Rooted in Community Since 1938
In 1938, our business doors opened with a simple, unchanging philosophy: treat every customer like a neighbor, and deliver quality you can trust.
What started as a small, local dream has grown through the decades, weathering changing times and evolving technologies. Today, three generations later, we remain proudly family-owned and deeply rooted right here in the community.
Why Our History Matters to Your Present
We believe that being in business for nearly a century isn’t just about marking time—it’s about perfecting our craft and building relationships that last.
- Generations of Expertise: The skills and values passed down through our family mean you get unmatched institutional knowledge and dedication to detail.
- Deeply Local: We live where we work. Every project we take on, product we sell, or service we provide is our way of investing back into the community that has supported us for over 85 years.
- Honest, Personal Service: You aren’t just a transaction to us. When you work with us, you’re dealing directly with a family that puts their name and reputation behind everything they do.
Our Story
For more than 85 years, Covello & Covello Photography has been preserving the people, places, and moments that define Santa Cruz County. Since its founding in 1938, our studio has built a reputation for exceptional photography, unmatched craftsmanship, and a lasting commitment to our community.
Our story began in 1938 when renowned Santa Cruz photographer Ed Webber established Webber’s Photo Service. As the area’s premier news photography service, Webber documented many of Santa Cruz’s most significant moments, providing photographs for the Santa Cruz Sentinel, serving local businesses with commercial photography, and becoming the primary photography provider for the Miss California Pageant. Today, thousands of those historic negatives form one of the region’s most valuable visual archives, preserving the story of Santa Cruz from the post-World War II era and beyond.
In 1960, Ed Webber passed the business to his longtime employee, master photographer Vester Dick, and his wife, Esther. Under their leadership, the studio expanded into large group photography, serving the many camps and conference centers nestled throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains—a specialty that remains one of our signature services today.
As the photography industry evolved, so did the studio. When the Santa Cruz Sentinel established its own photography department in 1966, Vester broadened the business to include wedding and portrait photography. Meanwhile, Esther developed an extraordinary collection of historical Santa Cruz images dating back to the mid-1800s, creating an archive that continues to be an invaluable resource for historians, researchers, students, and local families.
In 1979, Vester entrusted the business to his employee, Karen Covello, and her husband, Jon Covello. With a renewed vision, the studio became Covello & Covello Photography. Together, Karen and Jon expanded the company’s reputation for wedding, portrait, and large group photography, earning recognition as one of the nation’s leading specialists in large group photography while continuing the studio’s tradition of personalized service and exceptional quality.
Today, Covello & Covello Photography is proud to care for one of the most extensive photographic archives of the Santa Cruz area. Our collection of historical and stock photographs is regularly used by historians, educators, researchers, and community members seeking to reconnect with the area’s rich history.
While photography technology has changed dramatically over the decades, our commitment has remained the same. Every photograph we produce reflects the attention to detail, craftsmanship, and personal service that have defined our studio since 1938. By maintaining our production process in-house, we ensure the highest quality standards while meeting the demanding timelines of our camp, conference, school, business, and event clients.
From historic landmarks to once-in-a-lifetime celebrations, Covello & Covello Photography continues to tell the story of Santa Cruz—one photograph at a time.
Our legacy is built on creativity, quality, and service, and we look forward to preserving memories for generations to come.