Wali Shah
Wali Shah
Wali Shah
Speaker, author & poet
Speaker, author & poet
Photo Journal
Photo Journal
A full day with Wali
A full day with Wali
A full day with Wali
Wali needed images for his speaking engagements and work with schools. We planned a full-day personal branding session at a Mississauga studio, with time for different looks and a few experiments. Years later, he’s still using the images.
Wali needed images for his speaking engagements and work with schools. We planned a full-day personal branding session at a Mississauga studio, with time for different looks and a few experiments. Years later, he’s still using the images.
The portrait with his prayer mat and braids is still one of Wali’s favourites. He told me it feels like him and reflects his faith.
The portrait with his prayer mat and braids is still one of Wali’s favourites. He told me it feels like him and reflects his faith.
Wali with his prayer mat.
Wali with his prayer mat.
Three looks from the same day
Three looks from the same day
We changed clothes, backdrops and lighting throughout the day. I wanted Wali to have something he could send with a speaker bio, something he could use for his work with schools, and photos he’d want to share himself.
We changed clothes, backdrops and lighting throughout the day. I wanted Wali to have something he could send with a speaker bio, something he could use for his work with schools, and photos he’d want to share himself.
Swipe to see all three looks →
Jacket and jeans
Jacket and jeans
A casual portrait he could use on a profile or in a post.
Pink backdrop
Pink backdrop
I’d use this one for an interview or an author bio.
Culture and faith
Culture and faith
The sherwani was a way to show Wali’s heritage. In another portrait from the same day, we included his prayer mat to reflect his faith.
Jacket and jeans
A casual portrait he could use on a profile or in a post.
Pink backdrop
I’d use this one for an interview or an author bio.
Culture and faith
The sherwani was a way to show Wali’s heritage. In another portrait from the same day, we included his prayer mat to reflect his faith.
How we worked
How we worked
How we worked
We’d shoot a setup, look through the photos together and talk about what to try next. At one point Wali stepped out to change his hair, then came back for another look.
We’d shoot a setup, look through the photos together and talk about what to try next. At one point Wali stepped out to change his hair, then came back for another look.
He told me he liked seeing how the ideas came together and having a say in what we tried. We were there for seven or eight hours, and he said it was a blast.
He told me he liked seeing how the ideas came together and having a say in what we tried. We were there for seven or eight hours, and he said it was a blast.
An idea we tried
Two sides of Wali
Two sides of Wali
We photographed Wali twice in profile so I could put him face to face with himself. On one side he’s in the embroidered robe, hair tied back. On the other he’s in braids and a T-shirt. Wali saw a more reflective side of himself in one and a more spontaneous side in the other.
We photographed Wali twice in profile so I could put him face to face with himself. On one side he’s in the embroidered robe, hair tied back. On the other he’s in braids and a T-shirt. Wali saw a more reflective side of himself in one and a more spontaneous side in the other.
Images in use
Images in use
Wali continues to use these images across speaking presentations, school brochures and social media. He also plans to feature them in his next website update.
Wali continues to use these images across speaking presentations, school brochures and social media. He also plans to feature them in his next website update.
Talks & presentations
Talks & presentations
He put the portraits in his slides, including for a talk to around 3,000 kids at Meridian Hall.
Talks & presentations
He put the portraits in his slides, including for a talk to around 3,000 kids at Meridian Hall.
School brochures
School brochures
He used them in brochures he sends to schools.
School brochures
He used them in brochures he sends to schools.
Instagram & profile photos
Instagram & profile photos
The portrait with his prayer mat and braids has been his Instagram profile photo for years.
Instagram & profile photos
The portrait with his prayer mat and braids has been his Instagram profile photo for years.
Wali Shah
Speaker, author & poet
Edited from his feedback
WALI ON THE EXPERIENCE
“It’s one thing to explain what you’re envisioning, but it’s another to see someone capture it exactly how you imagined. That’s what stood out to me about working with him.”
“It’s one thing to explain what you’re envisioning, but it’s another to see someone capture it exactly how you imagined. That’s what stood out to me about working with him.”
“It’s one thing to explain what you’re envisioning, but it’s another to see someone capture it exactly how you imagined. That’s what stood out to me about working with him.”
Wali Shah
Speaker, author & poet
Edited from his feedback
Let’s plan your session.
Let’s plan your session.
Let’s plan your session.
Tell me where you’ll use the images and what you want them to say about you. We can talk through the looks, clothing and studio or location options, then how we’ll choose your final images.
Tell me where you’ll use the images and what you want them to say about you. We can talk through the looks, clothing and studio or location options, then how we’ll choose your final images.
Tell me where you’ll use the images and what you want them to say about you. We can talk through the looks, clothing and studio or location options, then how we’ll choose your final images.