In late July 2024, Rick Apitz holds on to a Mamiya model camera, a style of camera he used for 30 years before adapting to digital film. It was one of the last camera’s Apitz gave away after retiring from the photography business. Apitz died Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025 leaving a legacy of professionalism and generosity among area photographers. By Clay Schuldt

NEW ULM– On Sept. 20, longtime local photographer Rick Apitz died at JA Wedum Hospice Home in Brooklyn Park.

For 50 years, Apitz was synonymous with photography in New Ulm. His talents were highly sought after. He photographed weddings, high school senior portraits, high school athletics, confirmations and any other event that was requested. He was even instrumental in helping other local photographers develop their talents.

For five decades, Apitz ran a photography studio and printing business in New Ulm. For a time, he even owned a frame gallery. He purchased Shayds of Color studio after graduating from Martin Luther Academy in 1973 and opened Apitz Printing in 1976.

In a 2024 interview, Apitz said he became interested in photography in high school. He was injured while playing football and could no longer play. Even though he could not play on the football team, he could photographed the team. Throughout his high school career, he took sports photos.

Lokken said that eventually, The Journal asked him to start taking photos for them, since he was already on the sidelines. He worked as a Journal sports photographer throughout his high school career.

After high school, he began working for Mike Shay, who ran a photography and printing studio. After two years, Shay offered the business, which he accepted. Though Apitz took over ownership of the business, he kept the name Shayds of Color.

In his 50-year career, Apitz said he found himself photographing multiple generations of the same family. He would start with one wedding, later photograph that couple’s kids, then that kid’s wedding and then the grandchildren. Some of the kids he photographed multiple times as they got into various sports.

Apitz became well-known for his work ethic. He said he tried to never turn down work because the photography business was unpredictable.

Apitz was forced to close his photography business in the fall of 2022. He was photographing the New Ulm High School football team and suffered a stroke. Eventually, mobility issues made it impossible to photograph events like before.

Apitz’s sister, Patti Lokken, said her brother struggled to walk away from the photography business. She said a lot of people kept calling him to take photos ‘one more time,’ and it was hard for him to say no.

Lokken said her brother made it a point to give his equipment away to the next generation of photographers.

“He could have sold it all, but he wanted to help,” she said.

My Eye Photography owner Shamara Hornick said Apitz was the photographer who took her first baby pictures. He also took her sister’s baby pictures.

“I actually replicated one of the photos he took of my sister for her kid,” Honrick said. “I did it in Apitz style, which was timeless.”

Hornick said Apitz was even generous enough to give her some photography equipment after he retired.

“He gave me a tripod and gave me some of his old backgrounds,” she said.

Foresee Studios owner Adam Towles said he also benefited from Apitz’s generosity.

“When I was getting into the business, he was retiring and he gave me equipment,” Towles said. Apitz specifically gave him some backdrops that were popular with area families. Towles said he has received calls from families who want portraits with those backdrops.

“I felt very honored,” Towles said. “It is easy to say Rick Apitz was a good man.”

Towles complemented his skills as a photographer and his willingness to adapt. He said Apitz was a true craftsman when it came to working with film, but he was willing to transfer to digital cameras later in life.

Apitz’s kindness and professionalism were well known among his contemporaries as well.

“Rick was a really kind person,” said Mark Spencer, who got into the photography business around the same time as Apitz.

“Apitz had a wonderful spirit of cooperation,” Spencer said. “I could buy film from him if I needed it. Others could be competitive, but not Rick.”

Spencer said in recent years he and Apitz would talk about the old times and even purchased a Mamiya camera from Apitz a year ago.

“Now I hold on to the camera for nostalgia’s sake,” he said.

Aside from Apitz’s love of photography, he had a love for airplanes.

Lokken said one of her earliest memories of her brothers was being part of his airplane club. She remembered being in kindergarten and her older brother bringing her into his club, which involved learning about different airplanes and drawing planes.

“I didn’t care about airplanes at all, but he was my big brother, I worshiped him, so I joined the club,” she said.

Apitz’s love of planes only grew over time. Lokken said he later in life he began building remote controlled (RC) airplanes. He kept many of the planes in his garage and would fly them with other fellow enthusiasts. However, he remained devoted to his family.

Lokken remembered that when her daughter Rachel got engaged she asked her uncle Rick to take the wedding photos.

“I remembered saying, ‘You won’t get him on such short notice on a Saturday,'” she said. “But he said he could do it. After the wedding, I asked him if he had a Saturday open? He had canceled a trip with friends to fly RC planes in Canada to photograph his wedding.

This level of dedication was not limited to family. Apitz made a point of going the extra mile for other families.

A public visitation will be held for Apitz from 9 am-12pm on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home North Chapel.

Lokken said her brother did not want a large church funeral. A short funeral service would be held for close friends and family after the visitation.