“Why is it called KenMar?”
A Family Legacy of Creativity, 1954 and Counting
KenMar Photography began in the 1950s with my parents, Ken and Margaret. Ken came home from WWII and married mom. The combined their first names and hung out a shingle at 709 North Oneida Street in Appleton — the house where I grew up.
My parents converted rooms into camera spaces, turned corners into makeshift sets, and built a darkroom where magic happened one print at a time. Customers came through the same front door we used every day. The studio and the home were one and the same, and that closeness shaped everything that KenMar would eventually become.
I remember I’d visit friend’s homes and ask where their darkroom was. It seemed normal that everyone would have one!
Those early years taught me that photography is personal. It’s built on trust, warmth, and genuine connection — values my parents lived every day.
Where It All Began — 709 North Oneida
If you look at the old photos from those days — the living‑room‑turned‑studio, the early equipment, the evolving backdrops — you can see the heart of KenMar taking shape.
My parents didn’t have a big space or fancy tools. What they had was care, craftsmanship, and a belief that every person deserved a portrait that felt true.
That house on Oneida wasn’t just where I grew up. It was where I learned what it means to serve people well. It was where I learned that a studio isn’t defined by walls — it’s defined by the people who walk through the door.
Growing Into the Next Chapter
In the mid‑1980s, I took over the studio and began expanding what my parents built. What started in a small home grew into:
- a 2‑acre private outdoor photography park,
- the largest camera room in the Fox Cities,
- and a studio known for creativity, comfort, and connection.
The heart of KenMar never changed — but the tools, the spaces, and the possibilities grew with the times.
Meet Todd — Photographer, Artist, and Lifelong Appleton Original
I’ve photographed thousands of people over the years, from weddings, babies, toddlers, young families, high school seniors to professionals. My goal is always the same: to create portraits that feel alive — eyes sharp, personality shining, and the real person looking back at you.
What Makes KenMar Different
A Private 2‑Acre Outdoor Photo Park
No other studio in the Fox Valley has anything like this. Our professionally landscaped outdoor photography park includes:
- winding paths
- gardens
- natural stonework
- a flowing stream
- seasonal color
- quiet, private spaces for authentic portraits
It’s a photographer’s dream — and it’s yours exclusively when you book with KenMar.
The Largest Camera Room in the Fox Cities
Our indoor studio is spacious, flexible, and designed for creativity. Whether it’s seniors, families, headshots, or commercial work, we can shape light and space to fit your style.
Award‑Winning Excellence
KenMar has been voted Best of the Valley every year since 2007 — more wins than any other studio combined.
Awards aren’t everything, but they do say something: People trust us. People come back. People feel seen here.
Our Philosophy
Photography is personal. It’s emotional. It’s a collaboration between the photographer and the person in front of the lens.
My job is to make you comfortable, confident, and authentically yourself — whether you’re a high school senior stepping into adulthood, a family celebrating a moment in time, or a professional updating your image.
Every portrait session is a chance to create something meaningful. Something lasting. Something that feels like you.
A Note From Todd
I’ve spent my life photographing people in this community — people I’ve grown up with, people I’ve watched grow up, and people who trust me with their most important moments.
KenMar isn’t just a business. It’s a legacy. It’s a family story. It’s a creative home.
And I’m honored every time someone chooses to be part of it.
— Todd
