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OUR HISTORY

When You Own a Strauss Peyton, You Own a Piece of Kansas City History.

Now one of the oldest portrait photography studios in the country, and the oldest in continous operation, Strauss-Peyton was established in 1908 by Benjamin R Strauss and Homer K. Peyton. Seen as an innovative enterprise, it was a force to be reckoned with in the world of celebrity portraiture. Notable names of the era include Anna Pavlova, Douglas MacArthur, Fred Astaire, the Marx Brothers, Mary Pickford, Al Jolson, Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin and Kansas City's own Jean Harlow.

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At Strauss Peyton, we don’t just take portraits—we preserve the moments, milestones, and emotions that define your family’s legacy.

Strauss Peyton KC

Braswell’s youth and leadership brought new life into the revered Kansas City institution.  He and his wife Joan became involved in the Kansas City community.  In one of Mark’s favorite projects, he donated his time and talents to create portraits of many of the Kansas City Symphony musicians.  A portrait exhibit was created from these portraits and displayed in the Lyric Theatre for a number of years.  It then became a traveling exhibit displayed around the city. The images were also used in a collaboration with the Symphony League to create a cookbook as a fundraiser for the Symphony. 

 

For Children’s Mercy Hospital, Mark created a portrait exhibit of children who were under the special care of the different specialties at the hospital.   Then from the exhibition portraits, a calendar was created and sold that raised a significant amount of money for the hospital.

 

During his career, Braswell earned a Master’s degree in portrait photography.  He won many state, national and international awards for his portraiture.  He had the honor of creating a portrait of Margaret Thatcher, photographing Ronald Reagan’s inaugural, holding workshops for the Professional Photographers of America, working on joint projects with Christie’s in London, teaching seminars in the south of France and was a charter member of an exclusive group of photographers from around the world known as XXV, because the membership is limited to 25 members.

 

Braswell introduced a number of innovations to the studio.  He was the first portrait photographer in the area to enter the digital age and give up the nearly 100 year old standard of photographic film.  While the studio was already putting photographic portraits on canvas when he purchased Strauss Peyton, he was the first to begin printing the portraits directly onto the canvas with inks.  He also introduced a painted canvas portrait and a watercolor portrait.

 

In 2000, Mark moved from the Country Club Plaza to Overland Park, Kansas. He has enjoyed a fifty-year career of photographic excellence, more than forty of those years keeping alive the tradition of photographing the notable names of Kansas City, appearing regularly in local publications and doing what he loves best, making memories that last for Kansas City’s families and children. 

 

In 2018, Mark began the journey towards retirement and passed Strauss Peyton ownership to his son Jonathan and Jonathan’s wife, Kaela.  Jonathan grew up at Strauss Peyton, working first as his dad’s photography assistant, then as a portrait printer and portrait photographer.  Kaela also has a background in photography, having opened her own studio in the Seattle area before meeting Jonathan and relocating to Kansas City. They are planning for a future with continued innovation, projects and leadership in the field of portraiture.

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Preserving Generations from Our Historic Studio

A Legacy Built on Light and Time

This iconic photograph captures the roots of Strauss Peyton — a place where artistry, craftsmanship, and family history have converged for over a century. From this original studio space, we began the tradition of creating portraits that don’t just reflect faces, but preserve legacies. Every detail, every shadow, and every smile captured within these walls has contributed to a timeless standard of portraiture that still lives on in every session we create today.

Let’s Create Something Timeless Together

Whether you're celebrating a milestone or simply cherishing the everyday moments, now is the perfect time to preserve your family's legacy in portrait art.