89: First of all, give our readers a background on yourself. What do you do ?Will: Im an event photographer for some of the biggest and hottest events in the city. I also do photoshoots. More recently, I've come to be known as the man behind Lostinthewillderness.com. I'm just your average person with access to beyond average things.
89: How do you put together the perfect photoshoot?
Will: I'm not sure if there is criteria for a perfect photshoot. A good shoot, yes. Perfect? I haven’t had a perfect photoshoot yet to know. Everything is still a learning experience everyday. The conditions are never perfect, the concepts are never as solid as they could be, the model might not be able to produce. Its not about the perfect shoot, its what you do with those variables. Each new issue during a photoshoot adds to that bank of knowledge. Once you’ve perfected a shoot, what else is there to do? Its perfect. Challenges are great. Struggles are beautiful.
89: What are the best and worst parts of photoshoots?
Will: The best part about shoots is that you get to explore your creativity and your mind. Being able to make something you imagine become real is a very fulfilling feeling. Also allowing people to see what you’ve captured and have them react in certain ways is also very rewarding. The worst parts are when models feel awkward or are not used to it. Its not necessarily a bad thing, because once again, it is all just a learning process, even for models, but it makes the job a lot more difficult, and the photograph not as satisfactory. I love shooting so, there is no real bad thing about it to me. Just more difficult situations.
89: You do alot of club photography. How is it different from shooting at a studio? Which do you enjoy more?Will: I have come to love both the same amount. With a club, you’re capturing people in this moment in time, while they’re high, drunk, delirious and maybe in an absolute state of euphoria. You’re catching a genuine laugh, smile and good time. Although some pictures are bit more staged in a club, the majority are more natural of people just doing their thing. As a photographer, you have the power to capture and eternalize a moment in time for ever in a photograph, so for me, I would prefer to catch people in their natural state. Photoshoots are cool too, but not as preferable to me since they’re more staged, posing and unnatural (unless we’re doing natural photoshoots of the subjects just acting normal and I shoot away). Smiles aren’t as real, make up is flawless and everything become post produced. Its cool, but at the same time, it doesn’t always reflect my character. But I enjoy both, Ive done some really cool photoshoots with people do some pretty interesting things.
89: List some mainstream individuals you would like to shoot one day?
Will: Wow. I have never thought of this question but I guess Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Lauren London and Tupac, I know he’s still out there somewhere (laughs).
89: You run a blog called 'Lost In The Willderness'. Talk about that. Where are you trying to go with it?
Will: lostinthewillderness.com is the cities or whomever's window into my life. This blog serves as both a journal, a portal to a reality that isn’t necessarily your own and also as a piece of history as a document the growth of our city through photographs. I started the blog thinking that I was so extremely blessed to know such amazing people, and that I was lucky for being able to do all the things I do, going the places I go. I wanted to show people what the city has to offer. But at the same time, I think there are a lot of people who think their lives are too boring and too normal. I want to show those people that there is still beauty in the regular every day life. Its just a matter of how you frame it, in my case, I frame my life inside my camera and take different perspectives or look at things differently through my lens. I want my readers to see things in a different way, in ways they’ve never seen it. Both figuratively and literally.
89: We know you have alot of love for T.O. How do you think it is different from every where else?
Will: Toronto is my home. Its all Ive ever known. Ive only ever left the city twice, and it was only for 2 days at a time. Toronto is different in its diversity and its composition of cultures, religions, traditions and lifestyle. We have the whole world in one city. There is a lot to learn from us, but also a lot we can offer. Our city is young and we’re still growing. Because we’re growing up so late compared to other large cities around the world, we have the benefit of learning from their social mistakes or achievements. Toronto is a very exciting place to be right now. A lot of great things are about to happen.
89: Talk about 'The Remix Project'. You are heavily involved with the organization.What does it offer? What's new?
Will: The Remix Project is essentially a place where like minded young individuals participate in learning skill sets for both their careers and their lives through different streams of art including business arts, recording arts and creative arts, but all rooted in themes of Hip Hop. I started off as a participant in the Remix Project and become a youth leader. Im currently working on a photography program called “Concrete Willderness” that will explore social issues in our city and will be facilitated within and with the assistance of the Remix Project for young persons.
89: Would you consider yourself Canada's Next Top Photographer?
Will: I definitely would not consider myself that (laughs). I think Iv'e made it thus for more based on my character than my skills. My photography is alright, but nothing to brag about. I have been mentored or have worked alongside some very admirable and talented photographers and am no way even comparable to their work and skills. I'm not just being humble here, I am being for real (laughs).
89: Talk about your recent projects. What can we expect in the near future?
Will: I have recently dipped my feet into the realm of organizing parties and just pulled off a successful party with Brazen Hussy called Guys & Dolls. We’re trying to create a niche market for party goers, so my team and I constantly sit down to think and brainstorm. There is no precise path we’re taking yet, but so far, our slow pace has been in our favor. Besides the parties, the next big thing. Im putting together is the concrete willderness program. Im also preparing to do a lot of traveling and photojournalism. Im working on getting out my dreams to be a photographer for National Geographic Magazine. Wish me luck (laughs).
89: Good luck Will.
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