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Photographer found for wedding reunion
By PHINDILE XABA
© St. Petersburg Times, ST. PETERSBURG -- As a young photographer, 84-year-old Jack Swenningsen had taken wedding pictures of newlyweds named Gleason. He was stunned recently when the phone rang and it was the couple, now married nearly half a century. "A few months ago I was transferring our wedding pictures from an old disintegrating album to a new album when I noticed the stamp with Jack's name and address," said Marjorie Gleason, who is 75. "I looked his name up the phone book and I called to arrange for a reunion. He and his wife were very receptive." So the Gleasons -- Marjorie and 74-year-old George -- became reacquainted with their wedding photographer. He hadn't yet opened a studio when he took their wedding pictures on Aug. 25, 1953. "He used his home stamp on the back of each picture he took as a form of advertising," Mrs. Gleason said. He prides himself in having done a good job with the Gleasons' wedding album and credits his wife, 82-year-old Amelia, for the chance. "If it wasn't for my wife I don't think I could have met the Gleasons. She is the one who got this job for me. She used to work with Marjorie at the City Hall back in the '50s and had heard that she was looking for a photographer for their wedding when she recommended me," he said. The Swenningsens, who have been married for 60 years, were easy for the Gleasons to find -- they have lived in the same house for 51 years, 3831 49th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. The meeting was also simple because the Gleasons -- who had lived in Atlanta for 46 years -- moved back to the area, the Mainlands in Pinellas Park, a few years ago. Mr. Swenningsen said wedding pictures are a great responsibility. "You have to be diplomatic with the family. Know family members, and look professional. That was a fun job." He said this is the first time a satisfied customer called after so many years. "I was thunderstruck when the Gleasons called. I had learned that satisfied customers don't call, I only got called when there was a problem with some photographs. I didn't anticipate such a surprise. This left me feeling fulfilled and content that the black-and-white prints I produced then were good quality because they were still intact after so long," he said. As a young photographer, the multi-award winning Swenningsen sold his services to the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, newspaper travel sections and magazines. And he worked for a start-up tourist magazine called Florida Speaks. He doubled as a photographer for the Griffith Advertising Agency, which used to market Florida tourism news to communities abroad. He grew up in New York and discovered that he was a man of many talents after earning a degree in advertising art before moving to Florida. He was known for his commercial artwork and then took on photography as an interest. Although he is retired from actively taking pictures, he still gets together with his professional photography friends every Thursday. "We meet on 66th Street North at the Luby's restaurant. We show each other old-time pictures and slides and talk photography," says Mr. Swenningsen. Mr. Swenningsen, whose living and dinning room walls are adorned with his work, has taken on a new interest: music. He plays an accordion. "I love bringing joy to people's lives. I have performed at a number of retirement homes." He just had a gig at the Gulfport Senior Center last Friday at lunch. He proudly pulls out a picture he made of his band.
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From the Times South Pinellas desks |
