PhotoTek of Lake Charles

09/04/2026

Your family’s memories are more than photos, film, and old boxes tucked away in storage — they’re pieces of your story. ❤️

Preserving them doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Start small, identify the memories that matter most, and take steps to protect them before time takes its toll.

From old photographs and slides to home movies and family documents, a little preservation today can keep those stories alive for generations to come.

📸 Not sure where to begin? Bring your family archives to us and let’s start preserving them together. https://phototeklc.com/services/scanning-services

09/02/2026

The Majestic Hotel was one of the most iconic landmarks in downtown Lake Charles. Opening its doors in 1906 at the corner of Pujo and Bilbo Streets, it served as the center of social, political, and cultural life in Southwest Louisiana for nearly six decades.

During the devastating Great Lake Charles Fire of 1910, which destroyed much of the downtown area, the hotel survived because it was equipped with its own independent water system and private fire pumps. Its water supply was also used to save several surrounding structures.

It hosted numerous national figures, celebrities, and world leaders, including President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mrs. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy, illusionist Harry Houdini, and members of the Barrymore acting family.

In 1965, the grand structure was demolished to make way for a downtown parking lot.

09/02/2026

September is Save Your Photos Month! 📸

The photos tucked inside albums, boxes, and drawers aren’t just pictures—they’re pieces of your family’s history.

Taking the time to organize, protect, and digitize your photos can help preserve those memories for generations to come. From childhood snapshots to photos of loved ones you never want to forget, every image has a story worth saving. ❤️

https://phototeklc.com/services/scanning-services

08/31/2026

There is still time to register!

Take Great Pictures with Your Smartphone!
Saturday, September 5th, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Do you want to take better-looking, more interesting pictures, but don’t want to do it with an expensive digital camera? If you have a smartphone, you already have a camera with plenty of capability to make beautiful photographs.
In this class, we’ll cover topics that will expand your photographic abilities and make you a whiz with your smartphone’s camera:
• Some basics on composing your picture
• Phone camera settings
• Editing your photos
• Preparing your photos for printing
• Tools and gizmos
Your instructors will be Shawn Wilson of Phototek and Ryan Courville and Dan Plummer of Gallery by the Lake.
All you’ll really need is your smartphone and perhaps its charger. The cost is $30 for the general public or $25 for Gallery by the Lake full members.
Saturday, September 5th, 2026
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Central School Arts & Humanities Center Room 225
809 Kirby Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601
Sign up at our website:

Take Great Pictures with Your Smartphone!

Saturday, September 5th, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Do you want to take better-looking, more interesting pictures, but don’t want to do it with an expensive digital camera? If you have a smartphone, you already have a camera with plenty of capability to make beautiful photographs.

In this class, we’ll cover topics that will expand your photographic abilities and make you a whiz with your smartphone’s camera:

• Some basics on composing your picture
• Phone camera settings
• Editing your photos
• Preparing your photos for printing
• Tools and gizmos

Your instructors will be Shawn Wilson of Phototek and Ryan Courville and Dan Plummer of Gallery by the Lake.

All you’ll really need is your smartphone and perhaps its charger. The cost is $30 for the general public or $25 for Gallery by the Lake full members.
Saturday, September 5th, 2026
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Central School Arts & Humanities Center Room 225
809 Kirby Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601

Sign up at our website:

https://www.gallerybythelake.org/event-info/taking-great-pictures-with-your-smartphone

08/28/2026

What happens to all those family photos sitting in boxes, albums, and drawers?

Photo scanning gives them a new life. Your original prints are carefully scanned using professional equipment and converted into high-quality digital files that you can save, back up, organize, and easily share with family.

More importantly, digitizing helps protect irreplaceable memories from fading, damage, and loss—while making it easier to preserve your family’s story for future generations.

And once they’re digital, your favorite images can become new prints and meaningful keepsakes.

Protect the originals. Preserve the memories. Share the stories. https://phototeklc.com/services/scanning-services

08/28/2026

You still have time to sign up for the class!

Take Great Pictures with Your Smartphone!

Saturday, September 5th, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Do you want to take better-looking, more interesting pictures, but don’t want to do it with an expensive digital camera? If you have a smartphone, you already have a camera with plenty of capability to make beautiful photographs.

In this class, we’ll cover topics that will expand your photographic abilities and make you a whiz with your smartphone’s camera:

• Some basics on composing your picture
• Phone camera settings
• Editing your photos
• Preparing your photos for printing
• Tools and gizmos

Your instructors will be Shawn Wilson of Phototek and Ryan Courville and Dan Plummer of Gallery by the Lake.

All you’ll really need is your smartphone and perhaps its charger. The cost is $30 for the general public or $25 for Gallery by the Lake full members.
Saturday, September 5th, 2026
9:30 am – 12:30 pm
Central School Arts & Humanities Center Room 225
809 Kirby Street
Lake Charles, LA 70601

Sign up at our website:

https://www.gallerybythelake.org/event-info/taking-great-pictures-with-your-smartphone

08/26/2026

It National Dog Day!

08/26/2026

Yesterday was a sad day for the music world as Dolly Parton passed away. She got her start at 13 years old in Lake Charles.

08/25/2026

Go BIG with the photos on your phone! 📱🖼️ That incredible vacation view, family photo, or picture you can’t stop looking at doesn’t have to stay small. Turn your favorite phone photos into beautiful large prints and give those memories the space they deserve. Big memories deserve big prints. https://phototeklc.com/onlineprint