James William Shipler (1849 - 1937), aka "J.W." closed his photography studio in McKeesport, Pennsylvania in 1887, before moving west and opening studios in Denver, Colorado and Great Falls, Montana.

In 1890, he opened Shipler Commercial Photographers in Salt Lake City, Utah. Being one of the first non-Mormon photographers in Utah, J.W. quickly developed relations with both Gentile and Mormon customers, and photographed much of the development of Salt Lake City between 1890 and 1910.

Harry Shipler (1878 - 1961) J.W.'s son, arrived in Salt Lake in the late 1890's and worked out of his own studio before merging with J.W. in 1909.

In 1914 Harry assumed control of the business when J.W. retired to pursue fly fishing full time.  Harry continued photographing the architectural and cultural growth in Salt Lake City, and general areas throughout the Western States until the late 1930's. 

Harry's motto: "I'll go anywhere to photograph anything."

George William Shipler (1906 - 1956) Harry's son, aka "Bill" opened Bill Shipler Photo in the early 1930's, expanding the business to include retail sales of film and photographic equipment, also developing government and industrial commercial photography contracts throughout Utah.

George's interest in innovation led him to set up a sidewalk stand in the late 1930's, where he took pictures of people and provided them with prints within three minutes.

William Hollis Shipler (1929 - 2010) George's son, aka "Bill" developed an early interest in photography and film processing, started working at the store at 14, and quickly became involved in all aspects of the business. 

Bill inherited the business when George suddenly died in 1956, and continued developing the retail sales, film-processing, and printing until the store closed in 1988.