Durham Region Graduate Photos: A Guide

Durham Region Graduate Photos: A Guide

Our photography studio creates graduate photographs for students graduating in the Durham Region from Senior Kindergarten all the way to University.

We have a series of v-stoles in our studio, gowns and hats and would love to work with you to capture this milestone in your education journey. We offer studio session and lifestyle graduate packages on location in the Durham Region at this time.

STUDIO SESSIONS

Our studio sessions can be our “One and Done” sessions or our larger “Lifestyle Graduate” package (which we adapt to the studio with your input). You are welcome to use to the gowns*, stoles and props we have in the studio – but due to the large variety of colours we cannot have every school in stock.

Some of the schools we do have include:

  • EA Fairman PS (dark blue, red, dark blue – triple vstole)
  • Henry Street High School (purple, gold purple – triple vstole, reverse too)
  • Brooklin High (teal, white, teal – triple vstole)
  • Anderson CVI (red, white, black – triple vstole)
  • (red, white, red – triple vstole)
  • (red, medium blue, white – triple vstole)
  • (red, medium blue, white – triple vstole)
  • (green, white, green – triple vstole)
  • (teal, white, black – triple vstole)
  • We also have some single stoles in silks but they are not as nice as the vstoles above which is now the industry standard. (Note: each stole is $45+ shipping so we add a few each year due to the cost, cost as of 2025 Spring.)

Where possible we also will adapt existing stoles to the colour (if photoshop allows for the change).

Post secondary stoles are not something we stock as there are too many variations. * Gowns we have in various sizes – SK in blue/red matte, black gowns in a variety of sizes, green and dark blue gowns.

Our studio has soft white faux tulips and we can forma faux diploma. The SK graduates really have fun with the props and we have large sized pencils just in this year to add to those moments.

LIFESTYLE SESSIONS

Our lifestyle work allows us to break out of the studio and into the location settings. These are not group sessions (aka one grad per package) but one on one sessions with your graduate to document their graduation at a local park, mural or other space in your town/city.

Our graduates are encouraged to wear their suit or dress under their gown so we can capture both. Bring your sport or interest along – we can showcase your love of “soccer”, a photo with your pet or a photo with your siblings. But ideally the focus is on you during this session – a gown/hat image, a suit/dress image and a few creative shots in between.

The end result is a keepsake that you will cherish for a lifetime and can gift to loved ones.

Want to know more about our packages?

Want to see our graduate portfolio? Graduates

Send us a connect form!

Kirsten McGoey | Visual Storyteller

Rivalry Week: Photographing a Local Tradition

Rivalry Week: Photographing a Local Tradition

What It got its start in 1968 as a one-day football game established by Mayor Des Newman, with the Mayor’s Cup trophy awarded to the winner. When football was ended at Anderson CVI in 1984 the event stopped until it was revived in 2009.

Since 2009 Rivalry Week between Henry Street HS and Anderson CVI has been running with both schools vying to win the coveted Mayor’s Cup. They play two hockey games (girls and boys), one basketball game and one volleyball game.

This year the results were as follows:

+ Henry Girls Hawkey – Win

+ Henry Boys Hawkey – Win

+ Anderson Boys Basketball – Win

+ Henry Girls Volleyball – Win

This completed the third year Henry has won the competition.

anderson-cvi-logo

Please do not copy and save content as it is all copyrighted. Want to own a little bit of the nostalgia? We have images for sale here: https://tinyurl.com/2t2mpbft and support a small, female owned business in Whitby with two sons who attend(ed) HSHS and one off to O’Neill PA.

Please do not copy and save content as it is all copyrighted. Want to own a little bit of the nostalgia? We have images for sale here: https://tinyurl.com/2t2mpbft and support a small, female owned business in Whitby with two sons who attend(ed) HSHS and one off to O’Neill PA.

Please do not copy and save content as it is all copyrighted. Want to own a little bit of the nostalgia? We have images for sale here: https://tinyurl.com/2t2mpbft and support a small, female owned business in Whitby with two sons who attend(ed) HSHS and one off to O’Neill PA.

Please do not copy and save content as it is all copyrighted. Want to own a little bit of the nostalgia? We have images for sale here: https://tinyurl.com/2t2mpbft and support a small, female owned business in Whitby with two sons who attend(ed) HSHS and one off to O’Neill PA.

No matter the losses or wins the end of the Rivalry week is a reminder that we are stronger together. This event allows more people to attend volleyball games than we would ever see in a normal versus match in the school year. Congrats to all the organizers and students who attend each year.

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Kirsten McGoey | Visual Storyteller

Photographing a Disruptor

Photographing a Disruptor

..”Broadview is an independent Canadian magazine featuring award-winning coverage of spirituality,  justice  and ethical living. As a registered charity, Broadview challenges and inspires readers seeking to live a purpose-filled life.”  (Broadview website)

We were tasked to create an image to support the Disruptor section which is the end sheet to the magazine each issue.

Below: Omar Elgazzar, Disruptor in print.

Kirsten McGoey | Trinity Design | Visual Storyteller

Shedding Light on Professional Images

Shedding Light on Professional Images

We are going to “shed some light” on the kinds of light photographers use to make your branding/headshot images. Light is everything in our work and it can shape the look of your brand, so knowing a few basics is essential in finding the look that aligns with you and or your brand. 

Natural Light

This one sounds just like it is, we use the natural light in a scene or building to create your image. There are no extra lights on our cameras or off the camera to aid in creation of the images. We may use natural light at golden hour or open shade, where the light reflects softly in the shade of a building or tree. We may bounce light with a reflector but that light is still natural light.

Sometimes we pose subjects indoors using the light from windows – after all this is Canada and we have a sizeable winter season so we cannot always work with you outdoors. It is a softer light and best used in a space connected to you and your brand, it might be nature or the city – indoors or outdoors. 

Dentists-Birch Dental

On Camera Flash

This is not one I often use for branding/headshots as I tends to give you that paparazzi vibe, which can be used intentionally with the right brand. I am going to show some examples but they are from events as I really don’t use the technique (or had clients who needed that look).

Events in dark rooms often require a flash on your camera to be effective but it would not be a first or second choice for professional work. You could use this technique effectively to create cool fashion brand on white backgrounds for that high key image look but the brand would need to align with this to make it work.

Off Camera Flash 

Given that we do have a sizeable winter season and many businesses have specific headshot and image requirements light the studio can be a popular or starting option for images.

There are a variety of different ways to employ studio lights with and without backdrops. For example, in the case of the image of Mika Modolo we took in 2017, there was one studio light in a cramped hallway, next to a coffee station and adjacent the newsroom and the computer graphics room. we also bounced a little of the light using a reflector on her right side to get this image.

In the case of the Mayor Roy and Council’s images we used a grey backdrop and then edited each image also as a .tiff so the file could be used on a responsive grey background gradient on the website itself.

We also create images that are high end music style like country music protege Riley Wheater’s image below and more fun images like the SNL inspired image of Greg Frankson flying into the frame.

The world of studio lighting gives realtors a fresh all white look and makes them easy to cut out for a variety of realtor signs, website and pamphlets applications.

Business Images

When it comes to successful business images we have spoken about the value of making your own images in our article Are there drawbacks to stock photography?. Stock tends to under perform on searches so creating it is in your best interest.

Business images are a great way to build brand recognition as it’s essential to keep a consistent look across your social media through to your website. A hodgepodge of images can be confusing for customers who are inundated with content 24/7. Every time a consumer visits you it’s important to show you are a serious brand and keep them engaging; branding images help you achieve that all important goal.

When telling a story a business images – be it a headshot or brand specific images – are essential to telling an effective and understandable story. They help you build trust with your customer base by creating a good first impression and subsequent impressions along the timeline of engagement with you and or your brand. For example, a headshot that looks like it was cropped from a wedding photo presents differently than a planned professional headshot in a studio or on location.

Images Shown : (Above) Local MP Ryan Turnbull engaging with Seniors at a local Seniors Centre in town. (Top Left) Yoga Jungle (Middle) Enjoying a promenade with a friend on Marito’s Coffee at Pearson Lanes (Top Right) Creating a tea cup flower arrangement with blogger Craftberry Bush.

Images Shown : (Top Left) Shopping at the Makers Hub (Middle) Exploring the greens growing pod at Durham College in Whitby (Top Right) Getting your eyes checked at Brooklin Optimetric.

Take charge of your brand

I know that my own brand is like my fourth child, it has grown over the last twelve years and that is why working with clients on their brands is so exciting. We are growing a special part of your work story – be it as a local MP, a trusted eye expert or a local maker’s hub – connecting you to your customers is essential. 

What story do you want to tell?

Kirsten McGoey | Visual Storyteller

Whitby Santa Claus Parade 2024

Whitby Santa Claus Parade 2024

The Whitby Santa Claus Parade is a project near and dear to my heart not just as a resident, a parent of three boys and not just as a Rotarian in charge of making the float shine for the big Santa Claus himself (and Mrs. Claus).

Here are some memories we captured from the 2024 parade which we shot from the four corners as my knee is causing some issues with long walks/runs backwards for 10 km! I am pretty sure these are not in order so enjoy the community spirit regardless.

(Shown above our Rotarian crew and volunteers from Father Leo J Austin Catholic Secondary School)

 

Above (L) Whitby Fire – through the window of Aerial 35 | Above (R) And Elf and her grownup

Above (L) Comets Baton crew at the four corners  | Above (R) A wee Vickery Electric Truck participant

Above (1) Dashing along the parade route | (2) Marine Rescue | (3) Dance crew piggyback

Above (ALL) By far the cutest dog in the parade supporting Durham Muay Thai & Kickboxing 

Above (L) Air Cadets Band | Above (R) Girls Inc bringing the Girl Power Spirit

Above (L) Rotary Reindeer | Above (R) Deidre Newman is a tireless Rotarian and community volunteer, she will also be our 2025-2026 Club President

Above (L) Reindeer Energy | Above (R) Carrying on the tradition of marching and weilding the sucker props (which I love)

Doing double duty as Mrs Claus has a family emergency to cover – the one and only Santa Claus with an audio set this year so his HO HO HO energy can be heard loud and clear

Above (L) The joy of finally seeing Santa | Above (R) More Rotarian reindeer spirit.

Interested in joining our Rotary Club of Whitby? Visit here to learn more: https://www.rotarywhitby.org/

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Kirsten McGoey | Visusal Storyteller (and sometimes reindeer)

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