I photographed a birthday this summer. It wasn’t a smash-the-cake toddler style party, but there were streamers and balloons. My client is a 90 year old man named Roy and his whole family joined from across two provinces to celebrate with him. Some hadn’t seen each other in years, as is known to happen with families. There were three generations who toasted him as he blew out his candles sitting in a cozy lawn chair on a 30+ degree day.

Some of his friends stopped by too, a few nearly as old as Roy. The littlest children did gymnastic cartwheels on the green grass while the oldest spoke of travel and work from years ago. One man told the story of how he worked in South America in his 60’s building bridges. He said he didn’t feel old then. Another spoke of how they’ve been friends with Roy for decades. Imagine maintaining a relationship for decades! Who in your life right now will be showing up for your 90th birthday? Assuming some of us even see our 90th. Some of us may not even strive for that achievement. Living longer means a longer amount of living. There are joys with the birth of every new grandchild, and there is heartache with each passing funeral. And a bit of a roller coaster in between. Roy’s wife died many years ago, there were family members that hadn’t seen him since her funeral. At 90 years old, everyone knew there might not be another birthday. Perhaps even Roy himself knows, although I didn’t ask. That thought didn’t stop the party from being joyous. The food prepared was extensive and delicious, the hot day forced people to huddle in shady areas together.

Roy and one of his daughters decided they wanted to have a photographer there who could capture the significance of that family reunion. Although the rest of the family wasn’t aware at the time, the real objective was for me to take photos meant for albums that would be gifted to everyone at Christmas. The kindness of that gesture alone is already special. Further yet though, what has stuck with me most, is that by commissioning custom photographic albums, Roy is giving his children and grandchildren the gift of memories. And for a man who is losing his own to Alzeimers, the beauty of his birthday did not go unnoticed by me. I took great pleasure is making albums for Roy’s family and hope these photos maintain his legacy with tears in your eyes and great big smile to go with it.

 

Share onFacebook Tweet toTwitter Pin onPinterest Share onGoogle+

She called me up excited to blow the roof off standard school photos.

Some school photography companies won’t even let your child part their mouth open when they smile. I mean, what’s up with that?!? School photos have long been stereotyped as archival-posed-freeze-framed copies of children. Looking through a dozen years worth of them at once is like going through a two dimensional flip book with no context. Today, these same companies are implementing stringent passport-like limitations on how a child can represent themselves in a photo. Which is kind of ridiculous.  At least I think so.  So did my client when she called me up excited to blow the roof off standard school photos.  She wanted something that would show her son’s energy and style. Hats off to this kid, because he’s got a lot of both!

covington-studio-school-photos-vernon-portraits-bc-01

covington-studio-school-photos-vernon-portraits-bc-02

Choosing to do school photos at home, or with elements that reflect your child’s life, means we get to fool around and have fun. In the end, this is the type of photo your family wants to receive every year.

covington-studio-school-photos-vernon-portraits-bc-03

covington-studio-school-photos-vernon-portraits-bc-04 covington-studio-school-photos-vernon-portraits-bc-05

As a photographer, I’m always grateful to clients who are ok with me continuing to take photos even when we’ve said our goodbyes, I’m at my car about to leave, and then something like this happens…

covington-studio-school-photos-vernon-portraits-bc-06

P.S. – for those of you who think hiring a professional photographer to do school photos is either expensive or time consuming, imagine this…my client bid on a mini session gift card at a school auction in Vernon for $80 and our session was done in 30 mins…on a weekday. Easy peasy!

Covington Studio is a Vernon Portrait Photographer specializing in lifestyle and wedding photography in the Okanagan, including Coldstream, Oyama, Lake Country and Armstrong.

Share onFacebook Tweet toTwitter Pin onPinterest Share onGoogle+

Custom Albums

Even I get super excited when an album arrives in the mail! Can you imagine how my clients feel? And that custom case, eek!, stunning.

I had a lot of fun designing this, the most colourful one of the year : )

COV_8782 COV_8784 COV_8787

Covington Studio is a Vernon Portrait Photographer specializing in lifestyle and wedding photography in the Okanagan, including Coldstream, Oyama, Lake Country and Kelowna.

Share onFacebook Tweet toTwitter Pin onPinterest Share onGoogle+

The Music

When I was a much younger adult growing up in Edmonton, there used to be this eclectic and legendary hangout for music called the Sidetrack Café.  It was demolished to make way for condos (ugh! don’t get me started) but something about it not being there anymore also make my memories of that place more remarkable.  I once danced for hours to the hypnotic funky beats of Moses Mayes.  That’s the place I was introduced to K’naan (before he was K’NAAN!), not knowing what his story was or the meaning behind his lyrics.  It was just for the sound of it, you know?  For the vibe that the music gifted you and how it puppeteered you around the open floor.  Or in most cases the super crowded floor, but hey, when you’re in the zone, you stop noticing the other dancers around you.  

My Sidetrack years came flooding back to me when I was listening to Landing On The Sun‘s new album.  It’s that kind of music that makes you want to move, that evokes a mood.  There aren’t any words to sing along to, it’s all instrumental listener inspiration with bad ass song titles.  Oh and some pretty bad ass photos on their website which I might have had something to do with.  We got together this summer at different locations in Vernon.  One of our favourites was in the Vernon Towne Cinema (people! i got to go up the dodgy steep stairs to the ultra cool “movie reel” room…it was awesome!).  Dark, ominous and I can’t get enough of the way the staggered rows of chairs look on film.  From that session, Landing On The Sun got the image for the inset of their album sleeve, yay!

14054959_943493622427299_8139601831162607889_n 050 LOTS April 07 055 LOTS April 07 BW 058 LOTS April 07 059 LOTS April 07 BWI got a kick out of working with Eric and Billy, and especially enjoyed the ‘what you see is what you get’ comedy being around them.  We had quite a few laugh out loud moments while shooting the shit.  They really are into it for the music, genuine guys with real talent.

Here are some more photos we took at the amazing Triumph Coffee on main street.  Thanks for letting us shoot there Robin & Matt, gorgeous window light!

Vernon Photographer

Vernon Photographer

Vernon Photographer

Vernon Photographer

Vernon Photographer

Covington Studio is a Vernon Portrait Photographer specializing in lifestyle and wedding photography in the Okanagan, including Coldstream, Oyama, Lake Country and Kelowna.

Share onFacebook Tweet toTwitter Pin onPinterest Share onGoogle+

As a Vernon portrait photographer I have the honor of photographing my subjects in their element. What a treat to watch Alex Wells today.

Alex is a three time World Champion Hoop Dancer.

He performed at Harwood Elementary School in Vernon, BC.

Vernon, BC

Vernon, BC Vernon, BC

Oh! and his daughter too…how amazing is that?

Vernon, BC

Vernon, BC

Vernon, BC

Vernon, BC

 

Covington Studio is a Vernon Portrait Photographer specializing in lifestyle and wedding photography in the Okanagan, including Coldstream, Oyama, Lake Country and Kelowna.

Share onFacebook Tweet toTwitter Pin onPinterest Share onGoogle+