GENE KESTER

PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

Gene grew up in Silicon Valley in the 1960s. He began his love for photography taking pictures when his grandmother bought him a camera for their trip around the world at the age of 13 before his freshman year of high school.



In high school, where all good garage bands started his friend Stevie Knicks had just picked up her microphone, and her neighbor Tom Johnson grabbed his guitar. Gene decided he was not musically inclined, so he put down the Gibson and picked up the camera again and his legendary music industry photographic journey had officially begun. 

He became a professional photographer in college, working with his friends who were starting out in the music industry. Including singer, songwriter, and producer Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac. He has personal experiences and his works included James Taylor, Richie Havens, The Doobie Brothers, Edgar, Johnny Winter, and Jimi Hendrix.

In 1978 he founded Photoflex, the leading manufacturer of photographic and video lighting products where he expanded into corporate and magazine photography for entities like Apple, Hewlett-Packard, Macy’s, Any Mountain magazine, and more.

Gene has settled down after selling the company with his family in the great state of Texas.