Dale Sparks moves photo, framing shop to Chestnut Ridge Center
When Dale Sparks had the opportunity to photograph all of the sports teams at West Virginia University, it was a no-brainer.
Just like it was a no-brainer for the Beckley native to move to Morgantown in 1984.
And when he left the world of newspaper photography in 2001, it again was a no-brainer for Sparks to open his own business — as a side from his work as a WVU sports photographer — where he does studio photography, graphic arts, custom framing and sells WVU sports memorabilia.
“The frame shop was always at the back of my mind,” Sparks said during a recent Monday morning interview at his store and studio, All-Pro Framing & Photography in Chestnut Ridge Center. He had just returned from Dallas, where he covered the WVU football team’s upset victory over TCU.
Throughout All-Pro, it’s readily apparent it’s a busy place. One customer was changing out a picture of Dana Holgorsen for WVU alum and current NFL player David Sills, while a friend of Sparks stopped in to say hello and talk about the TCU game.
“I understand sports,” Sparks said.
Sparks, WVU sports and photography were destined for each other when his father, who owned a television store in Beckley, gave him his first camera. Sparks was 10 and the camera was a Kodak Hawkeye Instamatic.
Through working on the junior high school newspaper and yearbook staff, Sparks honed his photography skills and his interest in the profession.
While attending Glenville State University — he earned a non-teaching English degree — a friend helped him purchase a Vivitar camera. He also learned how to process film and make prints. And perhaps more importantly, he realized he could make a living from photography.
From there, Sparks got a part-time job as a photographer at the Beckley newspaper to help pay for school. He eventually went full time as a photographer/reporter, and won a number of awards for his work. He was never tempted to join his father in the family business.
Sparks was recruited to Morgantown and The Dominion Post in 1984 and jumped at the chance to photograph the WVU football team, as well as the other sports.
“They (the paper) had someone leaving,” he said. “And there was a lot of sports in Morgantown.”
“When Jeff Hostetler and the Mountaineers went to Oklahoma and beat them on their home field (in 1982), that set the state on fire for Mountaineer football.”
But when WVU offered him the opportunity to photograph its athletic program and travel with the teams in 2001, Sparks jumped at that opportunity. He also knew since he was going to become an independent contractor, it was time to start his own business.
“I needed a challenge and looked at my options,” he said.
Since opening All-Pro, Sparks has segued into offering art work from local artists, signed footballs and helmets — Will Grier and Major Harris — to name a few.
“I had all of these old negatives,” he said.
“I only sell Dale Sparks,” photographs.
He also now does framed jerseys, but differently than what is normally seen. Rather than simply frame a jersey and perhaps add a picture, Sparks will cut around the jersey. That jersey is then placed in a frame and a picture collage of the athlete, or cheerleader, is placed over it, like a mat.
“It’s like custom photo art,” he said.
All-Pro Photography recently moved from downtown Morgantown to 918 Chestnut Ridge Road, between the hospitals.
