The newest business addition to Norwood, Sunshine Photo Studio, represents just another family trying to carve out a little niche of their own on the 204th Street strip.

"We feel like we need to make progress," said Fernelis Laj, explaining why he and his brother decided to open their own business, "to show that we control our fate, not anyone else."

Laj’s brother, Nelson worked in a photo shop before. "Since he knew the business," Laj says, "why not open one of his own."

While photos aren’t really his business, Laj is here to offer his help for the time being, because "that’s what family members do," he says.

The brothers, hailing from the Dominican Republic, chose this strip from other Norwood and Bronx locations, because it is fairly large with a lot of traffic. It doesn’t hurt that they, like most of their potential customers, also live nearby.

Laj says people stopping by over the last month ask a lot about the studio, which he thinks is their greatest advantage – that people can have family photos taken of their kids in an equipped, in-house space.

While a sprig of aloe hangs over the door for good luck (a Caribbean custom), neighbors offer aid to the photo shop.

"People are friendly out there in the streets," Laj says, describing the relationships he has already developed with nearby businesses. The store trades customers with the salon next door, while he says nearby stores where he buys supplies, suggest Sunshine for passport photos.

The studio, near where Decatur Ave. crosses East 204th Street, offers a full range of services beyond the popular "30 minute photos," including making CDs from film, prints from digital photos and developing black-and-white film, all in-house.

There are no big goals on their horizon for now, Laj says. As a very new business, with home and business bills, they’re just trying to survive on their own.

Ed. note: Sunshine Photo Studio is located at 355 E. 204th St. For more information, call (718) 231-1581.