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Toronto Portrait Photographer || HEARTshots || Black + White Photography

Memoirs and musings of Darius Bashar. Toronto portrait photographer and writer, in pursuit of all things real, raw and intimate. 

Posts in Create More
How To Look Slimmer In Photos

🚨 Super important note: You do NOT need to look slimmer. Your body is YOUR body and it does not need to look like anyone else's.

Before proceeding, please re-read the above sentence 3 more times. 

Everyone has a different body size and shape and this is an amazing thing. Please don’t buy the hype that there is an “ideal” body size. I promise you that no matter what your body looks like, you are FREAKING beautiful. 

That said, several people have reached out to me asking if I had any tips to help them look a bit slimmer on camera.  

After taking over 500,000 photos of people, I definitely have many tips on how to look more photogenic. With this video I share a few simple tips to help you look a bit slimmer, if that’s something that interests you. 

My goal with this video (and the other two in my “How to Look More Photogenic” series) is to help amazing humans who are on their own self-expression journey to feel a bit more comfortable on camera so that they may continue sharing their light with the world. 

Big LOVE,

D

PS: Next week, I will be sharing my next video called “How to Build Trust with a Photo”.

PPS: If you dig this video and this message and want to support me and the Artist Morning YouTube channel, you can subscribe here → https://www.youtube.com/c/ArtistMorning⁣ // link in bio @dariusbashar

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#artistmorning #behindthephoto #torontophotography #torontophotographers #createmore #artistsway #creativityeveryday

How To Be More Photogenic (5 Tips From A Professional Photographer)

Yes, you can be more photogenic. This video contains proven tips that help make anyone look and feel better in photos. I know this because in the past 6 years I have taken over 500,000 photos of people just like you and me—many of whom HATE getting their photos taken. 

You don’t NEED to be more photogenic. But if you are committed to living a creative life, at some point you will want to document your journey and your growth. And photos are a powerful way to do this. 

So in this video, I share 5 of my best tips to help ANYONE look and feel more comfortable in photos (i.e. look more photogenic). 

Hope you enjoy the video, and don’t forget to be kind and compassionate to yourself along the way.

Big LOVE,

D

PS: If you dig this video and this message and want to support me and the Artist Morning YouTube channel, you can subscribe here → https://www.youtube.com/c/ArtistMorning⁣ // link in bio @dariusbashar

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PPS: Come meditate and journal with me. It’s totally free and everyone is welcome. You might just love it → https://www.artistmorning.com // link in bio @dariusbashar

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#artistmorning #behindthephoto #torontophotography #torontophotographers #createmore #artistsway #creativityeveryday

8 Tips For Making YouTube Videos

It’s been just over a year and almost 100 YouTube videos. What an epic journey. 

Here’s what I know so far…

  1. I am having a BLAST. I truly love making YouTube videos.

  2. It’s way harder than I originally thought.

  3. I have a LONG way to go… and that’s a great thing.

For anyone who is considering joining YouTube and is on the fence about starting a channel, I made this video that summarizes my 8 best lessons from the past year. 

These are 8 things I wish someone would’ve told me before I started my own YouTube channel.

Hope you enjoy the video. 😁

PS: HUGE shoutout to my “YouTube Cuddle Buddy” Misha Ras. He’s the dude who edits all the videos and often makes the music for the videos. And more than that, he's a true partner in shine and I am so grateful to work with him on all these videos and so much more.

PPS: If you dig this video and this message and want to support me and the Artist Morning YouTube channel, you can subscribe here → https://www.youtube.com/c/ArtistMorning⁣ // link in bio @dariusbashar

#YouTubeTips #createmore #creativityeveryday #artisttips #createdtocreate #createyourself #ArtistMorning #Artistsway

The Art of Copying Art

It’s too late for me. I missed my chance. I should have started years ago. 

There are too many artists / creators / musicians / businesses already in the space. They are way ahead of me. 

What could I possibly bring to the table that would be unique? 

I don’t want to look like a copycat. 

It’s just too late!

 — 

I have that voice in my head too. It kept me on the sidelines for a long time, just watching other people create cool shit. 

The good news is that I found a way around this unproductive thinking… 

Six steps to help me copy other artists in a way that is ethical, profitable and fun as f*ck.

It might not work for all artists and creators out there, but it worked for me. It gave me permission to play, express and create more than I ever imagined. 

It also gave me a brave space to build momentum as a new artist, a foundation to build on, and then eventually my own signature style. 

If you’re on the fence about getting into the self-expression game, I hope that this video gives you a nudge in the right direction. 

Big LOVE, 

D

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PS: If you dig this video and this message and want to support me and the Artist Morning YouTube channel, you can subscribe here → https://www.youtube.com/c/ArtistMorning⁣ // link in bio @dariusbashar

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PPS: Come meditate and journal with me. It’s totally free and everyone is welcome. You might just love it → https://www.artistmorning.com // link in bio @dariusbashar

The Dark Side of Creativity (& How To Survive The Chaos)

I believe self-expression and creativity are the reasons we are here on this planet. It’s fundamental to living a fulfilled human life. 

I also believe that if you aren’t careful, the process of bringing a creative idea to life can swallow you up whole. 

It’s easy to lose yourself. You can become obsessed and lose grip with what’s really important to you and your life. 

Health, family, friends and financial stability can be pushed aside when you’re in the midst of birthing a new creative baby. 

This has happened to me many times in the past. 

All I can think about is the work. I forget to eat. I can’t sleep. I stop answering emails and text messages. 

Sometimes it leads to breakthrough work and self-expression…

…and sometimes it leads to me totally burning out and getting dangerously close to needing to shut out the entire world.

If you’re not careful, it can also lead to you resenting your own self-expression and decided to quit making art. 

In this video I share 3 practical things I do to work through the dark side of creativity: the inevitable CHAOS that seems to always come as a packaged deal when bringing a creative idea to life. 

Chaos is not a bad thing… as long as you are prepared for it and have a plan to make sure it doesn’t gobble you up. 

BIG Love,

D

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PS: If you dig this video and this message and want to support me and the Artist Morning's YouTube channel, you can subscribe here → https://www.youtube.com/c/ArtistMorning⁣ // link in bio @dariusbashar

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PPS: Come meditate and journal with me. It’s totally free and everyone is welcome. You might just love it → https://www.artistmorning.com // link in bio @dariusbashar

One Thing I Wish I Knew When I First Starting Making Art...

Be gentle with your art.

And don’t forget to be kind and supportive to your artist self.

Because not everything is about money and fame.

It’s okay to keep your day job and make your art on the side.

It’s also okay to want to make a lot of money doing your art.

Just remember, for most of us our inner artist is very young. Usually between the ages of 5 and 15.

Before you place heavy expectations on yourself about earning a living with your art, let your inner artist play and create from a place of joy and exploration.

While your inner artist deepens your connection to your craft and becomes a skilled artist, it’s still your job as the adult to make sure the bills are paid and that there is food on the table.

Not all art needs to make money, but all artists do.

Love,

D

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Here's One Way To Make More Art

Last week was challenging for a variety of reasons.

And some unexpected things came up that threw me out of my morning rituals.

→ Not doing my morning rituals made EVERYTHING in life more difficult.

But today I feel renewed.

Because today I got back to my FULL morning ritual and I feel a deep sense of groundedness and FLOW.

For me, my morning rituals are the best way I know to get me into that “wonderful state” that Robert Henri is talking about.

Do you have a practice that puts you in that state? Comment below or shoot me a DM, I’d love to hear your methods.

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