As a little boy I admired my father’s ability to capture great images. He was a diplomat and traveled around the world – I would follow him everywhere. My favourite shots of dad’s were always, without fail, photography of people.

In 1985, while studying photography at Claude Watson School for the Arts in Toronto, I was mesmerized by the most outstanding portrait photograph I have ever seen: National Geographic Magazine’s cover of June 1985 – the Afghan Girl by Steve McCurry. Little did I know that 30 years later, my mission would be to recreate the feeling of the Afghan Girl in every headshot, by capturing the spirit inside everyone who I have the honour to photograph.

In the 1990’s, I worked with troubled youth and their families for the Ministry of Children and Families, the Vancouver School Board and various non profit societies. During those 14 years as a youth worker and family therapist, I always wondered about working with people at their best rather than at their worst.

Counselling taught me to interact with my clients as if it was a session, bringing out their best throughout each interaction. Today, my clients have a mini-session, just like family therapy, but it’s fun, easy and always produces great results. My dream came true through Art of Headshots.

My father’s passion for photography was infectious. He would have been an extraordinary photographer. In our last conversation he asked me to never quit photography. I won’t.

Some of Carlos’s previous clients include Microsoft, 3M, Lions Gate Studios and The Vancouver Art Gallery.

It is with great pleasure that I announce Massi, as the photographer and director for the new and permanent Art of Headshots location in Calgary.

Earlier last month, I was in Calgary to conduct interviews with nearly a hundred applicants, and to select the one candidate whose skill with a camera was matched by the right attitude for Art of Headshots photography.

Sometimes to find the right person we have to make mistakes, we sure did by delaying our choice with Massi as we are excited and confident that Calgarians will receive Massi’s talents with open arms.

Al has eight years of experience in photography, video and graphic design. He has worked with magazines, such as Martha Stewart, and international brands such as the Four Seasons, Fairmont, Steigenberger Hotels, FuijiFilm Canada, KPMG Canada, Mini Cooper, Credit Agricole, Canon and Procter & Gamble.

Having created and managed a photography company specializing in product, portrait and fashion photography, as well as working as Head of Photography for MenuLava Canada for the last two years photographing over 150 clients ranging from franchises to independents vendors, Al has all the right skills to capture the perfect portrait.

Al’s dedication, talent and extensive knowledge of portrait photography will be a wonderful addition to Toronto’s corporate community.