Photographer looking for subjects to take part in ‘Little Stories of Campbell River’
Published 2:00 pm Tuesday, September 22, 2026
A Campbell River photographer wants to breathe new life into what many may view as mundane, everyday occurrences.
Kay Atkinson of Understory Photography says Campbell River, with its photogenic natural beauty including trails, mountains, oceans, lakes and wildlife, gets photographed “a lot.”
With that in mind, Atkinson has focused her camera eye on something else: the people who live here, and, she says, “the little stories that rarely make it into the picture.”
Through her new business, Understory Photography, Atkinson is working on a project centred around photographing Campbell River residents in places and moments that are actually part of their lives.
Atkinson is currently building “Little Stories of Campbell River” and is interested in hearing from locals with an everyday place, tradition, relationship or story they believe deserves to be photographed.
It could be a date night at the bowling alley, a family visiting an elder at a local seniors home, or an ordinary place in town.
“Just life in Campbell River in general from one one spectrum to the other,” Atkinson said. “There really isn’t something I wouldn’t be interested to cover.”
Atkinson said that in a world where people focus so much on being polished and put-together, she’s trying to change the narrative and “celebrate the real stuff.”
“For example, if you’re a mechanic in town, let’s take some authentic branding photos of you working on a vehicle. For family photos, let’s go out for ice cream and not worry about getting stained clothing.”
Atkinson hopes the project may also encourage locals to think about the places, people and everyday traditions they would want to remember years from now. “I’d love to ask people: if someone photographed one little piece of your life in Campbell River as it is right now, what would you choose?”
For more on Understory Photography or to get involved in the project, visit the Understory Photography Facebook or Instagram pages, submit a contact form on Understoryphotography.com, or call 778-900-9146.