White building to serve as photography studio
by ELIZABETH TAUFA Reporter

Dan Chase, left, and his partner Ron Dotzler will set up a photography studio in the white building on the Williamsville Mill property through the end of September.

For the remainder of the summer, the white building on the Williamsville Mill property will be inhabited by a familiar face to the Village.

Photographer Dan Chase will be renting a room in the building to use as a photography studio until the end of September.

"I specialize in high school graduation photos and family portraits," said Chase, who will be sharing the space with his associate, Ron Dotzler

Chase is in the area seasonally, splitting his time between Williamsville, where he still owns a house, and Florida.

"Photography is a very seasonal business," he said, noting that the family and high school portrait businesses are at opposite times in Florida and Western New York.

While working on the mill property, Chase hopes to set an example for the village for the mill's further development.

"The white building lends itself to an artisan center," he said. "The red building is in pretty bad shape, but the mill lends itself to other uses."

Chase noted that he chose the mill property for his summer studio because he liked the historical aspect of the buildings, but that he also hopes his presence in the building will ensure the preservation of the buildings.

"I feel if it's utilized, then it will be easier to keep it," he said.

In addition to paying his rent to the village and utilities, Chase will be taking photos of various summer events in the village for a collage to be displayed in Village Hall.

Those events will include the weekly farmer's market, Old Home Days, Taste of Williamsville and the parades.

He noted that this will be a community service he will provide to the village.

He will also be taking photographs of the mill buildings themselves for historical purposes as well as documentation for various grants for which the village may apply.

Chase previously had a contract with Williamsville South High School to do senior portraits and still maintains clients from that time.

While a Web site is in the works for the business, Chase and Dotzler put all proofs on a compact disc for clients to study and choose which shots they want. The client then returns the CD with the order.

Chase's contract with the village is scheduled to last only three months, but Chase hopes the effects of the lease will be far-reaching.

"My being there will perhaps show people what can be done," he said. "I don't have any long-range plan or agreement (to be in the white building). This is just a three-month trial."

e-mail: etaufa@beenews.com