Recently, on the eve of my third full year as a full-time commercial photographer, I sat in my Ottawa studio, looking back at the path that brought me where I am today. It was the summer of 2023 when I made the official leap, closing the door on my career as a freelance translator.
Leaving translation wasn’t easy; I’ve always loved the art of language and the challenge of finding the proper words to convey a specific message. But I realized that commercial photography wasn’t a departure from that passion.
It was an evolution.
Today, I no longer translate sentences. I translate stories, brand values, and emotions through powerful visuals.
As I look back on this journey, I can pinpoint three distinct images that didn’t just capture a moment; they pushed me toward the life I lead today.
The Seed of Storytelling
The first is a memorable photo of my children, captured with a basic Canon point-and-shoot back in 2010. Technically, it was nothing special. I didn’t use any fancy lighting or high-end lens. But it was the first time I realized I could tell a story with a camera.
In the frame, my children are caught in an innocent display of love and tenderness, oblivious to the world around them. Today, they are grown, and that moment is a sweet memory of a time long gone. Looking at this photo now immediately takes me back to the warmth of that afternoon. It taught me that a photograph is more than a file; it is a priceless memento with the power to defy time.
The Technical Spark
Fast forward five years to 2015. By then, I had graduated to my first “real” camera, a Nikon D3100. I remember being obsessed with images I saw online where the subject popped against a beautiful, creamy, blurry background. The elusive bokeh.
With my daughter happily posing as my model, I took many shots, adjusting settings and moving back and forth until, finally, it clicked.
I had done it.
I had captured a portrait where the focus was tack-sharp on her eyes while the world behind her melted away. That was the spark that lit the fire. It was no longer only about “taking a picture”; it was about mastering the craft. I realized that by controlling the light and the subject, I could direct the viewer’s eye exactly where I wanted it to go.
The Professional Shift
The last piece of the puzzle fell into place when I began working on a project for GDG Watches, a watch distributor located right here in Ottawa. This was one of my first true commercial tests. My task was to create both clean “packshots” for their website and evocative lifestyle images for social media.
Product photography is a game of details. I spent hours playing with the interplay of light and shadow, using every prop I had on hand to highlight the brushed steel and intricate dials of the timepieces. I discovered a different thrill here: the joy of creative problem-solving. I wasn’t just capturing beauty; I was building a visual identity to help a fellow Canadian entrepreneur grow their brand.
Why I Do What I Do
These three images represent the pillars of my commercial photography business today: the power to preserve a fleeting moment, the technical discipline required to master a technique, and the excitement of solving a client’s unique challenge.
Three years in, and I still feel that same unbridled joy every time I pick up my camera.
Whether I’m shooting a high-end product or a corporate portrait, I’m still translating, finding a way to tell the most authentic story.
