He reportedly opened his first daguerreian rooms in 1840 in Cincinnati, Ohio; he claimed later that his was the first gallery in the city, and the second in the United States. Another source indicated that Hawkins opened his rooms on August 27, 1841, opposite the Post Office, and in partnership as Hawkins and Todd.
In October, 1841, he moved his gallery to the corner of Main and Fourth Streets, over Mr. Luckey's store.
One source noted a partnership between Hawkins and Thomas Faris in 1843; although the partnership was not advertised until 1844. In 1844, Hawkins was first listed at a new location at 132 Fifth Street, between Vine and Race Streets. He advertised he had been in business three years, and offered stock for sale. From 1844 to 1849 he was noted as the partner of Faris, with their gallery on Fifth Street between Vine and Race Streets. An alternate source listed the gallery on Fifth between Main and Walnut Streets.
In December, 1845, Hawkins was listed as a daguerreian in New Orleans, La., at the corner of Canal Street and Exchange Place. The gallery continued to be listed in 1846.
In Cincinnati, in 1846, he was listed at 132 Fifth Street; the gallery was known as "Hawkins' Gallery of the Pioneers", and featured a display of Cincinnati city founders. In 1846, Hawkins advertised "photographic miniatures apres M. Daguerre... only place in the city where pictures are not reversed...".
From mid-December, 1847 until mid-January, 1848, a daguerreian named J.W. Young advertised in Evansville, Ind., as being "from the very popular Daguerreotype Gallery of Mr. Hawkins, of Cincinnati." At this point, it is unclear whether Young was there as an agent of Hawkins, or whether he was a former employe playing on Hawkins' name and fame.
From 1848 to 1852, Hawkins was listed in Cincinnati as a daguerreian in the Apollo building, northwest corner of Fifth and Walnut Streets; his residence was listed on Fourth Street near Park. He was apparently in business at his "Apollo Rooms" with John P. Hawkins, variously identified as his brother or his nephew. J.P. Hawkins first appears in the Cincinnati directories in 1849, and follows Ezekial's addresses until 1855. In 1849, the Faris and Hawkins partnership was dissolved; and Hawkins was reported to still have his gallery in New Orleans.
In 1850-1851, Hawkins' Cincinnati gallery was located at Fifth and Walnut Streets (Museum Building).
Sometime prior to September 1, 1851, Hawkins suffered a severe loss by fire in his gallery, and relocated to 168 Vine Street. He was listed there through 1854.
Circa October, 1852, he was reported to be taking "Solargraphs", a form of paper photographs. In 1853 he advertised as a "Solographist", and noted a gallery partnership as Hawkins and Mullin (cq.). In the same year, he exhibited images at the New York Crystal Palace, working with J.P. Hawkins and J. Mullen. In 1854 he advertised his "Daguerreotype and Solograph Gallery" in the James Building. Solographs, he said, were a new application of the daguerreotype.
In 1855, he was listed at 126 West Fourth Street (apparently the northwest corner of Race and Fourth Streets), with Hawkins and Mullen (cq.); again, it appears that J.P. Hawkins was involved in the partnership.
In 1856, Hawkins was listed as a photographic artist, with no business address. In March of the same year, he was a "guest operator" in the gallery of Dobyns (T.J.) and Harrington, 6 Camp Street, New Orleans, supervising the making of diaphanotypes, along with a Mr. Harding, an artist.
In 1857, he was listed as an artist in Cincinnati at the northwest corner of Fourth and Walnut Streets. In 1857-1858 he was listed in partnership as Faris (T.) and Hawkins at the same address.
In 1858, he was listed without an occupation; in 1859 as a photographist at 106 West Fourth Street, offering "heliographic Portraits" of which he claimed to be the inventor and patentee.
In 1860-1861, he was listed as a photographist at 20 West Fifth Street, Cincinnati.
Hawkins was also noted in Wheeling, West Virgina, at an unspecified date. Ezekial Hawkins was a brother of J.P. Hawkins and Thomas Hawkins.