Deo Gratias Photo Studio, founded in 1922 in Jamestown, Accra, has stood the test of time, capturing Ghana’s evolution from its colonial period to the present day, through its lenses.

At 103 years old, the studio holds the record as the oldest photography studio in Ghana, and is still actively operating.

Established by a Ghanaian named JK Bruce Vanderpuije, he began capturing memories with his camera at the age of 23, a passion he pursued throughout his life until his passing.

He captured many major Ghanaian events and stories, including Independence Day celebrations and Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, during his hay days, building and preserving a rich archive of memories over time.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the name Deo Gratias, the manageress of the studio, Kate Tamakloe, who is also a granddaughter of Vanderpuije, explained in a 2021 interview with GhanaWeb’s People and Places, that the name, meaning 'Thanks be to God' in Latin, was chosen by Vanderpuije to express his joy at fulfilling his passion.

“It was established in 1922 by my grandfather JK Bruce Vanderpuije. My grandfather was a photographer and started taking photos when he was 23.

“He had a passion for taking photographs of people and was able to establish the photo studio in 1922 and called it Deo Gratias studio which means in Latin, ‘Thanks be to God’. He was finally able to establish it which excited him so he named it Deo Gratias,” she explained.

Watch the video below:



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