Humans of The Image Salon

Creative Staff Portaits

I was given the unique opportunity to photograph nearly 150 employees (including our four-legged colleagues) over a period of seven weeks.

The company went through a major hiring period, so in just a few months our workforce doubled in size. It affected me more than I could have anticipated. I sunk deeper into a depressive episode, feeling lonely in a room full of people.

Before our photo session, each employee filled out a probing questionnaire. I began my sessions discussing their answers, as I wanted to get a sense of each person in order to photograph them in a way that honoured their personality. I assured everyone that they didn't need to smile or be goofy if that wasn't comfortable for them. After getting to know one another through sharing personal stories, our mutual anxiety subsided and we began to take the portraits.

I was given the unique opportunity to photograph nearly 150 employees (including our four-legged colleagues ) over a period of seven weeks.

The company went through a major hiring period, so in just a few months our workforce doubled in size. It affected me more than I could have anticipated. I sunk deeper into a depressive episode, feeling lonely in a room full of people.

Before our photo session, each employee filled out a probing questionnaire. I began my sessions discussing their answers, as I wanted to get a sense of each person in order to photograph them in a way that honoured their personality. I assured everyone that they didn't need to smile or be goofy if that wasn't comfortable for them. After getting to know one another through sharing personal stories, our mutual anxiety subsided and we began to take the portraits.

Montreal, QC, 2019

There was pressure on me—the majority of my colleagues are photographers and prefer to be behind the camera, so I faced a good amount of resistance and discomfort from my subjects. I had twenty minutes with each person to make them feel comfortable in front of the camera, which can be a very vulnerable position. I received so much positive feedback about how I was able to make people feel comfortable and at ease, and provide a safe experience for them.

I found myself emotionally drained from our conversations, while simultaneously thrilled to be able to discuss deeper topics with my coworkers.
I left work tired and happy each day. With this new sense of belonging and connection, I grew the confidence to talk to the amazing people in my workplace. This was an extremely impactful project for me, for both my photography and personal life.