The beginning of Shoals area photographers in the 19th century coincided with a period of immense change and growth. In the Shoals community, a diverse group of individuals embraced this novel technology, capturing the faces, landscapes, and events that shaped our local history. This comprehensive list details the known 19th-century photographers who operated in our area.
List of Shoals Area Photographers
| Date(s) | Name / Company | Location (if known) | Notes |
| 1859-1861 | F.W. Bornheim | Florence | Also a jeweler |
| 1860 | A. Dewey | Florence | |
| 1860-1861 | C.W. Prior | Florence | |
| 1860s-1880s | W.D. Churchell | Florence | 1878 was also an undertaker |
| 1878 | Hugh’s Photograph Tent | Tuscumbia | |
| 1879 | W. B. Delbridge | Tuscumbia; Dunnington House | |
| 1880 | J.A. Weatherford | Moved into former Churchell studio | |
| 1881 | John T. Burnitt | Tuscumbia | |
| 1884 | J.W. Turner | Tuscumbia | |
| 1888 | Deane & Turner | Florence & Sheffield | |
| 1889 | Ad Hovelle | Corner of Court & Mobile streets | |
| 1889 | M.O. Deane | Tuscumbia, Sheffield | |
| 1889 | James Peppel | Sheffield | |
| late 1880s | J.W. Turner & Son | Florence & Sheffield | |
| 1889-90 | R.M. Williams | Florence | |
| 1890 | Moore Brothers | Tuscumbia | Main Street; Opposite J.E. Keenan’s |
| 1890-91 | J.E. Kilbourne | Sheffield | |
| 1892 | Thompson Photo Gallery | Tuscumbia | |
| 1892-1899 | J.A. Echard | Reeder Building, Florence | Partnered with W.C. Echard |
| 1893 | Cottage Gallery | Court & “Tombecbe” streets | Tombigbee Street |
| 1896 | John H. Snyder | Courtland; Leighton | |
| 1896 | J.P. Phelps | Sheffield | |
| 1896-97 | Snyder & Fisher (Fischer) | Florence & Tuscumbia | |
| 1897-1900 | J.M. Turner | Florence | Lee Glenn’s building on Court Street; west side; over Cromwell’s drug store |
| 1899 | B.G. Covell | Corner of Tennessee & Seminary | |
| 1899-1900 | Turner & Morrison | Florence | J.M. Turner |
| 1900 | A.B. Paxton | Court Street | |
| 1900-01 | W.J. Ashton | Florence | Successor to Paxton; Printed from negatives of Paxton; Turner & Morrison |
| 1901 | Bailey Photo Co. | Phelp’s old stand; Sheffield | |
| 1903 | Campbell & Edens | Court Street | C.B. Campbell |
