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The Evolution of My Photography Journey: From Dreamer to World Traveler

Ines Assous

3/10/20254 min read

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Beginnings: Capturing Beauty through a Phone

Many have known me because of my Paris photography from when I went to live there for a year. Little do people know that my passion for photography had started when I was way younger and with much less resources.

I started as a teenager in 2013 capturing the world surrounding me with my ipod touch and then an Iphone, dreaming of one day owning my own camera. I used to take photos of sunsets, of my holidays, of soccer fields and just landscapes of places I was visiting. I had no knowledge of lighting, composition or any of that. All I knew was how to appreciate a nice photo on the internet and trying to recreate my own.

In those early days, my primary motivation was simple: to express myself and share the world from my perspective. I found inspiration in the mundane, whether it was the interplay of light and shadow in a simple scene or a nice weather during a day out. The convenience of my phone allowed me to capture fleeting moments without the constraints of bulky equipment. This accessibility was crucial, as it empowered me to explore various styles and techniques, experimenting with angles and compositions that my youthful imagination could conjure.

My travels at that time greatly inspired my photography and like many my knowledge on editing was very limited and consisted essentially of applying instagram filters on my photos.

Investing in My Passion

In 2019, I made the decision to invest in my first camera : The Canon Rebel T7. I thought it would be the perfect camera for a beginner. The excitement of unboxing the camera and holding it for the first time was palpable.

Despite my eagerness to try it out, I was so intimidated to just go out with such a big camera in hand when I was so used to having a phone. Then just as I was finally inspired to use it, the world shut down. Restrictions on travel and social gatherings brought my aspirations to a grinding halt. The outdoor shoots I had envisioned and the portraits I hoped to capture became distant dreams as safety measures limited my mobility and interactions.

At some point I was determined to finally learn how to properly use it and started going out in my neighbourhood trying to capture my surroundings and taking photos of random objects in my house. At that point I still had no knowledge of lighting, editing or manual settings.

A New Chapter: Studying Abroad in Paris

Studying abroad in Paris was a pivotal moment in my photography journey, where I experienced a remarkable metamorphosis in my skills and artistic vision. The city, renowned for its rich culture, diverse architecture, and vibrant streets, offered an inspiring backdrop that fuelled my creativity and passion for photography. From the moment I arrived, I was captivated by the stunning interplay of light and shadow across the historic façades and bustling markets, inspiring me to experiment with various photographic techniques.

One day after my exams I decided to walk along the Seine from the Notre-Dame Cathedral all the way to the Eiffel Tower taking photos along the way and posting them to my instagram story. From then on it was my motivation : post once a day everyday for a year on Instagram to grow my account and improve my photography. That allowed me to explore the city, pay attention to details, enjoy going to museums even more as I capture the most beautiful details of them and really get acquainted with my camera, the manual mode and editing on Lightroom.

At that point my camera became an extension of my arm. I started taking it with me everywhere, experimenting with architecture photography, street photography and even portraits sometimes.

Romanticizing Life in Montreal and Beyond

I must say returning to Montreal after that year was quite the adjustment. Of course the scenery is much deferent than Paris and there isn't as many museums to wonder in. However, over the years, and through photography I learned to explore my own city more and to love it with each outing.

I quickly discovered that Montreal was very rich in coffee shops and with that I started making content related to that. That allowed me to meet wonderful people that were willing to model for me allowing me to improve my portrait photography. I also splurged on my dream camera : the Fujifilm xs-10. Today, this camera is my travel companion, no matter where I go.

As I was finishing my master's degree I traveled a bit around Canada and the US and realized how much I missed discovering new places and framing nice photos. Fast forward to today, I'm on a work contract living in England and traveling through the UK and Europe.

I'm so very lucky and immensely grateful for all the opportunities I've had over the years and hope to keep improving my photography.

I hope my photography inspires you to start your own no matter what ressources you have at the moment. You can start with as little as possible as long as you have something to capture the world around you.