Pat’s Camera Cottage: The man behind the counter
For those of you who don’t know, I grew up in a small town in western Pennsylvania. As I became more interested in photography, I began spending more time going to stores like Walmart, Best Buy, and Ritz Camera to check out the latest cameras and accessories. That all changed after I discovered Pat’s Camera Cottage in Volant, PA.
Tucked away from the main shopping strip, Pat’s Camera Cottage is like an oasis that sits right along the creek that runs through the quiet town. It’s a beautiful place to be, but the main story is about the man who works inside the cottage.
Pat Patterson is, without a doubt, a photography icon in western Pennsylvania. He is the “go-to” man whenever anyone has a problem with their camera or a simple question about using it. His store is rather impressive with the many vintage film cameras that he has sitting on his shelves. Don’t let that fool you though. Pat is very much in the digital age. He keeps a good stock of digital cameras in his store along with a lot of the accessories that go with them.
What always kept me going back to Pat’s was the passion that he has for photography. When you walk into his shop, you get a sense of his love for it all. You feel welcome and comfortable like you would in a good friend’s home without any pressure to make a purchase. Pat is the type of salesperson guy who wants to do as much as possible for you by taking the time to get to know you as a person and not just as a customer. He talks with you and actually listens to how you plan to use your camera and what types of photographs you want to take. Based on your needs, he does his best to match you up with the most suitable camera and not just the one with the most megapixels and heaviest price tag.
If you ever plan to pay Pat a visit, be sure to give him a call first to make sure he’s open for business. His hours and days of operation vary. And if you do go to Pat’s Camera Cottage, please do me a favor and tell him I said hello.
