If there is a common thread connecting all Houston-area Black celebrities, politicians, activists and organizational leaders, it’s photographer extraordinaire Vicky Pink.
She’s captured in pictures and videos almost every Black happening imaginable – mayoral inaugurations, congressional meetings, organizational black-tie affairs, church bazaars and so much more.
That’s why it came as no surprise to anyone that Pink, at some point, put together a show of her immense portfolio of work cataloging Houston’s happenings over the past two decades.
That showing recently came. Well, kind of.
Pink provided a sneak peek while teasing a larger, more extensive showing coming soon. That preview came in the form of a gathering called “Through Vicky’s Lense – Making the Cut: A Photographic Journey.”
The event coincided with the celebration of Pink’s 60th birthday.
The showcase was described as “an inaugural presentation representing 20 years of excellence in photojournalism.” The exhibit also provided a glimpse of individuals Pink has covered extensively, including the late U.S. Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee and Sylvester Turner.
For Pink, the event was about displaying some of her award-winning photos and celebrating the relationships she’s built through her craft.
“Being a photographer, you not only are photographing events, but a lot of times they’ll use you over and over,” said Pink, who worked as an engineer and educator before making photography her full-time gig. “So, over the period of years, you get to know that family. You get to know their kids. You get to see them when they’re little and then when they grow up.”
Held at the Kay Davis Showroom (4237 Davenport, Houston, 77051), an intimate gathering of Pink’s family, friends, and business associates was treated to a showing of Pink’s work, which included photo displays, videography work and scores of copies of International Focus Magazine (IF), an entity she co-founded.
Attendees included family and friends, like her 90-year-old father Henry Heileman, granddaughter Hazel Marie Sims, son Amir Pink, mentors, photography buffs and Dr. Ellene Polidore, one of Pink’s best friends from their Kashmere High School days. Her granddaughter happens to be an up-and-coming photographer.
“Back in the day now, we graduated in 80-something, back when the band was live and the football team was good,” recalled Polidore, mother of Taylor Polidore Williams (star of Tyler Perry’s Netflix series “Beauty in Black”). “We had wonderful teachers that taught us how not only to take pictures but to develop pictures.”
Polidore said she and Vicky learned from the best.
“[Vicky] is my go-to person for photography because she knows how to capture what you want in the moment and I just love her for that,” shared Polidore.
Pink traces her passion for photography to her mother (Marie Heileman), who loved keeping photo albums and Pink, who describes her as “always taking our pictures.” Pink credits her photography mentors (Ben DeSoto, Grady Carter, Earlie Hudnall and Melvin Dixon) for helping her hone her skills to the level of a trusted professional.
It’s no stretch to say Pink’s work has appeared in nearly every Black-owned media publication in the Greater Houston area, including the Defender.
She remains a trusted and go-to photographer for many of Houston’s movers and shakers. So much so that Pink was requested to accompany several Houston-area politicians (including Jackson Lee) on multiple trips to Washington, D.C., to cover the Congressional Black Caucus. Pink has even covered assignments overseas, including Cuba and Canada. Additionally, Pink traveled to the Bahamas to shoot the Myles Munroe funeral.
Along with IF, Pink owns and operates her own business, VP Productions, which offers video, photography, portraits and more, including event and conference coverage.
