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.
Running a portrait session with Olympic Gold Medalist Steven Gardiner
This title is so fitting because I had no time to photograph gold medalist Steven Gardiner. When I tell you the lengths I took to photograph Steven, you might not believe me, but I will tell you how this opportunity came to me to photograph “Speedy Stevie.”
Here we are, The Bahamas, a country hyped, and excited, fresh off back to back wins in the men and women's 400-meter race by local track athletes Steven Gardiner and Shaunae Miller-Uibo. The whole country was excited for them to come home, and a light bulb went off in my head. I wondered, "wouldn't it be an honour to photograph either one of them? Cementing them in the fabric of Bahamian Photography?"
I'll be honest with you, I had connected with Steven a few years prior because I wanted to photograph him shortly before he won his first Olympic medal. This Abaco born son holds numerous Bahamian records amongst his other accolades, so I felt my role was to make sure unique and driven Bahamians like him are photographed for historical purposes.
Let's get back on track. (pun intended)
I was determined to photograph Steven and Shaunae on their return trip, and once I saw the welcome celebrations at the airport, I got on my mobile phone and started my search to contact either athlete. I am not exaggerating when I say I called the entire country to reach Steven. I felt he may have been more accessible than Shaunae. Yes, I did have his contact, but it was a US number, and he wasn't answering texts. I contacted people close to him who never followed up. I called EVERYONE but, to my disappointment, I struck out with the opportunity to photograph him, and I watched everyone get their 5 seconds with the two and then they were gone.
But…one day, on a Tuesday afternoon, something told me not to give up. I texted Steven, and he responded! I congratulated him and told him what I wanted to do. I threw out the question, "when would you be in town again?" to which he responded, "Thursday." I gasped, thinking he meant a week from that day, but he meant 2 days away! I had an hour of his free time, and I had to make it count!
I scrambled to think of a concept. Steven was down for whatever I came up with. After crossing out a million ideas, I just decided to keep it simple. I would take my backdrop outside and use natural light. Less fuss, less clutter, just clean and simple.
Steven brought a few clothing items, ones he'd packed prior, so I didn't style him; I just picked out a few pieces I thought may have been great on camera. I wanted to call my stylist badly, but there was no time. I had to think quick. I had no mood board, shot list, or planned anything, just me, my Nikon, and the subject.
Steven was surprisingly awkward in front of the camera. A far from his natural environment of running on the track. But that pushed me to direct him more. I was happy with what I got in a short time, and hopefully, these images last forever. Plus I got to hold an Olympic medal!
Please enjoy!
PORTRAITS with the Nikon Z6 II ft model/actress Chrystal Bethell
Now I’m usually one who stays up on new gear and technology, and when I heard that Nikon was releasing the Z6 II, I was eager and excited to purchase it. Still, for some reason, life got in the way, and I haven’t had the opportunity to buy the upgrade to my Nikon Z6, which I primarily use to photograph 99% of my work.
A colleague of mine and fellow photographer friend Warren Grant, who I’ve also known to be an advocate for Nikon, sent me a text one day announcing, “Hey! I got the Z6 II; when are you getting yours?”
My face, which if it was an emoji, would have looked like this 😑. I reluctantly told him that I had not ordered mine yet and at some point shortly, I would prob upgrade. But Warren is a dope friend. After hearing the disappointment in my voice, he said that he would loan me his Z6 II, and I could test it out firsthand. Backflips and Spartan chants from the movie “300” followed suit.
So what is the point of my story? I will connect the dots right now. Chrystal Bethell is an accomplished model and actress living in NYC, and we’ve known each other since high school (a long time!) She had let me know that she was in Nassau and she wanted to book a photo shoot. So I got the team together, we chose a mood for the shoot, designed the aesthetic and confirmed our location.
On the day of the shoot, I used several lenses with the Z6 II, my 85mm, 70-200m and 35mm all helped me compose a variety of frames to help me tell a story with the photos. I kept the lighting simple, adapting one light with a soft modifier to compliment the natural light. I loved the way the finished images looked. The camera, which was the whole point of this story performed amazingly, it was super fast, focusing was a breeze and I was very impressed with the overall responsiveness of the Z6 ii.
Stay creative!
Chrystal Bethell 📸 by Scharad Lightbourne
Makeup by @Gail Clarke
Styling: @hannahnsimone⠀⠀
Grip: @tpetithomme BTS: @Keith Bryan
Clothing: @signaturestylesbahamas
Video: @Jiggy Productions
Location: @Utopia Gardens
CHALLENGE Yourself! You can shoot anywhere!
Often, I'm asked, "How do you come up with your locations?"
My answer is always the same. I get in my car, drive around town and pull out my iPhone when I see a place or space that looks interesting. I am under the mindset that you can shoot anywhere and make it look great with a little improvisation and creativity. My goal for this post was to push and challenge any of my readers who find it hard to find exciting and different space to shoot their subjects.
My client, Le’Annka, wanted to do something different. She didn't wish to studio portraits. She wanted to be creative and diverse, and so she was adamant that we shoot outdoors. When she and I met for a consultation, I showed her my plans for a shoot to take place in tall blades of grass one would find in nature.
Now, living on a small island presents its issue with always having somewhere new to photograph. New Providence, the island that I live on, is only 21 miles long by 7 miles wide, and there are few public spaces one can gain access to. Some areas are overused repeatedly because of convenience, flexibility and can we say lackadaisicalness?
I knew I wanted to shoot Le’Annka in the "bush" on the side of the road, reminiscent of my earlier days of being a photographer. I had no studio, so I used the beaches, bushes and nature as my set. I thought to use a stunning hand-painted canvas backdrop I'd ordered from Portrait Drops on location, sort of a makeshift studio, and I knew I’d mix ambient lighting with my strobe.
Le’Annka was a great subject to photograph. She was easy to direct and her innocence complimented the images that I tried to capture. The natural and ambient light, grass and overall styling created this ambience that I only could find on Pinterest. Still, here I was, capturing these beautiful images in a location that many of us would simply drive past.
Check the images and my first YOUTUBE video for the year. I knew this topic would be relatable to many photographers as its something I'm challenged with. Let me know what you think in the comments, and I'd love to find out other topics you find interest in.
SEE THE GALLERY
Leannka Rigby 📸 by Scharad Lightbourne
Makeup by @ravensimone_mua
Florals: @kvrh1984
Styling: @hannahnsimone⠀⠀
Grip: @tpetithomme
Dress: @rackconsignmentboutique
Backdrop: @portraitdrops
Video: @truevisionFSC
Naomi Campbell Inspired Fashion Shoot
Georgie and I worked together a lot in 2020 and coming up on the last shoot of the year, she wanted to do something exciting and epic. We searched the internet for days trying to find inspiration when she came across a photo that supermodel Naomi Campbell had posted. The image itself was very controversial because of what she spoke about. She received many negative comments due to the subject matter, but I loved the dress for me. Georgie loved the dress, and she told me she wanted to have it made and do a shoot somewhere in the now-infamous "dress."
Naomi Campbell photographed by Ethan James Green
So firstly, I am NOT a morning person but I told Georgie because of the nature of the dress, morning light would be incredible. We set call time for 6 am and my team and I drove to the location waiting on the arrival of our model.
Georgie showed up a few mins later and we all walked over to a beach where there was an amazing rock structure that I would put the model against. It would be the perfect backdrop to juxtapose her against.
I used a one-light setup, probing my Godox AD600 pro with a Glow beauty dish on a light stand to illuminate the model. I could have easily used natural light but I wanted more contrasting and “punchy” lighting.
Georgie hit pose after pose with the waves crashing behind her. She climbed the rocks, lay on the rocks and shed any fear she had of heights to get great shots again, and again, and again!
Check out this behind the scenes photo of our location and what it looked like shooting this upcoming talent. Please view the gallery below and enjoy. Drop a few comments or questions in the section following this article.
Be creative!
