The end of 2019 and the beginning portion of 2020 has personally been quite the rollercoaster.

I went from having a really successful year to being part of a group of layoffs at Yahoo Sports Canada in the middle of December. As the company’s U.S. operations decided to pivot in a new direction, it was time for me to focus on my next endeavour. I knew at some point in 2020 I would be looking for more challenges in the world of sport. Leaving Yahoo was inevitable in my eyes, it just didn’t happen on my terms. 

 After carving out a name for myself in the sports industry and helping put Yahoo Sports Canada on the map in terms of social content, it was certainly a frustrating feeling being one of the people laid off when it came to the company’s restructuring. I wasn’t offended personally by the decision and it was a good experience to go through early on in my career. It taught me to always look out for myself and be working towards the next thing. It’s a cutthroat industry and at the end of the day, it’s just business. 

There wasn’t really a social plan in terms of Instagram content prior to my arrival at Yahoo. I spearheaded the visual component and curation of the profile and grew the page from around 5,000 followers to 40,000 in the eight months I was there. Until this day, the page still uses the same graphics, templates and overall aesthetic that I built out for them. I knew in the back of my mind it was a sign of bigger things to come and I was ready to start my journey elsewhere.

I landed an interview earlier this year with MLB’s Live Content Creation team, which ultimately led to me getting the position. With this being my first job where I depended fully on my expertise in photography and videography, I was content to start my next chapter in the world of baseball. It's crazy to look back at the path that led me here after almost five years of grinding my hobby of being a photographer.

 I started out shooting concerts in my hometown for local bands and artists. It was good to get reps in with these smaller acts, allowing me to experiment with style and editing aesthetic. Through different opportunities and connections, I was able to quickly build my portfolio. Being able to shoot bigger artists and festivals -- Riot Fest, Veld, and NXNE -- helped get my name initially out there. Over the first couple years I was able to shoot artists like Drake, Future, Post Malone, Martin Garrix, and Tyler the Creator.

Over time, my work got noticed by a Toronto hip hop radio station and now I exclusively shoot concerts for them. While focusing on my music portfolio, I was also able to add sports photography to my resumé through a job at TSN working as a social media content producer. 

My first professional sports event was the 2017 Toronto FC home opener. It was the start of building a new portfolio in the world of sports, but also my way of using knowledge of music photography and applying it to a sports setting. It’s a new kind of thrill to see my work shared on MLB, club, and players’ social channels.

Working as a league/team employee is something I’ve strived for in the past couple years. Being able to get the access you need and the ability to shoot wherever your heart desires is something that can elevate a photographer's work. My job at the ballpark every day is to capture the big moments in the game and turn them over almost instantaneously in order to keep it as close to “live” as possible. It’s a high-pressure job, but I’m looking forward to the season to (hopefully) start up so I can embrace this challenge. 

 My brief time in Florida for spring training was one of the cooler things I’ve done in my career so far. Being at a ballpark every day for two weeks was therapeutic. I got into a good workflow of capturing content and turning it over as quickly as possible. It was definitely good prep for the long 81-game home season. I was ready to be innovative and create content people would find satisfying on a daily basis. 

 My favourite part of photography and content creation is the ability to share it with the subjects I’m capturing. It makes my day when I see my stuff shared because it shows a mutual appreciation of the work being done. It truly shows if you put in a dedicated amount of time, work and effort you’re able to pretty much achieve anything you set out to do. For me, it’s not necessarily about capturing “famous” people for the clout or reputation. I take pride in capturing people and telling stories regardless of the popularity of who’s in front of the lens.

 I had the pleasure of capturing the most memorable moments of the Raptors’ historic championship run, including Kawhi Leonard’s Game 7 shot against the Philadelphia 76ers and Fred VanVleet’s “Spartan Scream” in the final minutes of Game 6 in the NBA Finals. 

Almost a year later, I take pride in what I was able to do. Knowing people will remember the championship through my pictures brings me joy. Along with sports, I have photos from some of the biggest concerts to happen in Toronto in the past couple years. From Drake, to J Cole, to Elton John, these memories will live on forever.

 Being a freelancer situated in Toronto has both its pros and cons. There’s a plethora of opportunities in Toronto and it’s really cool to be a part of the creative scene here. There’s plenty of room for people to make a name for themselves. People are willing to give opportunities to talented individuals regardless of social clout. Working in the city is a good reminder to keep being hungry and keep working towards the next step. 

My biggest piece of advice is to keep sharing your work and keep pushing yourself creatively as you never know who’s seeing your content. I’ve met so many talented people in the field that continue to inspire me to be better at what I do, and it’s really nice to have a network of genuine people around you. 

Never in a million years would I have thought the world would come to a complete standstill due to COVID-19. Thousands of individuals currently in the field of sports and sport media, myself included, are currently out of work. Working with MLB is specifically tied to the games taking place. 

Aside from photography, I’m also a graphic designer which brings some income while everything is put on hold. In the short term, it has put my MLB dream on hold and the current contract is for the season. If the season is called off, I won’t be doing the job I was expecting to occupy eight months of my life.

 I’ve used this time to start a YouTube channel and it’s one of the best things I’ve done. I find satisfaction with giving back to the community and plan on putting all my effort into it. I can’t wait to get back into the arenas and stadiums and capture moments for Toronto.

Sports may be on pause right now, but my drive and ambition is higher than ever. We are all in this together!