About Us
FORWARD THINKING DESIGN
Professional photographer, Paul McKelvey, conceived the idea for KOBRA through his disappointment in the current market. McKelvey said, “I have used all the ‘on camera flash’ modifiers that are available and have been unsatisfied with the results. I decided to stop complaining and make my own.”
Paul McKelvey Photographer
Paul, who believes in storytelling through photography, has been a commercial and event photographer for the past 30 years. Growing up in Northern Ireland, his love for photography began at home through the influence of his father John and older brother Aidan, who built a dark room in their family home.
He started his photo career in London working for a large screen-printing company as a camera operator. Early on in his career, he backpacked throughout Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S., where he shot stock images for Tony Stone Inc., which is now Getty Images.
In the early 90’s, he continued to explore his photography through travel and signed a six-month contract as a cruise ship photographer. Here he learned about fill flash and color film processing and ended up staying for two years.
With his green card in hand, California was calling. He got his first taste of “red carpet events” when he spent a year working in Hollywood as an event photographer.
In 1994, he worked at a high-school portrait photography studio, where he helped bring the company into the digital age of processing and printing. It is also here where he met his wife, Sarah, with whom he has two beautiful daughters, Laura and Maggie.
In 1996, he started his own event and wedding photography company, which evolved into the successful Vero Image with Mario Romero. Events covered for clients include Hewlett-Packard, Rock & Republic, Pandora, Renegade Wheels, Real Simple Magazine, MAC Cosmetics, Billboard Awards, Clio Awards, Rubicon Project, Spotify, Clinique, Diesel, Reebok, GQ Magazine, L.A. Dodgers, Global Cuisine and Orbis Flying Eye Hospital.
Brian Hayes
I’ve worked in design and manufacturing for almost all of my adult life wearing many hats over the years. Working as a Tooling Designer, Process Engineer, Production Manager for various precision metal stamping, fine blanking, and mold companies throughout the past 20 plus years. Designing complete manufacturing cells and the specialized automation equipment required to reliably and efficiently produce statically controlled high volume production. Approximately 7 years ago I met Paul. I started doing freelance product design for an aftermarket motorcycle wheel company where he was working. Some of my work has been seen on a hit Discovery channel television show featuring building theme motorcycles. I’ve spent the last 5 years working on the ground up design of a motorcycle for a high profile motorcycle company. Having worked on many projects for others over the years I thought it time I throw my hat in the ring and give launching our own product a run.