Canon Canada was excited once again to participate in ProFusion, the annual trade show that celebrates the latest and greatest in the world of photo and video. Canon Canada was a gold sponsor of the two-day event held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Both emerging and established image-makers enjoyed up-close experiences with the latest technology and one-on-one time with presenters and exhibitors.

Canon Canada’s booth featured two interactive photo studios where attendees could experiment with the EOS R6 Mark II – the first second-generation EOS R series full-frame camera – the EOS R5 (designed for professional applications and featuring a 45-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor) and the EOS R50, ideal for entry-level users looking to level up their video quality.

The booth also housed an impression collection of the latest Canon cameras, lenses and Cinema EOS products. Attendees could try it before they buy it, and product experts eagerly answered any questions they had about the gear. A print gallery showcased not only the work of Canon Ambassadors Jacquie Matechuk, Paul Zizka and Richard Bernardin, but also the ability of the imagePROGRAF PRO series to reproduce true-to-life prints. Visitors could experience the RF5.2mm F2.8L Dual Fisheye lens, which when paired with the EOS R5 puts 8K virtual reality video capture in the palm of your hands, and the CR-N500, a 4K UHD PTZ camera suited for both indoor and outdoor remote broadcasts.

Two Canon guests presented at the booth as well as on the event’s main stage. Irene Rudnyk is a portrait photographer, educator and content creator. “I specialize in what I like to call ‘feminine portraiture,’ and my photography is just a reflection of my inner world,” she said. “My favourite thing about photography is taking all the crazy ideas that I have in my brain and putting them into reality.” For her main stage presentation, she shared the key lessons she’s learned to get to where she is today. She’s a big proponent of thrifting, “borrowing” from mom and repurposing household items. When she started out, not having the budget for a studio, fancy backdrops or designer clothes seemed like an obstacle. “Now I think it was almost a blessing in disguise because I had to figure out how to use these random things and make it work,” she said. “It made me more creative.” She also shared stories on how overcoming her fears, learning from failure and being unafraid of rejection led to pivotal moments that made her photography – and herself as a photographer – better.

Rudnyk usually favours natural lighting or backlit photography; however, for her in-booth demonstration, she wanted to step outside her comfort zone – another one of her lessons – and experiment. Initially intimated by complex lighting set-ups, she leaned on online tutorials to learn more. “I want to show that it’s very simple, and if someone like me – who’s not very versed in this sphere – can do it, then everyone here can do it as well.” She used Mylar®, an extremely reflective polyester film, to create an underwater feel. She also shared some of her go-to tricks to create photos that are natural yet have a multi-layered narrative, including adding props, using fans and giving her models a character and backstory to portray.

Anthony Gugliotta is a photographer and content creator best known for creating short-form content about photography. In booth, he walked visitors through the last three years of his career, a window where he went from having a few friends like his posts to regularly seeing positive engagement in the thousands for every piece of content he creates. Like Rudnyk, he shared the lessons he’s learned, including creating from his own experience, developing evergreen content and building authority. That authority comes from showing, not telling, he said. Listen to your audience, even let them lead the way by answering their questions. “You’re building engagement in your comments and [building] community inside the content you’re creating,” he said. He then took attendees through a demo of his setup, explaining his lighting and how he frames his videos.

Gugliotta expanded on his in-booth presentation during his main stage appearance. He took a deep dive into his content creation process, explaining how he decides what types of content – photos, videos – he will post on a given social channel. He spoke of the importance of finding your own voice. “Niche is important,” he said. “Is there something you do in your everyday life that makes you a little unique?” Gugliotta built a loyal audience by being authentic, creating from his personal experiences and lending his voice to the conversation. He also creates like clockwork, averaging a post per day for the last year and a half. A good chunk of that comes courtesy of that loyal audience. “Be part of your own community,” he said. “Answer the questions that your community has, since others could have the same questions.”