John and Saundra Howard, inspired by their studies at the University of North Florida and their desire to work together, envisioned the melding of graphic, photographic and fine art services into a single hybrid visual arts company; in fact the name FotoTechnika (fō-tō-tĕk-nih-kŭh) was a contrived company name created for a college graphic arts course. FotoTechnika was incorporated in 1981 but rem
ained a part-time venutre until 1987 when the lab was established as a full-service operation at its original location on Lomax Street. FotoTechnika’s early history was serving metropolitan Jacksonville, but within a few years we had customers from all over the country. In March 2012, we celebrated 25 years of full-time service to the fine art, graphic art and photographic communities from the Riverside location. Throughout the late 1980s and the 1990s we were a full service photo lab, but by the turn of the century FotoTechnika had become part photo lab and part digital printmaker. More recently we have added digital press capabilities to our menu of services. As you browse this site, you’ll see that FotoTechnika is very much the hybrid company first envisioned. We do a little bit of everything, and everything we do, we strive to do well; offering many specialty services that are rarely found under one roof. As technology has changed, so has the knowledge and experience of our personnel – we have reinvented ourselves numerous times and that process continues to this day. To accomplish an upgrade and expansion of services, the operation relocated to the more customer-friendly location on Beach Boulevard in the summer of 2013. We still serve several niche markets that have regional and even national appeal, but our training and technology aren’t the full story. We employ a “unique boutique” approach: Southern hospitality coupled with professionalism and craftsmanship. Our goal: to provide our customers with a product they’ll love and an experience they’ll want to repeat — and have them share us with their friends. In October of 2020 FotoTechnika, in order to facilitate further expansion, FotoTechnika moved to 2025 Blanding Blvd, to share space with Barnett's Art & Frame Gallery.
