Bringing a Vision to Life in Toronto’s Graffiti Alley
MUA: @mitzcarbajal_mua
Video: @jasondpham
Talent: @morganmodelmgmt
Stylist: @hashtag_legends_stylist
Model: @mariana.proks
BTS: @dreyspar_photography
Toronto’s Graffiti Alley has always been on my list of dream locations for a shoot. As often as I’ve traveled to this incredible city, I never had the chance to make it happen—until now. This vibrant, ever-changing street art canvas provided the perfect backdrop for an unforgettable session.
What made this shoot truly special was the team behind it. From the stylist’s keen eye for detail to the model’s effortless presence, and the makeup artist’s ability to create magic on the spot, every person played a crucial role in bringing this vision to life. The energy was electric, the creativity boundless—a true celebration of artistry and collaboration.
And of course, no shoot is complete without a little adventure—huge shoutout to Tim Hortons for letting us turn their shop into a makeshift makeup studio. Sometimes, the best moments happen in the most unexpected places! 🤣
This experience reminded me of why I love what I do—capturing people, energy, and stories in their purest form.
The Photographer ft Jaime Thompson
The Bahamas has a way of blending relaxation with refined style, and this series captures that duality: lightweight linen shirts unbuttoned just enough to catch the breeze, vintage cameras casually in hand, and accessories that nod to both culture and confidence. There’s an undeniable rhythm in these images—a dance of golden sunlight, patterned tiles, and palm shadows moving in sync with Jamie’s effortless energy.
Model: Jaime Thompson
Location: Pink Palms Bahamas
Clothing: KS Moses
Styling: Delano Sweeting
Timepiece: Bahamas Watch Exchange
Jewellery: Island Cache73
MUA: Gail Clarke
Female Model: Michelle Louidor
Planning a photoshoot can feel overwhelming—there are so many moving parts to get just right. For me, everything has to align: the model, clothing, styling, team, and location all need to complement the concept I have in mind. With this shoot, I knew I wanted to feature a male model since my portfolio has very few men. I also knew exactly who I wanted as my muse.
Jamie—pronounced "hi-may"—is a 6'4", 230-pound CrossFit athlete. We met not too long ago on a client shoot, and when I reached out to ask if he’d be interested in collaborating, he didn’t hesitate. I shared my vision, and he was instantly on board, excited to participate.
Some locations do more than serve as backdrops—they bring a scene to life, setting the mood and shaping the entire aesthetic. That’s precisely what happened with this shoot. The Pink Palm, with its soft pink walls, crisp sunlight, and tropical charm, created an effortlessly timeless setting. I had been eyeing this location for a while, waiting for the right concept. When I called the owner, she gave me a list of available dates, and I jumped at the earliest one!
All the clothing was sourced from KS Moses, a local men’s boutique. I collaborated with them to select different pieces, which my stylist, Delano, expertly curated. I called on Bahamas Watch Exchange to source Jaime's timepieces to add another level of luxury. We also incorporated accessories from Island Cache, a Bahamian-inspired jewellery brand, to complete the looks. The result? A seamless blend of island ease and timeless sophistication.
The Bahamas, my home, seamlessly merges relaxation with elegance, and this series embodies that blend: airy linen shirts casually unbuttoned to welcome the breeze, vintage cameras held with effortless grace, and accessories that honour both culture and confidence. My aim was to capture the many facets of a photographer—their look and styling—and how they work within a single editorial.
Raj & Jamie Capture Stunning Babymoon Portraits in The Bahamas
Embarking on the journey to parenthood is an exciting and transformative experience, and what better way to celebrate this particular time than with a babymoon in paradise? Raj and Jamie did just that, choosing the breathtaking Bahamas as the backdrop for their unforgettable babymoon portraits.
My island provided the perfect setting for Raj and Jamie's photoshoot with its clear turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and breathtaking sunsets. The couple wanted to capture the essence of their love and anticipation as they awaited the arrival of their first child.
Jamie wore a fitting black dress that made her look like a goddess. In a crisp white shirt and trousers, Raj gave us "relaxed Dad elegance," his outfit perfectly matched the tranquil beach. Together, they walked hand in hand along the shoreline, leaving prints in the sand as a reminder of their journey. The gentle waves lapping at their feet and the sound of the ocean created a serene and intimate atmosphere, allowing their genuine emotions to shine through in the photos.
As the day drew close, the sky transformed into a canvas of rich purples, pinks, and gold, creating a stunning backdrop for their final portraits.
Raj and Jamie's babymoon photo shoot in the Bahamas was more than just a series of beautiful pictures; it celebrated their love and growing family and the new adventure awaited them. The stunning landscapes of the Bahamas provided the perfect setting to capture these precious moments, creating a lasting memory they will cherish forever.
A Romantic Couple's Photoshoot on a Stunning Island 📸
Steffon Cooper & Melissa Rolle
I met with Steffon and Melissa in October of 2023 at this intimate coffee bar on the western side of town. Melissa, who had initially reached out to me, wanted to take romantic, beautiful and editorial portraits with her beau, Steffon. So, in our early discussion, we went over a few concepts that would make them both happy. Melissa told me how long they had dated and that they had no images to speak for their relationship. She was focused on taking official photos to celebrate their love for one another.
During our meeting, I almost enforced that the photoshoot should be unique and different. I don't know what made me say it, but in explaining my creative process to the couple, I told them we needed to shoot somewhere different, not on the island (we all lived in New Providence) but on another island with a stunning backdrop. I almost jumped out of my seat when the thought hit me. I said, “Let's go to Exuma!"
The couple looked at each other, and while I thought the budget would not allow for such a production, they looked back at me and said, "Yes, that's an amazing idea!"
We worked together to figure out a date, styling and logistics for pulling this whole thing off. Luckily for Melissa, her cousin was one of the country's most talented stylists, so I didn't worry too much about that aspect. I had a few colleagues in Exuma who gave me insight on where to shoot and how to get there, and so, together with the couple, we made arrangements for a boat to take us to one of the sandbanks near Rolletown, Exuma.
This photo shoot had been postponed twice due to bad timing or bad weather, and by the time we finally got around the concrete time, it was 2024! January 16th was the new date, and everyone was sure this would be amazing due to all the previous setbacks. My assistant Tariq and I arranged to get there by plane, only a 30-minute ride, and we found an Airbnb only 3 minutes from the dock! The night before we shot, the team met up to go over the art direction for the shoot. Everyone chipped in and gave commentary to make the couple feel more confident going into the photoshoot.
Shoot day was nothing short of incredible. The weather was perfect, the water looked unreal, and the couple were perfectly styled. We found a sandbank when we left the marina and positioned the couple. I was shooting with natural light, so I had more time to focus on posing and positioning. The boat captain pulled us right up to the bank, and I even left him in some of my frames to show the context of where we were. Steffon and Melissa were amazing to photograph because they didn't pretend much to like each other. You could see that they genuinely enjoyed each other's space, and as a photographer, that helps when capturing portraits of two people together.
The couple had a second look, and we brainstormed on where to photograph them. The team agreed that we didn't want to shoot them out in the water again, so I suggested shooting them in a town near all the hustle and bustle of Georgetown's main settlement. I love locations like these because there is a lot of energy surrounding you. People, cars, dogs and birds are all moving around you. Georgetown gave me so many different spaces to capture Stef and Mel, and I loved that they stood out in stylish clothing against the town's backdrop. This shoot, if any indication of how the year will pan out, excited me, and I loved working with the couple to produce these images.
Please enjoy.
Photography & Art Direction: Scharad Lightbourne
Styling: Shan Oliver ( The Style Group)
MUA: Valincia Rolle
Hair: Tara Miller (Metamorphosis)
Stef’s Hair: Tilly Balinese
Grip: Tariq Cartwright
An aerial view of us on the sand bank with the couple.
Portraits of Realtor. Private Banker & Watch Collector, Bobby Chen
“Working with Scharad was a cakewalk. He’s a consummate professional full of creative energy along with the perfect timing to capture the essence in every shot. He went above and beyond to ensure that the environment and creative process brought out the best expressions in me and my wife. An absolute pleasure to work with and the finished products are indeed timeless to say the least.”
I met Bobby Chen a few years ago when I did some headshots for the real estate firm he worked for, and he seemed to be a pretty cool dude. As I followed his career path, I noticed he had an interesting portfolio that included cryptocurrency, private banking, and more so, a love for collection luxury and vintage timepieces.
You see, photographers are always looking to add more exciting people to their portfolios. Bobby seemed intelligent, accomplished and we both shared similar interests.
I reached out to Bobby via social media and asked him if he would shoot with me. After explaining my concept some more, he eagerly agreed. I explained to him I would photograph him in a way that timelined what a possible day would look like for him. I made up this story that he’d wake up, take a morning swim, have coffee in bed with his wife before heading to work and I also threw a pseudo modelling career for fun and date night with his beautiful wife, Patrice. We all felt this was going to be a great shoot to execute.
The shot list was simple enough, but I called on friend/stylist Shan Oliver to put all the looks together. Bobby had multiple options for wardrobe from his own closet, so we simply pulled from that to make it work. Working with a stylist is very important; I showed Shan a mood board of looks that I liked, and she was able to put pieces together based on my vision and used her expertise to make each outfit pop. She knows my style is clean and straightforward, so she made the styling the same.
The shoot went relatively smooth and we shot the entire day. Bobby got through it like a champ and with his wife by his side, he was able to confidently knock and model his looks out the park. The team had a great time working with this multifaceted Bahamian.
Bobby Chen by Scharad Lightbourne
Styling: Shan Oliver
Grip: Tameka Petit Homme
Grip: Sammy Rutherford
MUAs: Torkel Dawkins- Patrice’s morning look
MUA: Raven Forbes - Patrice’s evening look
Bahamas Masqueraders Official Costume Photoshoot
So…I know what you all much be thinking…Scharad shoots a Carnival Band?
Mr. "anti-soca" himself?
Well if you must know, contrary to popular belief, regardless of the genre or scenario, I will always be 100% an advocate for creativity. My impartial favor towards Soca music has nothing to do with the fact that the Masqueraders Carnival Band approached me to shoot their official images and sitting in our meeting, my ears perked at the sound of the phrase, “we want to give you 100% creative control.”
I mean, would you turn away an opportunity like this?
I wanted to see what I was capable of capturing. I knew the costumes would be detailed, intricate and awe-inspiring, all things that I find inspiration from as a photographer so I connected with the concept on a completely artistic level. Can you imagine, showing up at our location, the band’s warehouse to see so many moving parts? Personnel running around trying to get each detail ready? Designers putting the finishing touch on their section costumes. Models arriving to be escorted into makeup and hair? Staff on-call preparing food, snacks, and drink for everyone present. Tractors, trailers and heavy equipment preparing for the Band’s lunch? It was truly a circus and my team and I set up in the middle of all this creative chaos!
The 16-hour shoot proved to be a marathon of lights, cameras and tons of action. The band featured 4 sections, Oriental, Mayan, Grecian and African themes. For someone not immersed in the cultured, I was amazed at the amount of work and detail that went into the designing, building and finishing these jaw-dropping pieces.
One by one, we shot, re-lit, composed and constructed section after section, models both male and female were posed and pushed to give energetic, artistic and fierce stances. We added fog and colored gels for our close up shots just to make them more dynamic. To keep the models energized and hyped, there was a 6 speaker system setup worthy of any fete or concert blasting some of the hottest soca tracks…the entire time! What a time!
The energy was incredible and everyone fed from it. Section leaders, designers, staff, models, and my team all cocooned in what was occurring. The shoot was simply amazing. Once the call “Its a wrap” was made, we all cheered in excitement. We knew we achieved what we set out to, with all the hard work from every single person on board. The band will launch its website soon but in the meantime, please enjoy the images below and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram.
