One of the best parts of shooting for the Invest Ottawa / Digital Main Street initiative has been meeting the wide variety of dynamic entrepreneurs. This week we had the fun opportunity to photograph Evan Bett of SwingFit Performance Conditioning. We loved his optimistic and forward moving mindset! Evan blends his golf expertise, his passion for fitness and health, all into a successful Ottawa business. A pretty cool combination!
Dwayne.
© Dwayne Brown Studio
As a photographer, I do my very best to shoot every day. Actually, it’s almost impossible to not shoot every day. It’s my creative happy place.
This morning I decided to venture out for a quiet solo photowalk to see what would spark my eye. The trees are still somewhat bare as we’re still somewhat between seasons, but some flowers are starting to emerge. Photographing these emerging buds reminded me that despite the challenges we’re all in, the beauty of blossoms (like us), will still prevail and bloom. It also reminded me that flowers like people, need a cooperative culmination of elements to flourish. Flowers by nature, live with an infinite mindset and perhaps we could all benefit from that same optimistic patience.
(be safe, be healthy and be optimistically patient!)
Dwayne.
© Dwayne Brown
A self portrait is an opportunity to turn the camera around to reflect on the story that the highlights and shadows can tell us. Every wrinkle and grey hair, rightfully earned with years of life experience. The quiet calmness of capturing only now and today. Reflection and gratitude.
Thanks so much to Sean Tucker for the inspiration over the past few years, including recently to use the camera and explore the vulnerability and possibilities of a self portrait.
Special thanks to Jennifer for her loving support and insights, which help my ‘today’ feel so calm, right and purposeful.
Dwayne.
As we face another lockdown, I’m reminded just how helpful and important photowalks have been for me over the past 12 months. Jennifer and I got out yesterday and embraced the Good Friday chilliness for a fun (greyzone) photowalk in the Zibi / Chaudrièr area.
We all need our methods to keep our lives optimistic, forward moving and creatively positive - what’s yours?
Dwayne.
© Jennifer Kimberly
© Dwayne Brown
This weekend my partner Jennifer and I had the fortunate opportunity to be hosted to a night stay at the historic Fairmont Chateau Laurier. I’ve visited the hotel many times, either on shoots, touring friends visiting from out of town or just stopping in for a drink at Zoe’s lounge. As nice as those experiences have been, I’ve never stayed a night.
The experience of staying overnight and also having the chance to really explore the hotel with my camera, has made the world of difference. We looked more closely at the architecture (overall and detailed) and imagined the cultural history of the hotel. As we explored the unusually quiet hotel yesterday, we were humbly reminded that although the Chateau Laurier has not only hosted Kings, Queens and rockstars, it has also weathered great storms over the years. It’s prevailed through changes in government, economic challenges, world wars and now the Covid-19 pandemic. The Chateau Laurier is much more than an iconic hotel, it’s also a stoic and organic monument that has stood the test of time. Most importantly, it has humble hospitality and service at its core.
As quiet as the hotel was this weekend, it will bustle again soon, just as our great city will!
Thanks so much to Deneen Perrin and the rest of the Chateau staff for so kindly hosting us this weekend!
Dwayne.
© Dwayne Brown
© Dwayne Brown
© Dwayne Brown
© Dwayne Brown
© Dwayne Brown
© Dwayne Brown
© Dwayne Brown
© Dwayne Brown
© Jennifer Kimberly
I did a LinkedIn portrait shoot this past weekend for a local finance professional, Josiane Gomez. We primarily focused on headshots and while we were looking at the progress together, Josiane thanked me for shooting on the weekend. Her gratitude and my sincere appreciation for having the opportunity to shoot on any day, reminded me just how lucky I am to do what I do. I told her that I love shooting headshots and LinkedIn profile portraits on weekends, especially when I feel I’m helping individuals capture and present their personal brands positively and professionally.
It was great to photograph and spend time with someone who appreciated more than what and how I do what I do, but also why. It was also nice to learn that Josiane uses her accounting talents for much more than balancing numbers. She loves to help organizations and individuals bring their ideas and goals to fruition. Why we do what we do, is oh so important!
Thanks Josiane for the awesome hour of Saturday photography and grateful conversation!
Dwayne.
© Dwayne Brown Studio
A couple weeks ago I extended the offer to capture some imagery for any companies who needed photos to help illustrate some of their 'back to work' Covid-19 policies.
Late last week I dropped by the offices of Vocantas and met with Gary Hannah the CEO. We photographed some of their new 'meeting protocols'. We even captured one of the casualties of the pandemic - water starved office plants!
More importantly, what I discovered through my conversation with Gary (but it's hard to photograph), was his authentic and respectful dedication to his team. Protocols and policies are helpful to make staff feel safe, but nothing replaces compassionate leadership. www.vocantas.com
Dwayne.
© Dwayne Brown Studio - Vocantas
It was a great experience posting over 50 portraits and faces on Instagram over the Easter Weekend . Sometimes it’s about celebrating the past and being grateful for the present, which helps the future feel more optimistic. :)
Dwayne.
Is there anything more primal, more familiar or critically necessary, than seeing each other’s face? The first thing we are drawn to at birth, is our parent’s face, then family and friends, then others. Faces connect, they comfort, they disarm, they educate and they inspire.
I’ve been photographing faces for a very long time and I’ve so loved having that opportunity. I’ve been asked over the years, “are all faces photogenic?”. I’ve always said yes. But now in light of this crisis, I would respond to the question, “Yes and they all definitely matter!”.
Right now, we all need to keep our social distance and in some cases we even need to self isolate or quarantine ourselves. It’s critical that we do so and it’s helping. But it shines an even greater light on the importance of seeing each other’s face.
As a portrait photographer, I’m struggling with not being able to photograph people or faces. As I tell everyone, it’s not what I do, it’s who I am. I can’t wait to have opportunity to be face to face with someone to capture their portrait. I’m optimistically certain it’ll be soon! In the meantime, I’ll be sharing some of my favourite portraits on social media with the simple hashtag #facesmatter. Some photographs will be recent, some not so, and some will be from the early days.
Embrace and cherish the faces of your family and loved ones, your friends and even the folks you don’t yet know that well. Please pay close attention - they all matter greatly!
Thanks so much to my friend Tariq Anwar for being my first face to post!
Dwayne.
Tariq Anwar - #facesmatter
Today I needed to run an urgent errand downtown and I was presented with a somewhat surreal scene of empty streets and very few people. In Ottawa, we’ve all been urgently asked by the Ottawa Board of Health to stay home if at all possible and to continue to practice social distancing. We’ve also been told today by Ontario’s Premier, that all unessential businesses will be closed for 14 days beginning tomorrow at noon. We all really need to work together to contain the outbreak of the Covid19 Virus in Ottawa and Ontario. And we will!
As a photographer, it’s next to impossible to not be impacted by the visual statements of the temporary ‘new normal’. Empty streets, people wearing masks and gloves while grocery shopping, line-ups to get into banks and of course the most difficult visual - people actively avoiding each other, with the 2 meter suggested rule. The other day, I actually saw a couple kiss through the masks they were wearing.
We all really need to listen and adhere to the urgent requests by our governments to temporarily socially distance ourselves, so we all can get back to our ‘old normal’ sooner than later!
Dwayne.
#stayhome | #staysafe | #stayconnected | #staystrong
March 23, 2020
Jordan owns Danger Creative + Communications. She is a clever and tenacious marketer in the local Ottawa community and she loves making a difference. Her passion lies in understanding a specific audience and a business problem, and she works hard to bridge the gap between the two.
Whether working for a tech client, a non-profit or a community based organization, Jordan prides herself as a fast moving problem solver, who loves grassroots and engaging digital solutions.
After the photoshoot, I asked Jordan to share some advice with others.
Q: “As we continue to move into 2020 and based on your experience as a successful creative entrepreneur, what advice and/or insights would you share with other entrepreneurs?”
A: “Your brand is your firepower. The new world marketplace allows us to find any type of product in fifty colours, sizes, and shapes; so why does a customer buy from YOU? It comes down to your brand. We want to have a sense of affinity, or of aspiration. We want to recognize ourselves in your brand, or who we want to be. This is why it's so important to be creative with your marketing and product. Don't emulate; engage.”
Thanks so much Jordan!
Dwayne.
Eryn O’Neill is a very accomplished and talented Ottawa local artist.
With a Masters in Fine Art and many solo exhibitions to her credit, Eryn's recent work has been exploring urbanscapes, Desire Paths and obstructing construction. Her paintings have a dark rich palette, mixed with really cool textures and graphic compositions.
I’ve followed Eryn on social media for a while now and have been impressed by her consistent and positive approach in regards to her social marketing. As a fine art painter, she not only markets her work but also her creative profile and brand.
After the photoshoot, I asked Eryn to share some advice with others.
Q. “As we continue to move into 2020 and based on your experience as a successful creative entrepreneur, what advice and/or insights would you share with other entrepreneurs and artists?”
A: “As an Artist I have learned the importance of community and support. This comes in many forms, and it makes you appreciate the time and energy that people put into less conventional careers, the years of unseen and seemingly effortless skills. It’s a privilege to share what you do with others, and to celebrate the dedication to your career.”
Thanks so much Eryn!
Dwayne.
Christoph Hütter is a non-traditional revenue manager, which simply means he helps hotels gain a competitive advantage to grow their business. He also advises hotel technology companies how to enhance their products and services. Most hotel revenue managers primarily focus on data and numbers, but Christoph is also very passionate about staff happiness and creating a positive guest experience. He believes that this is the advantage that naturally and strategically translates into increased revenue for a hotel.
We asked Christoph to share some advice with other entrepreneurs.
Q. “As we move into 2020 and based on your experience as a successful entrepreneur, what advice and/or insights would you share with other entrepreneurs?”
A. "Do today what others don't, so you can do tomorrow what others can't. Be unique and true to yourself.”
Thanks so much, Christoph!
Dwayne
Christoph Hütter - non-traditional revenue manager
Dave is the co-founder and CEO of Soshal, as well as the newly launched Craft&Crew agency. He’s driven to do exceptional work, but even more so to fix what he calls a 'broken agency model' by creating a better experience for his team.
Like many local entrepreneurs, Dave has his business and creative sights further afield to other markets while embracing his Ottawa roots. We love his drive, his family focus and how he champions his team!
After the photo shoot, we asked Dave to share some advice with others.
Q. “As we move into 2020 and based on your experience as a successful entrepreneur, what advice and/or insights would you share with other entrepreneurs?”
A. "Always, in all ways, put people first."
Thanks so much Dave!
Dwayne
Dave Hale - Soshal + Craft&Crew
Brock is one of the two founders of Ottawa’s very successful and quickly growing digital agency, seoplus+. He co-leads a great team who help a wide array of companies be better connected with their clients by the use of unique SEO strategies.
We love Brock’s dynamic mix of creative intelligence, entrepreneurial drive and ever-present humility. After our sub-zero portrait shoot today, we asked him if he could share some advice with other entrepreneurs.
Q. “As we move into 2020 and based on your experience as a successful entrepreneur, what advice and/or insights would you share with other entrepreneurs?”
A. “One key to success which I would love to share with other entrepreneurs would be the ability to practice empathy. Whether it's a team member, client, partner or vendor, it's vital to be able to put yourself into someone else's shoes.”
Thanks so much Brock!
Dwayne
Brock Murray - seoplus+
Anyone who’s met Joelle Parenteau knows she’s a smart, courageous and a hard working business owner. She’s also a very humble entrepreneur who embraces failure just as much as success.
We photographed Joelle on the last day of 2019 in front of her newest venture, Wolf Down, a Berlin street food eatery in Centretown with a simple offering. The food is healthy and delicious, specializing in German döners, and the staff, super friendly.
After our shoot, we asked Joelle if she could share some advice to accompany her portrait.
Q. “As we move into 2020 and based on your experience as a successful entrepreneur, what advice and/or insights would you share with other entrepreneurs?”
A. “Don’t fear failure. The experience is both invaluable and transferable. You can always reinvent yourself. And come back with a vengeance.”
Thanks so much Joelle!
Dwayne
As we step into 2020, we’re proud to present the first portrait in our Ottawa Entrepreneurs series, highlighting Adrian Salamunovic.
Adrian has founded several companies and initiatives including DNA 11 and CanvasPop. He’s also mentored countless individuals and he’s a strategic advisor to several North American companies. Adrian has recently co-authoured the Amazon #1 bestselling book 'FREE PR’. To complement these accomplishments, Adrian is always generous to share ideas and inspiration, as well as offering to connect other entrepreneurs with the right people.
After our shoot, we asked Adrian if he’d could share some advice to accompany his portrait.
Q. “As we move into 2020 and based on your experience as a successful entrepreneur, what advice and/or insights would you share with other entrepreneurs?”
A. “I think finding mentors and surrounding yourself with people who you admire or have things to teach you is critical to long term success. I also think that as an entrepreneur, you can never stop learning. I like to spend at least 1 hour a day absorbing information from blogs, books, podcasts, and videos. That investment of just one hour a day, every day, adds up.”
Thanks so much Adrian!
Dwayne
© Dwayne Brown Studio
It was always a pleasure to photograph Mark Carney, when he was the Governor of the Bank of Canada. This portrait reminds me, that my roots in headshot photography has always been in photographing senior executives and typically very important people.
Now I get to apply that same attention-to-detail to anyone who needs a #corporate portrait or a #LinkedIn headshot. I've always believed that everyone deserves the same care and attention!
Dwayne.
Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England
We go through life and meet many people. Some for 5 minutes, some for 5 years and some for a lifetime. We meet people who are young souls and some old. We meet some people who are positively minded and some who struggle. We meet some people who help us and others whom we lend a hand.
Then sometimes we get to meet people who are special. They are wiser than their years. They whistle because they have a happy soul. They have an honest heart and try their best. They love both cats and dogs alike. They’re frugal yet generous. They choose to walk instead of the bus. They’re private with their feelings and still have an open heart. And at the end of the day, they’re a good ‘egg’. :)
I’m so very fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet Julia Scott and to be able to call her my friend and assistant extraordinaire!
Dwayne.
I‘m super lucky I get to photograph so many cool and interesting people. Yesterday I had the opportunity to take a portrait of someone who is beyond special to me, my daughter Claire Brown. It was her official appointment photo for her new position at Cardel Homes Ottawa, as their Marketing and Sales Coordinator.
Anyone who has met or worked with Claire knows how lovely she is and how she has the innate ability to make people comfortable and instantly feel regarded. As I always say, “Claire is sunshine!”. She has always had emotional intelligence and true compassion, but yesterday I saw something else in her portrait. Yes, she looks beautiful and nice, but I believe we also captured her professionalism and confidence.
As a father I’ll always be proud of Claire. She has accomplished so much and is such a talented person. But I am also reminded of how proud I am of her, as a fellow creative professional. She’s smart, she’s clever and she’s tenaciously determined to do great work!
Dwayne. (Claire’s dad)
