Portraits

It has been a few months since the municipal election, and the newly minted OneCity reps Christine Boyle (City Council) and Jennifer Reddy (Vancouver School Board) are in the thick of their gigs, advocating for anti-racist work in schools, declaring climate emergency in the city and becoming more and more visible. Since our first round of headshots happened in the heat and bright light of late summer, featuring sleeveless tops and nice tans, they wanted another set that better reflected the time of year and the tone of the work they’re doing. We joked (sort of) about aiming for an expression that said Serious But Not Too Angry Feminist (subtitle: Please Stop Sending Me Hate Mail), and I think we nailed it.

Shooting Portra, a beautiful, clean colour film stock, we captured Christine outside city hall, Jennifer near False Creek and then brought them together for a few fun ones as a pair. It was late afternoon, so the low sun gave us a lovely golden glow. Now they both have a collection of photos to use for media requests, bios and anything else that requires a professional portrait.

Kasha is a Vancouver-based circus artist and coach who specializes in contortion. We worked together on this shoot on a rainy day in April. Queen Elizabeth Park was just starting to bloom, and the dark sky and that bright, rainforest green made those first flowers glow.

Everyone’s favourite literary podcast, Can’t Lit, needed a refresh in the form of some new photos, so we hit the Nelson Park community garden and had some fun. We shot a combo of film and digital, and the photos below are shot on a roll of expired Black’s film. Remember Black’s? They were in every strip mall in the Ontario suburbs I grew up in, and they had that jingle. Black’s is photooography. Is it in your head now? You’re welcome.

My wonderful partner, stoneworker and social worker, looking serious with a hint of mischief.