1. @Visual.ballads

When I first stumbled upon Karl's Instagram page, there were two things that instantly stood out. I thought to myself: "Wow, this guy always has the perfect lighting in all of his portraits". I didn't know about dodge and burn techniques back then and was super curious as to how I could achieve the same look. The second thing that I noticed was how dynamic the poses he captured were. There's an element of movement and naturalness in each shot which has inspired me to try out the same poses with the models I have worked with.

Something else to note as well is that Karl shoots on a crop sensor camera which blows my mind. The colors, sharpness and quality he is able to maintain is impressive. If you love some good bokeh, then his page is definitely the place to be.

He has a great mix of studio portraits and outdoor lifestyle shots which shows how diverse of a photographer he is.

2. @Phanmotion

From moody adventure shots to creative video transitions, Andrew covers it all. The community he has been able to create on his Instagram page is a place you want to be. He works with a lot of small businesses to provide video services in a modern, energetic manner that adapts well to every style.

I met Andrew through a mutual friend and could tell he had a good vibe right away. Seeing and being apart of his workflow has been truly admirable. Going from the ideation phase to executing the concept flawlessly is something I strive to get to Andrew's level.

He seamlessly pushes the boundaries of video and continues to put out high quality content for his followers and clients a like. His motivation and drive to always improve and become the best at the craft while pushing others has helped me become a better photographer.

3. @Francoismittins

Francois' studio shots and editing style are what sets him apart from other Ottawa photographers. His knowledge of lighting allows him to always get the perfect angles and exposures. With perfect lighting in his back pocket, he's able to focus on unique and dynamic poses for his models as well as create beautiful scenes that encapsulate the emotion.

By looking at his work, you can tell that care and attention to details are put in every shot. The natural skin tones in every shot is a very hard skill that he's been able to master. The blend of warm temperatures, green undertones and perfect split toning gives every picture a different mood.

What really surprises me is that he's able to edit in black and white equally as well as in color. This is a dual skill I think a lot of photographers don't have - it's impressive to see.