Chantal Bustamante Circus Performer

Ladies and Gentlemen! Step right up!

Sometimes being a photographer feels like I'm living in a circus. Well, not really, but it is filled with high-flying moments. Case in point: I had my second booking this summer with Chicago circus performer Chantal Bustamante. Chantal has been visiting the epicentre of circus (Montreal) for a number of years in the summer, improving her craft. She needed some new promo shots, did a little research and came up with Alan Dean Photography. Our first session a year ago yielded some great results, and I was very happy to do an encore performance for Chantal. She even surprised me with some tickets to a Cirque de Soleil performance. Even better news was that Chantal plans to use the latest shoot to promote a brand new project, her very own circus in the Chicago area. I wish her the best of success although I think I prefer to keep my feet on the ground.

Superkids - Lauren

I used to think that child actors, dancers, musicians, etc all had a tiger mom or dad pushing these kids to succeed in not only one area of the arts but in multiple disciplines.
My thoughts, however, have changed dramatically, if you'll pardon the pun. It seems that these wonder kids have their own driven instinct to succeed, and nothing will stand in their way. More and more I get bookings for these amazing new talents, and even when I edit, the moms and dads take a backseat and let their children decide which photos work for them, and how they want to be represented. I am truly awestruck!
I remember my childhood days of watching TV and flying a kite for entertainment, without a care in the world and absolutely no idea of what direction my life was going in. After all I had faith that I had time, and being a kid was just being a kid. I plan to devote quite a few blogs  to these child artists. Keep your eyes open for these future stars.
Alan

Trash Talking with a Trailer Park Girl!

Recently I photographed actress Jeanna Harrison, who has portrayed the role of Trinity on the hit series and films Trailer Park Boys for almost 20 years.  Jeanna was just 5 years old when she first started acting in the trash talking comedy mockumentary about low life characters living in a trailer park. I can tell you that Jeanna  is far removed from the character that she portrays, and is a well-spoken and gracious individual. She has enjoyed being part of the cast and has literally grown up on the series, and has come a long way in her 25 years. She was so easy to photograph; I wish it was always this simple. She knows the camera and how to project and I almost felt a little guilty not having to work my usual magic. I just had to sit back and enjoy a true professional at work. Jeanna has relocated to Ottawa,  but she will continue to do the voiceover work for the show, as it moves into an animated series. I wish her great success as she moves forward.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1036547/

Alan

Paul Rainville True to the Art

I took a call several weeks ago from Paul Rainville, a professional Canadian actor and who lives literally around the corner from my studio on Wellington St in Ottawa. Despite our close living/working proximity, I had never encountered Paul on a professional or personal level. Several years ago Paul had won an award at the Capital Critics Circle, an event that Alan Dean Photography has been sponsoring for many years.The winner of the professional actor award receives many accolades and press, and an actor’s photoshoot that we donate. Over the years many of the winners have been from out of town and sometimes call us years

later to ask if we will still honour the photo session, which of course we still do. In this case however, he was “so close by” and I wondered aloud why he had waited so long. And then it hit me. Paul, like myself, is a professional, and being a professional in any arts world is so very difficult. And things can slip your mind when focusing on making a living in a business that depends on the phone ringing.I take my hat off to all professionals like Paul who hang in there with their chosen art, refusing to bend, and keep moving forward despite many challenges.Finally, Paul was a great guy with a lot of character, and a joy to photograph. Keep up the great work Mr Rainville, the world need more like you.

Alan