In Focus | Gord Klimchuk of GK Event Photography

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Gord Klimchuk

What do you always find yourself saying?
No Problem

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select and why?
Dita Von Tease. I just like how true she is to her style. I'm a real fan of retro pin-ups and she'd be one person I would love to see in front of my camera!

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Public recognition is not something that means much to me. Maybe I'm just too humble. The only accolade I strive for is the smile on my client's face when they see their photos.

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
By historical, I am assuming that you are referring to a famous individual because if it was anyone, I'd sure wish I could spend another day with my father. To choose a historical individual, I'd have to pick Marilyn Monroe. Again, she would be someone that I would love to have in front of my camera. I have done many photo shoots emulating her iconic poses. It would be fun to capture the real person.

Who inspires you?
There are so many photographers whose work inspires me stylistically. It would be hard to pick just one. As for my retro pin-up photography, there is only one master who I draw from. That would be Gil Elvgren. I find it interesting how he used photos to inspire his drawings and now I use his drawings to inspire my retro pin-up photos.

What are three things on your bucket list?
Top of the list is to photograph subjects in more exotic locations. Two of my others would be a professional sports trifecta (hockey, football, and baseball) trip and to travel Eastern Canada from Quebec and through the Maritimes.

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
Either "smile" or "say cheese" because, after all, I am a photographer!

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
The day my favourite sports team wins the league championship. Wow, will I live that long?

What are you passionate about?
My photography! I live it. I breath it. Each day I learn new techniques to improve my work. It constantly evolves. It may be a gun in Charlton Heston's cold, dead hand, but it'll be a camera in mine!

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
The day I quit working for "the man" and decided to follow my passion and make it my livelihood. It can be a risk in that the business side can ruin a person's passion. I try to temper that from happening by giving myself creative challenges as an outlet.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
As cheeky as this may sound, it is very true for me...my proudest accomplishment is each time a client expresses their love of the images I created for them. My photography is for my client and only their approval is what I seek.

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
For breakfast, nowhere will the service be as good as the food as at Beet 'N Boo's Bistro! For casual dining, I cannot get enough of the FSH. To impress, well Bouchons Bistro, of course. True fine dining at its best.

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
I like meeting good friends at one of the many outdoor patios around town and catching up on their lives while I enjoy the views our valley offers.

What is the name of your business/organization?
GK Event Photography

What does your business/organization do?
Providing still photographic services; capturing those moments in our lives that will last for a lifetime. It may be a single portrait or a multi-day competition. I specialize in Boudoir, Portrait and Retro Pin-up styles along with wedding event photography.

Where can people find you or your business online?
www.gkeventphotos.com

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
Gord Klimchuk Photographer

What is your Twitter account?
@PhotoGord

What is your mission?
To provide a fun. relaxing experience that is both safe and secure while producing quality visual moments for my clients.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
To be to the point where the first question from a potential client is not what do I charge, but if I am available to photograph them. I want clients to desire my services for its resulting product and not because of a price that I charge compared to others.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
To continue being an ongoing concern, but one that thrives completely on referrals and returning clients. That way the costs to capture new clients can be used to even better their experience.

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
There have been so many photographers over the years that have moulded my style. Too many to mention individual. Many are the most respected in their fields of portrait, boudoir and wedding photography. I am thankful to all of them but could not single one out from the rest.

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Ultimately, quality. Security in that no image will be used without a client's permission. Respect for the client's wishes.

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
Think first and then over deliver in whatever you do!

How does your business/organization impact the community?
I'm in the business of making people happy. Is there a better way to impact our community?

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
That individual that would have the greatest positive impact on my business would be someone in marketing. I would like to speak to them about what would be the five top ways to help my business grow that's within my budget.

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
For there to be more employment opportunities for Kelowna's young people so they may build a career that will allow them to afford housing and raise a family. Especially for the young women living here.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
A community is only as good as the people who live there. Without the good people of Kelowna, we wouldn't have the orchards, the wineries, and all the other things that make Kelowna such a desirable place to visit or live.

My choice for the Kelowna In Focus spotlight is:
Dianna Fahrion of Century 21 Assurance Realty Ltd.

Some general comments I would like to share are:
I'd like to thank KelownaNow.com for featuring my business today. Also, a couple things about the photo of me. First, it's Movember, so you may not see me wearing the lip rug for another eleven months. Also, that camera I am holding is my first camera. When I was about twelve years old, my father came back with it from an auction. I picked it up and it changed my life. It was about three years later when I purchased my first camera, a Konica Autoreflx T. After using various 35mm and 120 film cameras for 30 years, I purchased my first DSLR. I'm excited to see where my photography goes next.

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