Ottawa & Gatineau Portrait Photographer
Hi, I'm Shawn.
I make portraits
that mean something.
Photographer. Artist. Human.
Award-winning photographer based in the Gatineau Hills. Over 17 years shooting for editorial publications, galleries, and brands — and the work I care most about is the portrait session where someone walks out looking exactly like the person they actually are.
I'm proud to create a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone — including queer and trans clients.
How I work
Every session starts
with a conversation.
Not about lenses or lighting. About you — your work, your audience, the impression you want to make, and the chapter you're stepping into.
Most people come in a little uncertain. That's normal. My job is to make the space feel safe enough for something real to happen. Then we build the image around that — bold, cinematic, human. Nothing generic. Nothing forgettable.
The right photo won't just represent you. It'll work for you.
"What was missing wasn't better gear. It was someone willing to ask the right question first."
I shoot across both film and digital — choosing the medium that serves the image, not the other way around. Film demands patience and intention. Digital gives freedom and immediacy. The best sessions draw on both.
My work has appeared in galleries from Ottawa to Kraków, in editorial publications, and in the hands of clients who needed something they couldn't get anywhere else.
Beyond the lens
Curiosity is the
whole practice.
Photography is the spine of it — but the creative life extends further. I work across media because each one teaches you something different about seeing, making, and meaning.
I write on Substack about photography and craft — moving from client work toward longer, more intentional projects. About life, the environment, patience, and presence. About being a neuro-spicy father raising an AuDHD kid, and how that shapes the way I see people through a lens.
Recognition
The work
has been noticed.
Awards, exhibitions, and publications from Ottawa to Paris to Kraków — and counting.
Commercial & Branding
A partial list of
clients & collaborators.
Scotiabank
Financial / Corporate
LCBO
Retail / Brand
Nipissing University
Education / Institutional
Green Party of Canada
Political / Editorial
Ontario NDP Party
Political / Editorial
Tourism North Bay
Tourism / Regional
Assante Wealth Management
Financial / Portrait
Northridge Inn & Resort
Hospitality / Branding
Capitol Centre North Bay
Arts / Cultural
What people are saying
30 five-star reviews on Google.
★★★★★
"Professional, creative, and artistic. From start to finish, a genuinely exceptional experience."
★★★★★
"When you book with Shawn, you're not only booking his amazing eye — you're getting a comprehensive process that's easy at every step."
★★★★★
"Timeless, soulful, alluring. He captures something real — something most photo sessions never manage to get."
Let's make something
Ready to be seen
the way you actually are?
Every session starts with a conversation. Let's figure out exactly what that looks like, together.
Book a Session