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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. 

What Do You Really Want?

In a world that is very loud and moves very fast, sometimes it’s so hard to know what you really want.

Because everywhere you look there is another person telling you what success is:

Look like this. 👁👄👁

Eat like this. 🥑🥦🥒

Create like this. 🎻🥇🎨

Family like this. 🏡👨‍👩‍👦🫶🏼

Bank account like this. 📈💰💎

Sex like this. 💦⚡️🔥

Coaches, authors, therapists, guides, gurus and trainers with absolute certainty and confidence visit you on every screen in your house, breaking it all down with clarity and focus.

“This is what you should want. This is what you’re missing. Here’s what will fix you…”

While many of these humans have good intentions, none of these humans are YOU.

So if you are open to it, here’s a 60-second experiment that might bring you closer to what you really want and who you really are.

(Remember that this exercise is private and personal. You don’t need to share this with anyone else.)

  1. Put your phone away.

  2. Find a comfortable seat.

  3. Close your eyes and take 3 deep breaths, each getting deeper and longer than the last.

  4. Place one hand on your heart.

  5. Ask your heart the following question: “Dear heart, is there something you want to share with me?”

  6. Listen carefully and hear if your heart has a message for you.

  7. BONUS: If you are open to it, see if there is a message you want to share back with your heart.

If it turns out that your heart is feeling shy today, that’s okay too.

Be patient and kind with your heart; there is a chance she’s been through a lot and could use some support.

I’m rooting for you and your heart.

Love,

D

My Favourite Thing About Art

My favourite thing about art is that it can give you intimacy, closeness, and connection to other people’s hearts. ❤️

But in order to gain access to someone else’s heart, you must first share access with your own heart.

That’s why art is such an intimate experience for me.

It takes great courage to go deep into your own heart and find what’s real and honest. To then bring that honesty through you and into the world requires even more bravery.

And my dear friend Ciarán did just that with this soulful art project he came up with.

If you are still waiting for someone to give you permission to make art or to call yourself an artist, here it is:

Your life is beautiful. Every day you create something just by being in this world.

Each of us is an artist in our own way.

So what will you create today?

And who will you co-create with?

Big love,

D

PS: Special shoutout to Jenn Mansell for her help both taking BTS photos and videos too.

PPS: If you want to watch the beautiful video Ciarán made for this project, check out my TikTok (or see below)

Psst... How is your heart?

If you’re reading this there’s a good chance you have a big heart.

Maybe you don’t think of yourself as being someone with a BIG heart. And that’s okay.

But I have this feeling that many of you have really big hearts. The kind of heart that really cares for others. The kind that is constantly thinking about family and friends and is finding ways to make people feel comfortable, supported and loved.

Sometimes we can care so much that we forget to check in with our own hearts and make sure our needs and desires are also being addressed. I fall into this trap a lot.

The good news is that there is a quick and easy way to come back to your own heart.

This short video is a gentle invitation to slow down.

So take a deep breath, and check in with your glorious, generous heart.

Love,
D

Darius BasharComment
How To Build Trust In Photos (PART 1)

Did you know that all of my clients need the same thing from their photos? Whether they’re coaches, speakers, artists, authors, or thought-leaders, they all need their photos to build TRUST with their audience so they can continue doing the work they love.

If you want to learn how to build more trust through photography—especially on platforms like Instagram—take a look at this video. It might be a bit hard to hear at first, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Also, please please PLEASE remember to be gentle with yourself and don’t use this video to be overly critical with your own progress. We are all a work in progress (including me!) and it’s easy to have a blind spot or two. My own feed is far from perfect, but I am growing and sharing more of the REAL Darius all the time.

Sharing our lives with the internet can be an intimidating experience. So go slow and please be kind with yourself.

Big love,

D

PS: I have a great promo for my outdoor photoshoots this spring and summer. Spots are limited --> https://www.dariusbashar.com/sunchaser⁣

PPS: Want 5 free tips to take better selfies TODAY? --> https://www.selfielikeapro.co/free-lesson

How To Look Photogenic At Live Events

It’s finally happened... Live events are back! Business conferences, TED talks, weddings… thank the lord we are once again coming together in the flesh to connect and celebrate life. 🙌🏽

There’s a good chance that this spring and summer you will find yourself at one of these in-person events. And chances are, you’ll run into a professional photographer with a fancy camera taking candid photos of the audience.

This can be a great opportunity for you to get amazing photos of yourself—FOR FREE.

But if you find that the photos you get from these live events don’t look so great, a lot of the time there is actually a super simple solution to feeling more photogenic.

Follow these easy tips so the next time a pro event photographer captures a candid photo of you, you’ll be thrilled with the photos you receive.

Big love,

D

PS: Spring and summer are here! If you are interested in working together I am now taking bookings for June through September. Send me a message if you’re interested in learning more about my summer promo. Spots are limited.

@dariusbashar Follow these easy tips so the next time a pro event photographer captures a candid photo of you, you’ll be thrilled with the photos you receive. PS: Free lesson in my bio. #phototips#photographytips#photographytipsandtricks#bephotogenic #phototips101 #phototipsandtricks#howtobephotogenic ♬ sniffing the flowers - demon gummies
The wait is over…

🥁 I am so pleased to announce that our new online course Selfie Like a Pro is officially LIVE. 🥁

In this course I will teach you how to look and feel great in photos and videos too. It’s a combination of powerful video lessons, selfie demos and workshop exercises…
+ PLUS weekly live training and coaching from me
+ PLUS two amazing bonuses (that will probably never be offered for free again after this cohort)

If you’ve enjoyed my tutorials on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, you will love this comprehensive course.

Sign up before May 15 to receive 75% off and an additional $1500 of AMAZING bonus features as well.

Together we will tackle all the most daunting topics that have come in directly from your awesome questions, comments and DMs:

  • How to look more photogenic

  • How to look confident in photos

  • How to look younger in photos

  • How to look slimmer in photos

  • How to build trust in photos

  • How to build connection

  • How to smile authentically

  • How to look like a speaker or coach

  • How to let your fun and playful side out

  • How to make professional looking videos (YouTube/Reels/TikTok)

  • How to find the best locations for your photos

  • How to find the best light in any situation

Better yet, this first cohort is going to receive lots of extras and a lot of my personal attention too. ⁣

The first 10 people to sign up will also receive a personalized video lesson where I will review your existing photos/selfies and give you custom suggestions and tips; it’s a 5 to 10 minute video made just for YOU.

To learn more visit —> www.selfielikeapro.co

It's Happening!

🔥 IT'S HAPPENING!!!⁣ 🔥

On Monday I officially open the doors and launch my online course Selfie Like A Pro™.⁣ 🕺🏽🕺🏽🕺🏽

My team and I have poured our hearts into this course. It’s jam-packed with all of my best tips, tools and techniques to help you take amazing photos and videos of yourself with the phone you already own. ⁣

Selfie Like A Pro™ also comes with INSANE bonuses. There is a very good chance I will never offer these bonuses for free again.

This first cohort is going to receive lots of extras and a lot of my personal attention too. ⁣🙏🏽

→ IMPORTANT NOTE:

Yes, you will learn how to take amazing photos and videos with the smartphone you already own. And yes, this can drastically impact your business. But at the HEART of this course we are talking about something much more important than your business or your brand. ⁣

Capturing photos and videos of ourselves now, today, will be incredibly meaningful to us and our families in the future. ⁣

Learning to take amazing self portraits is NOT about social media... For me, it's actually about letting the world (and myself) know that my life is worthy of being remembered; that my time on earth is worthy of being documented. ⁣

I know that my future self will be so grateful for every moment I capture. ⁣

If this resonates with you and you want more info, check it out → ⁣https://www.selfielikeapro.co/

We officially go live on Monday, but if you join the waiting list now you’ll get early access. ⁣☺️

Big love, ⁣
D⁣

Your Love

Loving you has been the greatest experience of my life.

Your love is a portal to both my highest dreams and my deepest fears.

Yes, your love is kind, nurturing and soothing.

But your love is also challenging.

It challenges me daily to feel and experience the fullness of my heart.

To stay open despite all the hardships.

To stay present despite all the distractions.

To stay me.

Your love has been a masterclass on how to love myself.

And no lesson could be more important to me.

Because I think the greatest love story possible is between us and our own hearts.

But that’s a story for another time.

I love you darling. Forever and always.

D

This Is Cherry Rose

One of my favourite things about photography is watching people grow.

If I’m lucky, I get to work with someone multiple times and witness their evolution firsthand.

This weekend I photographed Cherry Rose for the third time and it was electric. There is something so special about her.

So I went back to the first shoot to see if that magical frequency was there too.

It clearly was.

These photos are from my first photoshoot with Cherry Rose. This was 6 years and several lifetimes ago for the both of us.

Cherry Rose, it’s been such a treat watching you grow over the years.

I can’t wait for our next play date.

Big love,

D