Open Shutter Live

Mark Kendall Andrews joins the program. He’s a photographer, music lover, concert goer, and an all-around creative who sees the world through a cinematic eye.Mark’s creative journey has taken a few unexpected turns. He started in film and television, moved into background acting, then location scouting, before eventually stepping into the telecommunications industry. Now, he’s working toward making photography his full-time career.His approach to photography is anything but conventional. Mark doesn’t believe in following the rules. He shoots subjects head-on, builds his work around themes, and dives deep into the places he photographs, trying to bring an entire location to life for the viewer.And perhaps the most surprising part? Mark shoots and edits everything on his Samsung Galaxy S26.A discussion around photography, supporting local artists, and why community is more important than A.I. Follow Markhttps://www.instagram.com/kendallandrews5/

What happens when your passion becomes a business, but you still have a full-time job?Toronto-based illustrator, artist, and creator Erika Flores joins the program to talk about finding that balance.Erika is a self-taught artist who started creating in high school. What began with a friend asking her to create calligraphy for a wedding seating chart eventually became Inkscrpt, her creative business.But building a creative career doesn't mean having unlimited time for creativity. Working full-time in government, Erika has had to learn how to protect her time, recognize when she's taking on too much, and understand why stepping away can sometimes be just as important as creating.We talk about the importance of passion projects, especially when client work becomes the focus, and why making something simply because you want to can help keep the creative spark alive.Erika also opens up about being an introvert while trying to network, build relationships, find new clients, and put herself out there.A conversation about art, identity, business, balance, and finding the time to create something that is truly yours.You can follow Erika herehttps://www.instagram.com/inkscrpt/

Alshane Wallace originally from the Bahamas, he has found a new home in Toronto and is building a creative community of his own.A creator at heart, Alshane founded the Browser Collective, a platform focused on bringing creators together and building community in Toronto.He started out as a writer, primarily working in fiction, but as life got busier, he found himself with less time to write. That passion for storytelling, however, has continued to shape the way he approaches everything he creates.Alshane talks about his perfectionist mindset, his constant drive to improve, and the thought he puts into both his work and the events he organizes.We also discuss what makes a great story, the filmmakers he draws inpsiration from, and why he believes AI can never replace the power of real human community.Join the Browser Collective Today!https://www.instagram.com/alshanewallace/https://www.instagram.com/thebrowsercollective/

Toronto Photographer, Dzesika Devic joins Open Shutter to talk about finding meaning in photography, embracing discomfort, and learning to see the everyday with fresh eyes.Driven by missed photographs, childhood memories, and her own emotions, Dzesika gravitates toward photographing people’s expressions and quiet moments that reflect feelings and thoughts that can be difficult to articulate.She brings her camera with her everywhere, turning her everyday life into a kind of visual journal. She talks about her fascination with photographing people lost in thought, how photography allows her to connect with others, and why the best images often come from simply paying closer attention to the world around you.We also discuss why “I hate your photos” might actually be some of the best feedback an artist can receive, her feature in Leica’s 70th anniversary magazine celebrating the Leica M, and her upcoming first-ever gallery show this year.An honest conversation about photography, vulnerability, criticism, and why sometimes the work that makes you uncomfortable is the work worth making.https://www.instagram.com/dzesikadevic/

What does it mean to stay authentic in a world increasingly influenced by AI?Julian Talluto, joins the program to talk about finding your creative identity, staying true to yourself, and pursuing photography with purpose.Julian shares how he found a place where he feels good mentally, why surrounding yourself with the right people and other creatives matters, and how learning to stop worrying about what others think has helped him become more comfortable doing what he actually wants to do.Photography has been part of Julian’s life for years. His father was a wedding cinematographer, and watching his father’s work sparked Julian’s interest in photography. After taking photography in high school, he continued developing his own creative style.For Julian, photography is about raw emotion and authenticity. He discusses why capturing genuine moments is more important to him than simply creating a technically perfect image.We talk about photography, creativity, AI, mental well-being, finding your people, and becoming the best version of yourself.https://www.instagram.com/juliantalluto/Like and Subscribe for More Episodes!