McDonald Studio moves closer to retirement after capturing smiles for over 150 years

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Over 150 years McDonald Studio has called South Bend home. But now the owners, David and Ann Patnaude are moving one step closer to retirement, as they close their building on Lincolnway in South Bend.

Ann Patnaude, one of the McDonald Studio Owners, says, "We tried to find someone to buy the studio, but current young photographers don't want a brick-and-mortar building; they want to operate off their cell phones and in their house. And so, it's, it's not even it's a sellable business because of the name, but nobody wants to do that. They just want to make their own names, and yeah. So that's where we're at now." 

This studio has been a part of the Bend since the 1800's, but the name on their sign has been posted in a few different places around the city. Their first home, the top floor of the State Theater. Then they moved to 116 W. Colfax, but David Patnaude says that's now where a parking lot sits. They also were where Fatbird is now, but one many locals may remember is 326 Lincolnway. 

David Patnaude, McDonald Studio Owner says, "It was originally a filling station, a gas station back in the day, and then it was a Speedy Chick, a chicken restaurant, and so we kind of remade it into a photography studio, and then 30 years later." 

The family tells ABC57's Sidney Moore that their reason for retiring is to be able to care for their granddaughter that they adopted, saying they look forward to being able to spend more time with her.