Photographer Dominick Lewis opens Brooklyn’s first Black-owned camera store after crowdfunding success

Dominick Lewis, a Brooklyn-born photographer and artist, has officially opened Photodom, the borough’s first and only Black-owned brick-and-mortar camera store.

Photographer Dominick Lewis opens photography store thanks to GoFundMe campaign

The store is the result of a successful GoFundMe campaign that raised nearly $40,000 and the culmination of Lewis’s long-standing dedication to visual storytelling and community engagement.

“This store isn’t just about gear—it’s about giving Black image-makers the space and resources to tell our own stories,” said Lewis.

“Brooklyn’s remaining Black neighborhoods deserve a hub for creativity, knowledge-sharing, and cultural preservation.”

About Photodom

Photodom is more than a retail space. It houses a growing catalog of equipment, film development services, and rentals, but its true heart lies in its inclusive programming. Workshops, classes, photography trips, and community events are already underway, designed to empower BIPOC and other underrepresented creatives in an industry historically dominated by white men.

Photodom’s Community-Centered Mission:

• Offers photography gear, education, and hands-on experiences
• Hosts inclusive workshops, classes, exhibitions, and excursions
• Focuses on uplifting BIPOC storytellers and preserving Brooklyn’s cultural legacy
• Founded by Lewis, a portrait and documentary photographer known for his project Document Brooklyn

Humble beginnings

Lewis began Photodom as an online store and now brings the brand into physical space, filling a critical gap—he found no existing Black-owned camera stores in Brooklyn and few nationwide. His work as an educator, curator, and studio owner across Brooklyn and South Florida laid the groundwork for this launch.

The fundraiser is still accepting donations. To learn more, visit the GoFundMe campaign here.