KISSIMMEE, Fla. — For Bruce Wilson Jr., photography has never been just a profession — it is a family legacy woven deeply into the history of Kissimmee and Osceola County. As Bruce Wilson Photography celebrates its 60th anniversary this February, Wilson Jr. is honoring the past while continuing to shape the future of one of Central Florida’s most recognizable studios.
“I’m a second-generation photographer,” Wilson Jr. said. “We’re celebrating our 60th anniversary in photography, and that’s something I don’t take lightly.”
The studio’s story dates back to the early 1960s, when Wilson Jr.’s father — then a Southern Bell cable splicer — agreed to photograph a neighbor’s wedding as a favor. That single assignment sparked a passion that would change the course of his life. After being offered an internship at a mall photography studio, Bruce Wilson Sr. discovered a calling that led him to open his own business on February 1, 1966.
Over the next six decades, Bruce Wilson Photography documented generations of families, seniors, weddings, schools, and community milestones across Central Florida, earning a reputation for consistency, trust, and craftsmanship.
That commitment to community extended far beyond the studio walls. Bruce Wilson Sr. spent more than 35 years serving on the board of the Kissimmee Valley Livestock Show (KVLS), helping preserve the agricultural traditions that define Osceola County. Today, Bruce Wilson Jr. continues that legacy, serving as First Vice President on the KVLS executive board — making him a second-generation board member as well.
“My father was a longstanding board member — I think he was on there for 35 years,” Wilson Jr. said. “Now I’m on the executive board, and it means a lot to carry that forward.”
As the 82nd Osceola County Fair approaches, running February 13–22, Wilson Jr. emphasized the importance of agriculture at the heart of the event, encouraging the community to support youth exhibitors and local agriculture programs.
“We want people to come out, enjoy the fair, but also enjoy the ag part of it,” he said. “That’s so important to the KVLS Show and Fair — supporting steers, hogs, lambs, goats, citrus, even chickens.”
The studio’s 60th anniversary also carries deep personal meaning. Bruce Wilson Sr. passed away on February 6, 2018, but his presence continues to be felt through the work, relationships, and traditions he helped build.
“He was a man of character — a wonderful father, husband, and grandfather,” Wilson Jr. has shared. “This milestone is a testament to God’s grace, my parents’ resilience, and the trust of the families who welcomed us into their lives.”
A final family connection ties the Wilson name even closer to Osceola County’s western heritage — Wilson Jr. proudly notes that his wife was crowned Miss Silver Spurs in 1979, a reminder of just how intertwined the family has been with the community for generations.
Sixty years after a simple wedding favor sparked a lifelong calling, Bruce Wilson Photography remains a living archive of Osceola County’s people, places, and traditions — with Bruce Wilson Jr. ensuring that legacy continues, one photograph at a time.
