Photographer Spotlight: Vintage & Vogue Photography

Mark Bilash of Vintage and Vogue Photography, located in beautiful Ste. Anne Manitoba is one of the best pin up photographers in Canada. His work has graced the covers and pages of over 60 international pin up magazines. With a passion for the vintage styling of the 1920s through the 1960s, he pulls a flair for it in all his sessions including traditional cheesecake, couples, maternity, and beyond.  

Mark has always been a lover of history, with a strong gravitational pull toward vintage. With two studios located in Ste. Anne and Winnipeg Manitoba, offering both boudoir and (our favourite) pin up photography. To separate his quality from the amateur, he is a Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) accredited member, in both studio lighting and pin up photography. One of only two accredited photographers in the pin up category nationwide. This accreditation is quite intense as you have to show a high level of quality in all your work, and prove to a panel of judges that your work is high-caliber enough to gain the sacred accredited seal.   

Mark pulls his inspiration from the bygone eras of; “craftsmanship, things were made stronger and everything was a piece of art”. With a prop collection that would make an antique lover squeal with joy, he also owns a 1950 Dodge Deluxe and a 1959 Vespa Motor Scooter that makes the gears and grease girls swoon. With an expansive wardrobe of outfits and costumes, he is set to help all women travel back in time with ease and to have the best most inspiring photoshoot.  

With two studios, booking a photoshoot is flexible and easy to access. With connections to local hairstylists and makeup artists, he will connect you to get the most out of your shoot and look top-notch. Due to his drive to make each client shoot as individual and unique as they are he prefers to take time to get to know his clients so he can help plan the shoot of their dreams.   

Photography is a very powerful medium and a treasure that will last generations. He really emphasizes on printed products that help to tell a story, “the physicality to hang on the wall has more impact”. It tells a story of the experience; the positivity, the empowerment and can uplift women for a long time.  

While no one is totally happy with themselves and it’s always easy to nitpick ourselves. However, when clients see themselves on the computer at the end of the photoshoot is magical. Suddenly they are emotionally uplifted and happy and leave as if they are on a sugar rush. “A positive uplifting experience, with planning and the actual shoot followed by stunning images, it’s a build-up. The images are the bonus.”  

His favourite part of pin up photography is time traveling with his clients and uplifting and empowering women to see the sparkle within.  

Mark assures us that the Canadian pin up community is busy, interactive, and fun. In his words, Pin Up is a wide range of all women and emphasizes on “self-love, body acceptance and positivity”. So next time you’re in Manitoba, give Mark a call and book a shoot; then submit your gorgeous photos for a chance and at being published in the next edition of True North Pin Up Magazine.