It’s official: 535 Baker Street is now all things photography with the opening of Gogh Van Custom Framing and the expansion of services at Kokanee Camera Co. And to celebrate, the businesses are having a party on Friday, December 11th, 2009 between 5:30 and 8:00 p.m. and everyone is invited.

Between the two companies, services at 535 Baker St. now include fine art printing, camera and accessory sales, slide and negative scanning, canvas printing and stretching, copy work, matting and framing and photography classes. There’s also a gallery on site that showcases the work of local photographers.

“Since we opened Kokanee Camera Company one year ago, our intent was always to have a one-stop shop that supports photographers from beginning to end,” says owner Derrick Bruce. “They can be inspired by the amazing work on the walls; they can purchase all kinds of gear; they can have their work printed on high-end equipment and custom framed, and, most importantly, they can take advantage of our years of experience and knowledge.”

Jill Gauvin owns Gogh Van Custom Framing and she launched her business at the 535 Baker Street location one month ago. She has worked in the framing business for the past six years and says she loves her work because “it’s all about showcasing the artwork and preserving it, whether it be high end originals or your child’s masterpiece.” Besides framing photographs and fine art, she can also do mirrors, shadow boxes, jerseys, diplomas, certificates and glass replacement.

Kokanee Camera Co., which is celebrating its one-year anniversary, is owned by Derrick Bruce and Lisa McGeady. The couple attended the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara and have since worked in every aspect of the photo industry. In the past year they’ve moved their business to a larger space on Baker St., increased their product line, started offering bi-weekly photography classes and acquired a gallery.

Everyone is invited to the Grand Opening of Gogh Van Framing and the one-year anniversary celebration of Kokanee Camera Co. at 535 Baker Street in Nelson on Friday, Dec. 11, 2009 starting at 5:30 pm. The evening will also mark the opening of a group show that will include the works of such local photographers as Jim Lawrence, Greg Osadchuk, Sara Rainford and Julie Castonguay, among others.

For more information contact Lisa McGeady at Kokanee Camera Company, 250-352-7799, (info@kokaneecamera.com) or Jill Gauvin at Gogh Van Framing, 250-352-6001 (jkgauvin@hotmail.com).