Swedish immigrant, Herman Larson, one of Minneapolis’ finest photographers, came to the United states via Canada in the early 1900’s. He had received the degree of master photographer in Sweden and was knighted by the King of Sweden for his work there in the late 1800’s. He established H. Larson Photography in 1904 near 7-Corners in downtown Minneapolis. His main source of photography was large groups from the Lutheran Theological Schools in and around the Twin Cities, large panoramic Church congregations and confirmation classes from the Lutheran churches in the area, high school student body groups from the Minneapolis schools, and the normal studio portraits of families, events, and other photographic needs of the people here in the cities. The studio still has in it’s possession the original panorama circuit camera Master photographer, Herman, used for the long narrow pictures you see in many of the churches and history walls in the schools.

In the 1940’s, as the demand for his services grew, Herman took William Johnson, an apprentice photographer, under his wing to assist in the photography. B&W photography was the popular style with color tinting, oils, colored chalk and sepia as choices to add color to the portraits. In the late 40's the studio moved to 27th and Lake across from the old Sweden House. Bill Johnson flourished under Herman’s tutledge, and in the early 50’s on the semi retirement of Herman Larson, Bill became the owner of the Studio.

Robert Olson, who had come over from a studio in Wisc.,joined H. Larson Studio in 1959. The studio grew to a point that a full printing lab both B&W and Color was created to process the large amount of photography work they produced. Color pictures were now in vogue as the new product of the photo business. Larson Studio became a popular name in the Mpls. area high school scene for Senior Portraits, sports pictures, special dances, like proms and sweetheart dances. Many of the neighborhood walls and high school yearbooks were adorned with photos from H. Larson Studio.

In 1972, Dave Santos, a South Minneapolis neighborhood kid, became an apprentice for Bill and Bob. Dave's father was a photographer and Dave’s interest in cameras and working with people began early on. He fit in very well with the profession he was to take on.

Bob and Dave remained partners until Bob retired in 1991. David's son Nathan, joined the studio in 2000 and is learning the art from his father, to continue the long tradition of fine photography!

The Studio has remained in the business of photographing families, weddings, high school grad portraits, children’s portraiture and fine art watercolor portraits. We still do large group photography, high school dances, sports pictures, pet portraits, business and executive portraits, official military portraits, and commercial photography. In our attempt to stay on the cutting edge of our profession, the electronic age of digital photography is becoming the next big step, taking over for film.