Since 1990, I have been grateful for all those who have been a part of my portrait journey and business success over the years.  For much of that time,  Shannon Coates was an instrumental part but has since retired from the industry and is now pursuing artistic endeavors of her own.  I cherish all the great memories and accomplishments we made together as a team.

Today, COATES PORTRAIT DESIGN portraits continue to hang in homes throughout the world.  Many have received prestigious awards as the Kodak Gallery Award for Photographic Excellence and the Fuji, Masterpiece Award, and the recipient of numerous Salon Awards from the Professional Photographers of Canada.  Furthermore, I am proud to have been internationally recognized, published, and nationally accredited within our industry.

I have always recognized the important role that portraiture plays in helping children develop a positive self-image, so I continue to focus my artistic energies on creating on-location children's portraiture that enables our clients to achieve both family and home decor goals.

My portraits will make your heart smile and will be a meaningful part of your home.

Outside of my portrait business, I love hiking and seeking out beautiful landscapes with my camera, enjoy sports, and am active in the Vancouver music scene playing in classic rock cover bands as a keyboardist and vocalist.

I sign my correspondence as "Robert Coates, MPA, F/PPOC-BC, B.Comm" because I'm a proud and decorated member of the Professional Photographers of Canada (PPOC) and was awarded my Fellowship (F/PPOC) for service and commitment to the profession.  Furthermore, my  Master of Photographic Arts (MPA) designation has been bestowed upon me FOUR TIMES from PPOC for proven photographic ability and dedication.  Trust me, I am so humbled with these honours for something I love doing and so fortunate to share this passion with my clients.

I am also a proud graduate from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, which continues to be such a strong foundation for COATES PORTRAIT DESIGN to this day.