With the grant secured, they worked with Canon Canada to acquire 15 DSLR cameras. Lay-Up then kicked off an eight-week photo book workshop series. Participants had their own camera for the duration. Four mentor photographers oversaw the sessions: Dhani Oks, who also built the photography program curriculum; Kishan Mistry, a Canon Ambassador; Ebti Nabag; and Nyaomi Boogs. Each week focused on one aspect of getting a book to print, with topics including editing, layout and sequencing. One week they did a photo walk, another an in-studio shoot at Studio AM. “It was about the participants having a chance to be a part of each of those steps, so they’re creating, but they’re also receiving instruction and getting a chance to observe,” says Penrose. The studio session, for example, had three stations. At each, a mentor photographer set up lighting and the camera. With some guidance, the kids arranged products or directed subjects for each shot. They also captured images on their own.

The book will include images the youth created themselves, images they took with the mentors and images the mentors shot on their own. “We want to showcase the mentor photographers, the kids and the collaboration,” says Penrose. Every workshop participant will receive a copy of the finished book, as will a number of partners, coaches and members of the Lay-Up community.

For the first two years of the photography program, Lay-Up relied on a mixed bag of gear – basically, whatever they could get their hands on. With everyone using something different, it created a barrier to collaboration. Having 15 of the same camera provides consistency. “Every kid having the same camera allowed for a lot more community and collaboration,” says Penrose. “It allowed them to learn from each other and help each other.”

Penrose says they built collaboration into the program. Having reliable, quality, consistent gear enables that. “It also ensures that the images in this book are high quality and tell a story,” he says. “We’re going to have images that we’re proud of 10 years from now.”

Lay-Up wants to remove barriers to access. Everything with the workshop – from food to equipment to printing – was free for participants. They also want to give participants the best tools possible to be successful, both on and off the court. Providing quality at every step – the use of first-rate gear, access to a sought-after studio – breeds confidence, says Penrose. “You reflect their worth back to them,” he says.