So, what do you want to know?

Back in the 1980s, a number of weekly papers in the Toronto-area started relying on me to produce all sorts of interesting pictures for their readers. After a couple of years, the editor at one of those weeklies told me that I was wasting my time working at her paper! She said I should work for one of the large downtown dailies. So I did. For about 15 years.

Over the past couple of decades, every daily newspaper in Toronto, as well as a large number of papers around the world, have  published my pictures. My photography has been featured on two or three music album covers (way back when music came in albums), a couple of book covers and video jackets, a few posters (one of which sold in the many tens of thousands, although the publisher “forgot” to pay me before going out of business), a half-dozen calendars, a few magazine covers, one billboard, several advertisements and probably some other stuff too. Never had a photo on a coffee mug or mouse pad, though.

A half-hour TV infomercial actually featured me – “Warren Toda Professional Sports Photographer” – where I photographed an athlete working-out on the latest elliptical trainer. I wish I had a copy of my eight seconds of fame.

And if you must know, I appeared on a TV variety show when I was nine years old, and three years later, in a National Film Board of Canada movie. I’m even listed on IMDB (ha!).

Currently, two international wire services depend on my photography experience for sports, entertainment and news coverage in the Toronto and Ontario areas. These pictures are routinely published in many countries around the world.

The primary focus of my business is business. That is, I do business or corporate photography along with some advertising work. While this may not seem as exciting as covering the final round of the playoffs, it still allows me, and even requires me, to use my number one newspaper skill: being able to consistently make a good picture of anything, anytime, anywhere.

Smart businesses have learned the secret power of editorial photos. Real pictures that get attention by telling a story. This type of photography is far more effective for a business than the old standby pictures of ‘men-in-suits’ or ‘person-holding-product’.

Today’s challenge is getting businesses to realize the incredible magic of having a photo essay on their web site. Yes, that’s right, an editorial photo essay on a corporate or business web site. Journalism is not just for newspapers anymore.

So that’s where it stands today. By night, a mild-manner blogger. But by day, an experienced photographer in Toronto, trying to use his super photo powers to save the economy, one business at a time.

If your business needs saving by having some new photography  done or if you just need a makeover via updated business portraits, send an e-mail. Easy to do and great when done.

Thanks for reading.

-Warren