Aaron Kohns | Gain Composure

1) Tell us something about {Gain Composure} and how long you’ve been a professional photographer?

I have been working as a full time professional photographer for 4 years now. After working retail for a couple years I got a job at a school photography company. It wasn’t until then that I gained the confidence behind the camera as a portrait photographer. Throughout working at this other company I was able to build my personal portfolio. I shot weddings on weekends and scheduled sessions on my off days. I never had the opportunity to shadow another photographer or intern for anyone, I just dove into wedding photography and made my own mistakes. By 2010 I was photographing 23 weddings a year on top of portrait sessions and my full time job. In May of 2011, I was able to leave my other job to be completely self employed! I love having more time for my clients and family. I’m a proud father of a 9 month old little boy!
To me “Gain Composure” has double meaning, both the technical end of composition and the subject’s emotions. That means if a bride is freaking out because someone didn’t arrive to the venue to set up the chairs for the ceremony, putting down my camera and helping set up chairs. It also means making everyone feel confident with who they are at whatever point in their life, whether they were just born, celebrating a birthday, graduating from high school, getting married or reminiscing all those past events as their little girl walks down the aisle.

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March Community Member of the Month
Shauna Heron

Shauna Heron is a self taught Lifestyle photographer located in Sudbury, Ontario Canada.

Shauna has lived a bit of a nomad’s life. After moving all over Canada, from Calgary to Toronto and every place in between, her wandering ways finally brought her to Amsterdam, The Netherlands where she lived for 12 years as an art director in IT. Thinking it might be time to finally settle down, 6 years ago she emigrated back to Canada -this time deciding on a small city in Northern Ontario where the life would be a little slower pace. Here she met the man of her dreams and started growing her own little family. After the birth of her son, Felix in 2009 and the mad picture taking that ensued, Shauna found she had a true passion for photography; for capturing the true essence of the people she photographs. Shauna’s approach to photography is unique in that it’s the in-between moments she finds herself looking for; rather than the perfectly posed and composed shot, to her the best are often the imperfect ones that capture an authentic expression, look or gesture. If you don’t feel something when you look at one of her photographs, to her, she has failed at her job. It has also been said that Shauna has a true knack for putting her clients at ease; achieved by bringing her strange sense of humour to shoots. This involves animal noises, loud shouting and other ridiculous behavior.

Shauna continues to live and work as a Child and Family Lifestyle photographer in Sudbury, Ontario with her partner Ben and their little son Felix.

Connect with Shauna
Website :: Facebook :: Twitter :: Blog

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