Open Shutter Live

Jesse Frybort returns to the podcast fresh off an inspiring trip to Scotland that reignited his passion for photography. In this episode, he shares stories from his travels, capturing the beauty of the Scottish landscape, and his excitement about returning home to witness and photograph the northern lights—a bucket list moment for him. Jesse also discusses the importance of being intentional with...

Samantha Hurley is a seasoned fine art photographer who is also an accomplished portrait and product photographer over the past decade. Being obsessed with the craft, Samantha explains why you need to be invested in the process over results and in times of creative rut, you just need to keep going. Her diverse portfolio spans across various mediums, from paint to film and digital, with exhibitions...

In this episode of *Open Shutter*, I’m joined by Ben Carmichael, owner of the media agency Shot By Ben. We dive into the transition from shooting photos for fun to working with clients, exploring the balance between passion and profession. Ben's journey started unexpectedly—while studying to become an athletic therapist, he taught himself sports photography by capturing college basketball games. A...

Join us for an insightful conversation with Akbar Shah, a world traveler whose journeys have taken him to the farthest corners of the globe. After relocating to Canada to begin a new chapter in life, Akbar discovered his passion for photography, which soon evolved from a hobby into a thriving commercial pursuit. In this episode, Akbar shares his experiences navigating different photography niches—...

In this episode, Emily Blocksdorf joins us to share the story behind her career shift into brand photography and marketing. She dives into the key lessons she's learned along the way, her strategies for connecting with clients, and how she consistently delivers exceptional, standout work. Emily also opens up about the steps she's taking to avoid burnout in this demanding industry. Whether...

In this episode of Open Shutter, Jonathan Norville, originally from St. Lucia and now living in London, Ontari, joins the podcast to share his journey as both an academic and a creative. Jonathan has a passion for photography, cycling, and woodworking, even building his own bikes from scratch. After the sudden passing of his mother in 2020, he channeled his photography into asking deep, philosophi...

Welcome back to another episode of Open Shutter as I welcome content creator Nika Zbasnik! While working in the hospitality industry in the UK, Nika pursued her interest in the creative world, eventually landing freelance jobs which fueled her passion further. She moved to Toronto, landing a full time content creator job at a large utility company while also serving her own clients in the lifestyl...

Travel photographer Calvin Lau opens up the fall schedule of Open Shutter! If you have the post summer blues, have a case of wanderlust, or have an upcoming trip - this episode is for you! We dive into all things including why Calvin hated photography in the beginning, what led to his transition, and his views on how social media has affected tourism as a whole. And what exactly is his favourite d...

Welcome back to another episode of Open Shutter as Toronto based photographer, CJ Burnell, joins the program! CJ prides himself on trying to be an all rounded photographer and shares his tips on avoiding a being one dimensional artist. CJ's journey included enrolling in a photography certificate program where he was worried that his gear wasn't good enough. His teacher told him that it&#39...

Welcome back to another episode of Open Shutter as I welcome local street and portrait photographer, Aseani Osven! I've known Aseani for a while and have always admired how he's able to capture that perfect moment! Aseani discusses why he got into photography, why you need to push yourself out of your comfort zone, and why experimenting is crucial to his success. Aseani's love of photo...

We're live from the nation's capital with Ottawa photographer, Jessica Wong! Jessica's journey started during the pandemic. She quickly found her niche capturing the local Ottawa scene, including sunrises, sunsets, tulips, and chasing the night sky. Jessica pushed past her comfort zone, expanding into portrait photography, brand shoots, and attending local markets to sell her work. Jes...

Welcome back to another episode of Open Shutter as I welcome photographer, custom home builder, and all around handy man, Mark Robinson! I met Mark five years ago at a meetup in Toronto and he suggested that I organize a day out to his cafe in his hometown of Bowmanville. Needless to say, it was a great day out and glad that we were able to visit because since then, him and his wife have sold the...

Welcome back to another episode of Open Shutter as I welcome creator  @saarvendra  to the program! I met Saarvendra a few weeks ago at a creator meetup so I figured I would invite him and get his insights since he has a large following on social media. He shares his approach on how he pushes his creative editing limits, what led to to his success, his stance on AI, and why making what you want is...

In this episode of Open Shutter, I welcome from the UK, specifically Wales, photographer, Daniel Firth! If you have never been to Wales, this may peek your interest! Daniel shares his early beginnings as a wedding and commercial photographer and how these experiences shaped his outlook when it came to growing his own art. His curiosity with the history of photography led him to buying vintage came...

Welcome back to another episode of Open Shutter as Astro and Landscape Photographer, Gandhar Wazalwar, joins the program ! Gandhar shares how he dug himself out of a 10 year gap with picking up the camera and turned that into a fulfilling journey of chasing the dark skies. He explains his process, why you don't need fancy equipment for shooting astro, and why he values process over results to...

Rob shares his journey into photography where it all started from a back injury in which he had to give up golf. Rob, needing a new hobby to replace golf, his wife bought him a camera. Suddenly, Rob's world changed. He started to practice, joined various clubs and courses, and met people in the community. Not wanting to be tied down to a specific niche, Rob loves the challenge of trying differ...

Welcome back to another episode of Open Shutter as I welcome Photographer Chis Noronha! Chris is a seasoned wildlife and nature photographer with his journey starting back in 2007 with his honeymoon in Mexico. At the time, he wanted to take better photos so he invested in a DSLR and the rest as they say is history. Through the years, Chris has been engaged with the photographer community, learning...

In this episode of Open Shutter, we're live from the nation's capital as I welcome photographer, Farhina Balayet. I'm always excited to speak with creators who live in different cities as you get a new perspective and approach. It's a fascinating conversation as we discuss the best photography spots in Ottawa, the meetup culture, how to overcome imposter syndrome, the importance of...

Welcome back to another episode of Open Shutter as I welcome photographer, Michele Thompson to the program. Michele's journey started when she was trying to find a way to cope with her depression and anxiety. Through this journey, she loved how the camera slowed down life and helped her focus in the moment. This passion led Michele to learn as much as she could, attending various meetups in th...

I have the pleasure of welcoming photographer, Varad Thalnerkar, to the program! Join the conversation as we discuss Varad's early beginnings, how he got himself motivated, and how he uses mediation to centre himself in this noisy world. Varad considers himself a landscape photographer but don't let that fool you, his astro stuff is pretty good as well and he credits extensive planning and...

In this episode of Open Shutter, I welcome Toronto photographer, Mohsen Majnoon! Mohsen is a seasoned astro photographer, having recently shot both the solar eclipse and the northern lights within a month! Despite his experience and knowledge, he says he is constantly learning, meeting new people, and growing as a photographer, diving into different niches such as medium format, film, and even vid...

Marni is an accomplished photographer having a self published book, "Walking The 6ix", running the "ladies of the GTA" photography group, along with travelling to far flung destinations to capture its beauty. A huge thank you to Marni for sharing her journey and experiences, what she's learned, and how her lessons can help others out there. You can follow Marni here! https:...

In this episode of Open Shutter, I welcome photographer, Tatiana Campbell aka @sunshine_obsessed on Instagram. Join the conversation as we dive into Tatiana's early beginnings, the importance of community, how her photography is a mood booster, and her recent experience at Twist Gallery where she printed and sold her work for the first time. It's a fascinating conversation with some great...

Welcome to another episode with local photographer and creator, Christine Duncan. What I love about Christine's work goes beyond her photos, but it's her philosophical approach to being a creator. She loves to engage her audience, asking thoughtful questions, provoking discussion, and encouraging growth. It's a fascinating conversation as we dive into all things surrounding "The C...

Welcome to another episode of Open Shutter Live with Eddie Chan! Eddie is a passionate a photographer dedicated to the craft with his love of chasing the night skies, eclipses, and sun alignments. Join the conversation as Eddie shares his first memories with a camera, why community is critical, and the friendships he has formed which has pushed him outside his comfort zone. A massive thank you to...