3, amongst other more basic equipment such as a clunky Zenit, and a box brownie.
When he's not dodging customers, Howard can be found trying to fix this week's broken part on his old Mercedes, attempting to pet cats, or listening to Audioslave.
You can check out Howard's terrible photos at Howard-Parker.com or Instagram.
As you may have seen...
...the shop is ceasing to be. We are becoming an ex-shop. It's just me, Howard, left to wind everything up. It's tough dealing with so many cameras, and so few brain-cells. But I'll manage it.
A team of world-class nerds.
Here are the people (and cat) that helped make West Yorkshire Cameras the best damn camera shop in town. This would have been impossible on my own. Give them a follow.
Heckin' Chonker: Phoebe
Retired camera durability tester, cat.
When she's not yelling for food, Phoebe can be found curled up somewhere working really hard to dream up ever more creative ways to knock photographic equipment off a horizontal surface.
She will not rest until every camera in the vicinity has been tested to destruction by clawing, swiping and hissing her way through a series of rigorous scientific tests.
Sadly, she no longer works for us - but she's always employee of the month in spirit.
What Phoebe is listening to:
Backroom buff: Mike
Senior camera nerd, Mechanical Watch Enthusiast, Hat Wearer.
A Leodensian through-and-through, if you need any advice on your next purchase, Mike will tell you straight. If you come into the shop, chances are you'll speak to Mike! When he's not talking someone's ear off, he can be found in the back photographing the stock for the website.
His personal equipment includes a very fancy Leica M2, a very heavily used Nikon F3, Horizon 202 and the most cursed camera you'll ever see; A Nikon with an Instax Square back jammed on it.
When he's not surrounded by boxes of stuff, Mike can be found enjoying a coffee, taking photos of dogs and skateboarding badly (his knees just aren't what they used to be). Follow @Mike_Medlock on instagram.
What Mike is listening to:
Loves old bits of wood: Adam
Senior camera nerd, Large Format guru, Patterned Shirt Enthusiast.
Adam has the keenest eye for detail and a penchant for the weird-and-wonderful items that come our way. As such, he's adept at checking, testing and messing around with old cameras.
His personal camera collection includes his "Pocket Camera" - a huge 5x7 Soho Kershaw box reflex, an MPP Micro-Press and a modified 8x10 camera with a myriad of weird and wonderful brass and exotic lenses. It's fair to say that any questions about large format will be directed his way!
When he's not busy fiddling with bits of old firewood and glass, Adam can most likely be found chasing his cats and drinking Baileys (probably in a darkroom). You can find a selection of his work on Instagram, or on his Website.
Number 36 Warrior: Dan
Stock Assessment, Vinyl Collector, Jazzy Trouser Enjoyer.
Dan will probably judge you on whether you say 'Harrogate' or 'Arigat', but that's where his bias ends. He loves cameras of all shapes and sizes, formats and types - in fact, we reckon Dan takes the same approach to using cameras as A-List celebrities do to wearing outfits - he can never be seen in public with the same one twice.
The favourites in Dan's collection are 'The Gold Kine Exacta' Fuji GF670, and Clarus MS-35.
When he's not dusting off his cameras shelves, Dan enjoys trying to start his Volvo V70, sneaking newly acquired vinyl records past his bank manager, and sipping fancy beer. See what he's up to on Instagram by following @d.w_phoart
Domesticated Scouser: Steve
Works From Home, Energy Drink Advocate, Daddy.
Despite having a Liverpudlian accent and nobody being able to understand a word he says, Steve is pretty good at all things camera. Whether it's checking, testing, fixing, cleaning or occasionally using some of the interesting stuff we get through the door, Steve has a keen eye for making sure everything is working smoothly and properly.
He usually works from home, answering emails and arranging collections and doing repairs - but he's also a veteran at working in retail and can happily sort out any questions, qualms or queries you might have.
We have to constantly veto Steve from personally buying half the stock that comes in, despite him claiming that he's definitely got the perfect setup and has absolutely no need for any more camera gear (apart from that. And that. And that...)
Find Steve's Instagram at @Steve.Boylin.
Slay Queen: Emmie
Head of Dispatch, Football Hooligan, Talks in all caps.
Need a lens by yesterday? Emmie can sort it out. Her arms become a blur of tape and bubble wrap when she's at work, a symphony of labels printing and scissors cutting.
We rescued Emmie from Jessops, where she had experience with processing film and scanning negatives. After enduring several lifetime's worth of hardcore train photos, for her own sanity Emmie left and joined our team.
Emmie's current collection includes a beaten up Leica M2, a Bronica SQ-B (which she has a love/hate relationship with) and her prized Nikon F3 with a variety of spicy lenses.
It's true - Emmie.Takes.Photos on Instagram.
What Emmie is listening to:
The only way is: Mabel
Social Media Guru, Office Yapper, Just A Girl.
Mabel escaped her native Essex and completed a photography degree in Leeds. She liked it here so much, she never left. A clear dedication to photography (and Yorkshire) is not the only impressive quality Mabel brings to the team - she is also a very strong competitor for being having best music taste in the shop.
Mabel currently favours her Nikon FM - but is always tempted by any funky point and shoot that enters the shop.
When she's not taking photos of her bald cat Roger (who has his own Instagram) - Mabel can be found hiking out to nice locations and posting them on her own @mabel.photos
What Mabel is listening to:
Caffé Hero: Louisa
Part-time Parcel-Packer & Sales Assistant, cosy jumper enjoyer.
Louisa chooses to spend her Saturdays by coming to work at the shop and packing parcels, and serving customers. Questionable decision? Perhaps. Is she the best at drawing cat faces? Perhaps. Will she take better photos than us without even trying? Certainly.
During the rest of the week, Louisa can be found hanging out with her doggos and taking pictures of them on her Olympus OM-10.
Fun fact - we've agreed that Louisa has the best taste in music of us all.
What Louisa is listening to: