Meet Frank Berna...
Frank Berna has been in the photography business, in one form or another, for more than 35 years.
Frank began as a photographer in Pittsburgh, working as a staff photographer for several modeling and talent agencies. Later, he opened a commercial photography studio, Glass Eye Studio, and became co-owner of a fashion/lifestyle magazine, Pittsburgh Style. Among the many celebrities Frank photographed for P.S. were Dennis Hopper, Tony Randall, Barbara Walters, Brooke Shields, artist Roy Lichtenstein, and Paul Reubens (“Pee Wee Herman”).
In 1996, Frank moved to Florida and changed professions, learning the retail side of the photography business as the manager of the RItz Camera Ultra store in Naples. During his tenure there, he turned that store into one of the most profitable in the Ritz Camera chain.
The opportunity as manager permitted Frank to become familiar with hundreds of different models of digital cameras. To help acquaint this revolutionary imaging breakthrough to his customers, he developed a digital camera program to explain the many aspects of this new technology. Literally, thousands of people in Southwest Florida have taken this course. This curriculum is the foundation of the Photography Institute of Naples.
As the director of the Photography Institute of Naples, Frank continues to stay current with the ever-changing digital technology. He is considered by many to be Naples’ “digital camera guru." He has given numerous presentations on digital photography to many civic, computer and camera clubs in Naples, including being the founder and facilitator of the Ritz Camera Club, past vice-president of the Naples Mac Users Group, and has been interviewed by local television stations and the Naples Daily News.