Mat Coker is a family photographer based in Trenton, Ontario, in Canada. Together with Naomi, he runs Acorn and Oak Family Photography.
He saved up for his first camera at the age of ten and photographed family life and wildlife on film. Later he photographed thousands of children each year for their school portraits and graduation pictures. When their own children were one and three years old, Mat and Naomi left their jobs and went all-in on family photography.
Today he photographs families, newborns at home and graduates around the Quinte area, and he teaches one-on-one photography classes.
In our live conversation in 2026, he spoke about an early studio portrait of four young children. It was the moment he began to mix studio portraits with candid moments. “I embraced: let’s go for something real,” he said.
