About
So, what do you want to know?
I’m a photographer in Toronto who started shooting for weekly newspapers back in the 1980′s. The editor at one of those weeklies told me that I was wasting my time working at her paper (!) . She said I should immediately go work for one of the large downtown dailies. So I did. For about 15 years.
Over the past couple of decades, I’ve had pictures published in every daily newspaper in Toronto, shot two or three music album covers (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 insides and covers, one billboard, lots of business portraits, several ads, and probably some other stuff too. Never had a photo on a coffee mug or mouse pad, though.
I did appear in a half-hour TV infomercial as myself: “Warren Toda Professional Sports Photographer,” where I photographed an athlete working-out on the latest elliptical trainer. I wish I had taped my 17 seconds of fame. And if you must know, I appeared on a TV variety show when I was 9 years old, and three years later, in a National Film Board of Canada movie. I’m even listed on IMDB (ha!).
Currently, I photograph a lot of sports, along with some entertainment and news, for a wire service. 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, and even requires, me to use my number one newspaper skill: being able to consistently make a good picture of anything, anytime and 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 producing new photography, or if you just need a makeover via updated business portraits, send me an e-mail. Easy to do, and great when done.
Thanks for reading.
-Warren
