OBITUARY:Man known for photo labs dies

Burbank photographer and photo lab owner Isgo Lepejian died Nov. 20 after suffering a heart attack.

Lepejian, 69, was the owner of two photo labs, Isgo Lepejian Photo Lab in Burbank and ANI Photographic and Digital in Hollywood. He also owned the Tin Horn Flats restaurant in Burbank.

The photo lab of his namesake was opened 37 years ago but Isgo had been operating behind a camera for all of his adult life.

“He ended up at the age of 17 going to Germany to study photography and cinematography,” said Baret Lepejian, Isgo Lepejian’s son.

Isgo was born in Jerusalem in 1937 and by the time he was in his early thirties he had opened his own business in Burbank, which would later cater to the entertainment industry in the city, processing head shots and show-business materials.

He lived on the border of Burbank and Toluca Lake and ran the Burbank store until about five or six years ago, Baret Lepejian said. Even after he handed over the reins to his sons Baret and Vic, Isgo was still an almost daily fixture in the lab.

But photography was not only Isgo’s bread and butter, it was also his passion.

“He traveled a lot,” Baret said. “He’s been to Africa many times. He’s been all over the world many, many times. He was an avid black-and-white photographer.”

He was also an advocate for up-and-coming photographers in the Burbank and Hollywood area, Baret said, and helped many photographers get their start in the professional world over the years.

“He was a very positive man,” Baret said. “He was very gracious. He helped a lot of photographers just become photographers. He was a great teacher in his own way and a lot of photographers hold him responsible for getting them into the industry.”

Isgo is survived by his sons, Baret and Vic Lepejian; grandchildren Tayla and Lucas Lepejian; sister Katherine Lepejian and daughter-in-law Isabelle Lepejian.

Services have passed.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Mary’s Church in Costa Mesa.