Open Shutter Live

Toronto-based wedding photographer Daria Summers joins the podcast to share her journey as a business owner and creative. She talks about what she loves about capturing weddings, why client connection matters more than just making a sale, and the challenge of learning how to market herself in the North American industry after moving from Ukraine.Daria also opens up about balancing trends with authenticity, how photography transformed her self-esteem, managing burnout, and what continues to inspire her to create meaningful, stunning images.Dariahttps://www.instagram.com/daria__summers/Follow Open Shutter for future show announcements!https://www.instagram.com/openshutteryoutube/like and subscribe:)

Creator, entrepreneur, and business owner Sid Sawant joins the program to discuss his journey into content creation, what storytelling truly means to him, and why long-form narrative content still matters in a world obsessed with short attention spans.Sid shares how he began as an actor before pivoting into photography through headshots, later building a career in wedding and event photography. We dive into his experience consulting on content strategy, the importance of authenticity in building a brand, and how AI is reshaping his business.Sid also reveals the one thing he believes stops most creators from succeeding, and how he plans to solve that problem to help creators grow, thrive, and build sustainable creative careers.Sid's Socialshttps://www.instagram.com/sidsawantartist/

Dancer, model, actor, musician, and poet Deiondre Hall joins the program for a conversation about artistry, discipline, and chasing your dreams without apology.Recently performing as a dancer for the Raptors 905, the G League affiliate of the Toronto Raptors, Deiondre shares how surrounding himself with the right people and support system has helped elevate his craft.Originally from Jamaica and moving to Canada to pursue his ambitions, Deiondre reflects on building a life his younger self would be proud of.We talk about inspiring young boys to pursue creative careers, why comparison can stunt growth, and how in every industry he enters, his goal remains the same: connect with others, share his art, and stay authentically himself.Deiondre's socials:https://www.instagram.com/iamdeiondre/Follow Open Shutter for future show announcements!https://www.instagram.com/openshutteryoutube/like and subscribe:)

Brittany Martin is a Toronto street and architecture photographer at heart, capturing the fleeting moments in the city. Brittany is drawn to contrasts that feel almost like visual riddles: crowded spaces that somehow feel empty, still moments inside motion, and fleeting human stories tucked between steel and glass.Lately, Brittany has been expanding the lens into portrait work while developing a photo series centred on people in motion, chasing that blink-and-it’s-gone moment that turns ordinary scenes into something cinematic. We dive into his fascination with the city’s metro system, where repetition, symmetry, and pattern create an unexpected kind of beauty beneath the surface.The conversation also explores how AI reshaped Brittany's path, leading to step away from a career in software development and lean deeper into creative risk. Brittany shares a recent subway moment that perfectly captures his philosophy: always have your camera ready, because magic doesn’t wait.Outside of photography, Brittany builds drones, a hands-on hobby that fuels creativity and keeps burnout at bay. It’s a conversation about curiosity, timing, and learning to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be framed.Brittany Martinhttps://www.instagram.com/brittanybeephoto/Follow Open Shutter for future show announcements!https://www.instagram.com/openshutteryoutube/like and subscribe:)

Cinematographer Bianca Cline joins the program, live from Salt Lake City, Utah. With over 25 years in the film industry, Bianca’s journey spans films, commercials, and documentaries, evolving from her early days in Los Angeles to a career shaped by intention and resilience.She opens up about a pivotal shift in her career, recognizing she was saying yes to projects that didn’t light her up. That realization led her toward commercial work, offering not only better balance while raising her children, but also a clearer sense of creative control and sustainability.Bianca dives into the changing landscape of filmmaking, from the attention economy shaped by social media to the rise of streaming platforms and how they’ve disrupted the industry. She reflects on the loss of shared cultural rituals, describing the movie theater experience as something almost sacred, now fading in the era of convenience.The conversation explores what it really takes to break into filmmaking, with Bianca emphasizing that there is no single path, only persistence, curiosity, and community. She also shares her perspective on the growing presence of AI and what it means for the future of storytelling.On a deeply personal level, Bianca speaks about some of the most challenging moments in her life and career, including coming out as a trans woman and continuing her work on the film *Rust* following the tragic loss of her friend and colleague.Her message to women cinematographers is clear and unwavering: there is still ground to claim, and it’s worth fighting for.Biancahttps://www.instagram.com/biancaclinedp/Follow Open Shutter for future show announcements!https://www.instagram.com/openshutteryoutube/like and subscribe:)

Model and fine artist Becca Romero steps into the conversation, bringing a perspective shaped by both creative expression and human understanding.Starting her modeling journey at just 16, Becca shares how years in front of the camera built not only her portfolio, but her confidence, presence, and sense of self. What began as posing evolved into something deeper—a study of emotion, storytelling, and vulnerability through the lens.Alongside her work in the arts, Becca is pursuing social work with the goal of becoming a psychotherapist, driven by a desire to support people through crisis and transformation. She reflects on how her dual worlds—art and science—don’t compete, but instead sharpen each other, giving her a unique way of seeing people.With a background in policing, Becca brings a grounded understanding of human complexity, adding another layer to both her creative and professional path.She opens up about building a trusted network of photographers, what makes a collaboration feel safe and empowering—especially in boudoir and nude photography—and the red flags models should never ignore.We also go behind the scenes of a model’s day on set, exploring the unseen work, the mental focus, and the energy it takes to truly show up.At its core, this conversation is about presence—learning to put the phone down, reconnect with nature, and fully inhabit the moment you’re in.Beccahttps://www.instagram.com/becs_models_/Follow Open Shutter for future show announcements!https://www.instagram.com/openshutteryoutube/like and subscribe:)

Meg brings a unique perspective shaped by an unexpected path, from social services to leading creative direction and mentoring entrepreneurs. She has oversaw 600 businesses in downtown Guelph, gaining a deep understanding of people, systems, and what makes something truly connect.At the core of Meg’s work is one belief: relationships matter. She leans into the messy middle, the raw, unpolished process of growth, both in business and in life. Whether she’s collaborating with female entrepreneurs or stepping into multiple roles for her clients, she focuses on building trust, clarity, and momentum.In this conversation, Meg shares her transition out of an 11-year career, her commitment to structure and systems, and why your voice matters more than ever in a world increasingly shaped by AI.Her philosophy is simple but powerful: practice makes progress. Create before you consume. Show up, challenge yourself, and play the long game.This is a conversation about connection, courage, and finding your voice, again and again.Meg https://www.instagram.com/megdunningcreative/Follow Open Shutter for future show announcements!https://www.instagram.com/openshutteryoutube/like and subscribe:)

Actor, stand-up comic, visual artist, and photographer Brandon Zakkai (aka @visualshoegaze) joins the program for a conversation that blurs the lines between disciplines and dives deep into creative instinct.Known for his experimental approach to photography, Brandon works primarily with light and intentional camera movement, creating images that feel less like documentation and more like memory itself. In 2024, a literal fall while taking a photo unexpectedly shaped his artistic direction, leading him to lean fully into this abstract, motion-driven style. You could say he quite literally “fell” into it.Brandon shares why photography stands apart from his other creative outlets: it’s immediate, permissionless, and entirely his own. No gatekeepers, no competition, just the act of seeing and creating.The conversation explores his fascination with memory, how it fades, distorts, and reshapes over time, and how that philosophy shows up in his work behind the lens.He also breaks down his go-to gear for concert photography, including his surprising “secret weapon” and his strong advocacy for micro four-thirds systems, highlighting both their quality and versatility. This passion has even led to a growing partnership with the brand.Beyond the camera, Brandon talks about his recent dive into printing his own work and his desire to one day work inside a print shop, bringing his images full circle from capture to physical form.This episode is a reminder that sometimes the best creative paths aren’t planned… they’re stumbled into.

Brandon

https://www.instagram.com/visualshoegaze/

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Wedding photographer Ed Yao joins the program to share his unconventional path into the world of wedding photography. Originally following in his father’s footsteps with a Master of Science, Ed took a year off to travel with a new camera in hand. What began as curiosity quickly turned into something deeper. He realized life in a lab wasn’t for him. As a natural extrovert, he craved connection, energy, and the human stories unfolding in front of a lens.After proving to his parents that photography could provide a real living, Ed committed fully and never looked back. His early break came in Montreal, where he began shooting nightlife and club events. As his photos circulated through the city’s nightlife scene, more venues started to notice his work and opportunities followed.Ed discusses the realities of working in the wedding photography industry, from building trust with couples to understanding why wedding photography isn’t quite the high-pressure environment people imagine. He also shares practical advice for beginners, how photographers can scale their business, and why valuing your work is essential to long-term success.In this conversation, Ed offers insight into the business, creativity, and mindset required to succeed.You can follow Ed herehttps://www.instagram.com/edyaophoto/Follow Open Shutter for future show announcements!https://www.instagram.com/openshutteryoutube/like and subscribe:)

Filmmaker and photographer Justin Friesen joins the program to share his journey through the creative trenches of the music and film scene in Toronto.Justin originally studied film production with the goal of becoming a film director, but his path took an unexpected turn when his first paid project turned out to be a music video. That opportunity opened the door to the local music world and set him on a creative trajectory he didn’t initially plan.During the pandemic, Justin began reaching out to bands he already knew, offering to collaborate and create. The momentum snowballed. Between 2024 and 2025 alone, he worked with over 200 artists, building a reputation in Toronto’s music scene as both a filmmaker and photographer who understands musicians and their stories.In this conversation, Justin breaks down the realities of creative freelancing: the challenges of collaborating with other artists, how to price your work properly, and the delicate balancing act of avoiding burnout while staying creatively alive.We also dive into:• Why keeping art in the city matters• The idea of trying to get bored with your own photography* to keep evolving• The power of soft goals vs. hard goals• The real challenges and freedoms of being a freelancerThis is a conversation about creativity, collaboration, and staying curious in a fast-moving artistic world.Justin https://www.instagram.com/justin.friesen/Follow Open Shutter for future show announcements!https://www.instagram.com/openshutteryoutube/like and subscribe:)