By: Shelley McKinley As the President of Provost Studios LLC, a 76-year old Black-owned business that survived racial integration and advancements in photography when others did not, Mrs. Provost credits the strong foundation that her late husband laid, as well as their teamwork as a family for their success as a well-respected business that has been a fixture among leaders at the international, national, state, and local levels. Provost and Associates will celebrate 50 years at their current location in August 2024, and have seen photography change from black-and-white photos developed in a dark room, to digital photography now. They embrace change. Mrs. Georgia Provost’s love for people, photography, philanthropy, Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, and Texas Southern University are evident in her talk, attire, and pictures that adorn Provost & Associates Photography Studio. Herbert Provost attended Texas Southern University, during which time he studied under A. C. Teal at the Teal School of Photography in Houston, Texas. He then served in the U. S. Navy during World War II. That year he enrolled in an 18-month course at the Progressive School of Professional Photographers in New Haven, Connecticut to continue his education in photography. Returning to Houston in 1947, Provost interned for portraits under Paul Gittings and interned for commercial photography under Lawless and Sons. In 1948, Provost opened his own studio. Georgia Provost, 20 years younger than her husband and once a fashion model, explained, “We met at Park Theater on Dowling Street. The rest is history! We got married in 1963.” She organized models for a show that Herbert photographed soon after meeting him. “He was featured in Ebony Magazine as ‘Bachelor of the Year’ but I was attracted to his wisdom.” Once a student at Texas Southern University studying to become a dietician, she changed her major to photography, noting that there was more money to be made behind the lens than in front of it. Their son, Jerome Provost, had his own quasi-internship in sixth grade when the instant Polaroid camera and film emerged. “My husband bought two Polaroid cameras […]
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