Welcome to Showcase Canada, brought to you by Production Paradise. This issue features some of the leading photographers, CGI artists and hair and make-up artists working out of Canada.

More creative professionals and facilities for photographic and film production are available in our Toronto (Photo / Film) and Vancouver (Photo / Film) directories.

Brands including Pepsi, Rip Curl, McDonald's, Reebok, Sappho Cosmetics, Billabong, Alcon, BCAA, GoDaddy among others, have trusted these professionals with their latest advertising campaigns and editorial shoots.

Be sure to catch our recommended events:

• Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum, until 31st March.
• CONTACT - 23rd edition of the annual photography festival, featuring over 200 exhibitions and other events. Toronto, 1st - 31st May.
• DOXA Documentary Film Festival will take place 2nd May - 12th May in different venues around Vancouver.

Our cover image was shot by Toronto-based photographer Alex Evans. 

"In today’s world, where more images are being created daily than ever before, one might think that the still image’s power to convey a message, invoke a feeling and tell a story is fading.

I believe the opposite is true. Photography has become a language that almost everyone can speak but just because everyone can speak a language doesn’t mean everyone is a poet.

Now more than ever, quality images by quality image makers and visual storytellers are needed to help spread the message of brands, companies and agencies alike.

I don’t believe there’s space for average anymore.

My work is a reflection of my addiction to do what others don’t because those are the stories that are remembered.

If in 1911, a picture was worth a thousand words, then how much is it worth in 2019?"

Clinton Hussey is an award-winning commercial photographer specialising in conceptual, food, still life and, recently, motion. Since 1995, he has been creating distinctive editorial and advertising imagery for brand and magazine clients in his hometown of Vancouver and abroad.

Originally a design student at Vancouver’s Emily Carr College of Art & Design, Clinton stumbled into photography at first accidentally and then with conviction as he fell for its demanding mix of creativity and technical grasp.

Clinton has earned both Grammy and Juno nominations for his album cover designs; his photography has won multiple National Magazine Awards, as well as honours from Lotus, Applied Arts, D&AD, City & Regional Magazine Association, the Printing Industry of America, Communication Arts, PDN/Nikon, and many others.

Today, Clinton is expanding into video, creating ad campaigns for clients such as Method, Panago, and the Children of the Street Society.

Jonathan Bielaski has spent years honing his skills with complex light and detailed production. His fascination with people’s stories and who they are led him to start telling their stories through his portraits.

Jonathan’s work in is in high demand and he is internationally recognised as a top environmental portrait photographer. His photography has taken him to amazing locations and work environments, from the courts and rinks where pro-athletes play, to the secluded mines where Canada’s diamonds come from. He is always learning from the people he meets and the stories they tell.

"Environmental portraiture captures the essence of a subject in their natural habitat."

Montreal-based Foodivine Studio specialises in food and drink, creating social media videos, stop-motion and short promo videos alongside high-end photography and image creation services.

Professionalism, uniqueness and great talents were the stepping stone for the company to expand its studio in 2018, opening doors for more creative projects and bigger production crews.

Foodivine Studio was awarded second place in the 'Pink Lady Apple a Day' category in the 2018 Pink Lady Food Photographer of the Year Awards, adding to the 'honorable mentions' received from the 2018 International Photo Awards.

The company has created social media branding content, still images and videos for brands such as McDonald's Canada, Remy Martin, Cayman Jack, Luden’s, P28 Foods, Boréale Brewery, Nestlé Canada and many local brands.

Rod McLean is a commercial advertising and editorial photographer based in Vancouver and SF. Represented by The Gren Group, he specialises in both 'in camera' and composited imagery. His still imagery and motion content have represented many worldwide advertising campaigns; everything from health care, to active lifestyle apparel, portrait, and tourism campaigns.

Rod has been incredibly fortunate to collaborate with many of the best creatives in the business on award-winning advertising campaigns and he has been nominated multiple times as one of Archive Magazine's '200 Best Ad Photographers Worldwide'.

“Photography is my way of communicating what I see. I don't just want to capture images, I want to create images - images that empower and give voice to the subject, that engage and inspire the viewer.”

"Being born in Sorel, growing up in Granby, having an Indian first name and an Italian last name, this doesn’t automatically create a complicated girl! A young woman with a wondering smile, she’s dragged her backpack and worn-out Converse from Paris to Bali, making a stop at Machu Picchu, and she’s not ready to slow down; travelling is literally tattooed on her skin.

Her idea of a perfect afternoon? Sipping a latte and listening to AC/DC while adding pins on Pinterest, where she has over 170,000 followers.

Savitri is still a five-year-old little girl in the body of an accomplished photographer. Her brain is always on spin cycle and whites and colours are never separated, especially when she’s due for a load of new ideas. Her flaws? Stubborn, anti conformist and a dreamer... but after all, isn’t perfection slightly boring?"

Based in Vancouver, Richard Schmon is a fashion, portrait and beauty photographer and cinematographer.

Richard’s striking images showcase his ability to shape and control light whilst establishing a strong connection with his subjects. His background in cinematography allows him to seamlessly transition from stills to moving pictures, providing his clients with a breadth of content.

Richard’s deep understanding and love for his craft and the production process ensures a first class experience from concept to delivery. Maybe most important of all, he is fun to work with. You can see his work on his website and Instagram.

Richard’s clients include The North Face, 20th Century Fox, Universal Pictures, New Line Cinema, Lululemon, National Geographic, The Washington Post and Clearly.ca.

Carey has been a professional hair and make-up artist in the film, commercial and print industries for two decades. With hundreds of projects under her belt, she enjoys the artistic challenges and thrives on the teamwork required to make any job a success.

She is known for putting performers and crew at ease, even in the most stressed of situations, and is both hard working and intensely professional.

Carey has had the privilege of working with many highly successful directors, including Lance Accord, AG Rojas, Justin Lin, Craig Gillespie, Michael Illick, Ellen Kuras, as well as with talented DOP’s such as Arnaud Potier, Rachel Morrison, Emmanuel Lubezki and Christopher Doyle.

She has collaborated on stills with photographers Iain Mackenzie, Kenichi Nakano and Laura Doss and on art projects internationally with David Atkins, Rodney Graham and Stan Douglas.

Clients include many celebrities as well as Amazon Prime, Audi, Land-Rover, Rolex, Mercedes-Benz, Adidas, Uniqlo, Nike, Visa, Jack Links and Comcast.

Michael Chang is a photographer and CGI artist based out of Toronto, Canada. His work primarily focuses in the automotive industry with some work in the fashion field as well.

As university still takes up most of his life, much of Michael’s work has been with private clients, with many personal art projects mixed in.

Currently, Michael is primarily focused on developing skills in full CGI rendering, as well as an on-going project focused on fashion and advertising photography. A full portfolio of Michael’s work can be sent on request.