Remember when I had a crazy idea and decided to jump in headfirst without looking back? Well... this crazy idea became one of the best things I have ever said yes to. EVER EVER EVER. 

If you want to join me live we meet every week on zoom for FREE. www.ArtistMorning.com. 

Big love, 

D

PS: HUGE thank you to the Artist Morning global community. Without you there would be NO Artist Morning. You bring so much joy, kindness and inspiration to my life every single day. Thank you for saying yes to this crazy idea of mine before it made any sense at all. I love you… even if I’ve never met you before.

I remember the first time I met Sophie. It was at one of Jenn’s in-person breathwork groups.

That’s when 20+ people who get together in an intimate real life space to go on an epic journey into our hearts… and maybe into the cosmos.

It feels like many lifetimes ago… I so cherished those days. 

I distinctly remember Sophie’s giant smile and how welcomed she made everyone feel. She had this glow to her that was especially noticeable through her eye contact. It felt like we were lifelong friends and she hadn’t seen me in years. I instantly felt safe and comfortable with her.

Sophies is a fierce CrossFit training instructor and an amazing osteopath, but she’s also a kind and caring human. I love when talent, focus and kindness come together and she is a great example of just that. 

Miss you Sophie. I can’t wait for our next big hug. 

Big love, 

D

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There’s a part of me that just wants to do everything alone.

“It’s faster on my own. It’s easier too. And lord knows it’s cheaper.”

^ That’s what the voice says.

Sometimes I listen. But more than ever before, I am realizing the power of team.

Yes, it takes time to get everyone trained and working towards a united vision.

Yes, it costs me money… but also it doesn’t. Because by carefully hiring people with complementary skills, I free up my time to do the things that bring the most value into my business and my life. 

I’m not going to lie to you: at first it was hard for me, especially when I was so used to doing everything solo. And working with a team put me face to face with my perfectionism, which can be paralyzing at times. 

Uniting many people with many different skills and perspectives into one cohesive team requires a commitment to my vision. A commitment to doing things differently, and taking several steps backwards in order to build a solid foundation for me to move forward. 

It’s also humbling to see how much my communication skills need to grow. I’ve got a long way to go, but I am so grateful to all the incredible humans on my team who are so talented, caring and kind. 

This photo is my Mini HEARTshots team from Jan 2022:

Hajer  –  In-house photo editor 
D  –  Photographer + Selfie Coach
Brandon  – Cinematographer + Producer (who took this dope photo at Mint Room)
Sean  Tate –  On set gaffer 

Missing from the photo is Kelly Davidson, our mega talented hair and makeup artist. 

Also missing are my behind the scenes team members who don’t get enough credit for all the content you guys see and love on all the different platforms:

Sal Talon –  Copy Editor, Media Creatrix
Erin Leslie  –  Client Care Specialist + Insight Timer/YouTube community manager
Sergey from 85 Retouching –  Retoucher 
Kimberly Gillard – Social media manager + designer 
Maria Isabel Campos – Copywriter 
Dylan Bernier  – Video editor

I love you guys. Thank you for showing me the power of team. 🙏🏽

Two years ago today, the whole world shut down.

This was not easy. There were many really scary parts. It’s still often scary AF. 

But if you’re reading these words today, you made it to this point. That’s a fact. 

You did whatever you had to do to get here. And before I get back to building out my future, before I put on my cup-is-half-full, silver lining glasses, I want to take a moment to acknowledge all of us for what we’ve been through. 

If you have a moment today, I’d like to invite you to take three deep breaths and reflect on how much our world has changed in the past 24 months. And if you’re open to it, take a moment to acknowledge what it took us to get here. 

It’s hard for me to look back. I’d much rather focus on the future, especially when the past has so many soft spots and painful memories. But in this moment, it’s not about good or bad memories. It’s just an acceptance that all of our lives have been forever changed. All of us, no matter what our beliefs, have been impacted deeply. 

Even though we might be scared, we are also resilient and resourceful. 

And when we pay close attention, despite all the chaos and uncertainty, we will find places in our lives where we are stronger, more rooted and maybe even more free. 

We have survived some of the most uncertain times in human history. 

And we made it. That’s a fact. 

Here’s a throwback to my first ever black and white portrait and my first ever write-up reflecting on the process. Looking back, I see a young and curious artist about to fall head over heels in love with a new lifelong obsession.

PS: love you Majid Hashemi ❤️

11/16/2016 - PORTRAIT #001 - MAJID "MACH" HASHEMI

The most memorable moment during the shoot was when I let Mach take a look at the first few photos. It was so I could show him what was working and where there was room for improvement. His curiosity and his fascination with the "different versions" of himself—as seen through the lens—left an impression on me.

This shoot gives me confidence that there is something very special in this style of black and white portrait photography and that the Universe wants me here. 

Dear Little D,

I love your little mushroom haircut. 

I love how silly and playful you get.

I also love you when you are quiet or scared.

The next time you feel scared, remember that you don’t need to figure things out on your own. 

I’m here too. And I will always be here for you. Always. Always. Always. 

There are a lot of others here for you as well. They also love and care for you a lot. 

I know this can feel scary or overwhelming at times, because it’s been just you and me for a long time. 

But if you are open to it, maybe it’s time to let a few other people in as well.

No rush. No expectations.

Just an idea.

If it feels right, grab my hand and we’ll go on a new journey together. 

There are so many beautiful and uncharted adventures that we could explore. 

Love always and forever,

Big D

If you have ever wanted to work with me and my amazing team, this is your opportunity to do so at a fraction of the cost. 

I have 3 spots left for our Mini HEARTshots 1-Day Event in April.

• We shoot in an elegant, spacious studio in Toronto

• My professional behind-the-scenes team will make you feel like a star 🌟

• BONUS training videos included to help you prepare before the shoot

• BONUS live Q+A session on Zoom prior to our shoot to answer any lingering questions you may have

Lastly, the payment is split into two instalments one month apart to make it even more convenient and accessible. 

If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it. 🙌🏽

Let’s make beautiful photos and moments together!

To learn more about the Mini HEARTshots event, visit dariusbashar.com/minis.

Big love,

D

PS: HUGE shout out to the brilliant Brandon Ferguson for bringing this testimonial video to life! I am still blown away.

PPS: And of course so much gratitude to all the amazing humans who shared their experience so openly in this video. My heart is exploding with love. Thank you!

1. Don’t make content for yourself or people at your level. Make content for you 10 years ago. The simpler the lesson, the better.

2. You can 100% change people’s lives with a simple 1-minute video. I have hundreds of comments, messages, photos and videos of people loving the way they look in photos again— people literally crying because they love the photo they took after they used the tip.

3. There are so many kind people out there. The love on TikTok is truly beautiful and abundant.

4. Mean and racist comments don’t bother me as much as I thought they would. It’s rare, but sometimes people go in hard on me, and nothing feels off boundaries for these people. But something powerful happens when you encounter that thing you were afraid of several times in a row. The first mean comment hurt a lot, and then each one after that had less and less impact. It’s like exposure therapy.

5. Not getting it right is a secret weapon. In the past I wasted so much time trying to create the perfect video. Now I realize that making mistakes can encourage people to leave comments and increase engagement. For example: I didn’t mention what iPhone version I had and people have asked 100’s of times in the comments. This gave me a chance to reach out and connect with each person by answering their question. It also gave me an idea for a future video.

6. All the attention can make you self-conscious. It feels amazing having over 55,000 new followers and almost 1.7 million new views in 48 hours, but there is a voice in the background that keeps whispering, “What if it all goes away?” But then a friend of mine told me that I’ve been doing this work for years and years. If it all goes away, I’ll keep doing what I do. (Thanks Sal.)

7. There is absolutely a formula to making a captivating TikTok or Instagram Reel. The vast majority of people do not know about this formula. (If you want me to make a separate post on this, comment below or send me a direct message).

Good luck with your journey of sharing your passion, wisdom and aliveness with the world. I’m rooting for you. Let me know which of these discoveries resonated with you the most.

Big love,

D

The first time I met Daniel was at this photoshoot. Before that, we knew each other on social media for over 10 years without ever being in the same room.

When we finally met in person, we instantly connected. 🙏🏽

Daniel was immediately drawn to the rose quartz gem on my necklace. Before I knew it, I was making him an extra frothy latte and he was pulling tarot cards for me and telling me all sorts of amazing psychic things about my life. Our hearts connected and there was immediate trust. 

Like two lifelong friends, we quickly dove into deep conversation. His openness and honesty encouraged my own. I love it when this happens with someone you just met. 

The photos turned out amazing, and a few days later we were on the phone booking his second shoot. 

The way Daniel uses the photos from his HEARTshots session on his website knocks my socks off. 🧦 They really pop and give you a sense of who he is. The entire site is done so well: professional, but also intimate and real. 

If you haven’t seen it I recommend taking a look —> danielpillai.com/about-daniel

Daniel, I can’t wait for our next playdate!

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🌟 My one-day Mini HEARTshots event is back! 🌟

The last one sold out in 48 hours. There are only 10 spots available. 

The feedback from our first group in January was incredible. 

I knew people would like the Mini HEARTshots, but I didn’t realize they would be SUCH A HIT. The photos turned out amazing, and just as importantly: people had so much fun!

If you have ever wanted to work with me, this is your chance to do it at a fraction of the cost. 

• We have an amazing studio in Toronto. 

• You are going to love my team. They’re super skilled and also super kind. ☺️

• I’m including some awesome bonuses too. 👀

All the details can be found at the link below:

→ www.dariusbashar.com/minis

I can’t wait to make beautiful things together with 10 new humans. 

Love, 

D