ABOUT

Kaz Ayukawa was born in Mission City, British Columbia, Canada. His father was a saw mill worker and his mother was a homemaker with three children to look after while tending their small strawberry farm.

At the outset of WWII the family was relocated to a Southern Alberta farm and when the war ended they decided to continue farming in the area. By this time there were 5 children and it was assumed that Kaz’s future would probably involve the family farming business.

But he had other ideas. At the age of 13 Kaz bought his first camera, a Kodak Brownie. That purchase sparked the beginning of a successful career in photography and art that continues to this day.

The start of his professional career began at the age of 21 when he was hired by the local CBC affiliate TV station as an intern leading to a position as a news cameraman and photographer for the next six years.

In the mid-60’s Kaz earned his Cinematography and Photographic Arts degree at Columbia College in Chicago, Illinois. While pursuing his degree, he interned at various Chicago film and graphics arts firms, working as a cameraman and artist on many training and documentary films. After completing college, Kaz freelanced in the Chicago area, eventually opening his own studio.

His career as a commercial photographer, graphic artist and film-maker spans over 30 years.  He has worked on photographic projects with clients from all over the Chicago metropolitan area including McDonald’s, Tappan Appliances, Bernina of America, Abbott Laboratories, ITW Hi-Cone, Iragashi USA, Sewing Information Resources, Norwood Marking System, A.O.Smith Harvestore, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, FA.Edmunds and Patten Industries.