With a trade war on the horizon, I’m encouraged by the rising demand for Canadian products. I’ve always believed in supporting local businesses. Buying Canadian isn’t just an act of patriotism — it’s better for the local economy and the environment. How and where goods are produced, and the distance they travel to reach us, have a big impact on greenhouse gas emissions.

Years of working in the environmental sector taught me to view life, and business, through a lens of sustainability. So when I started my photography business, I made a conscious decision to support Canadian businesses and keep my carbon footprint as small as possible. Here's how I'm supporting Canadian companies and keeping my carbon footprint as small as possible.

I use Toronto print labs

Printing locally has always been important to me. Sure, there are cheaper print labs overseas, and boutique print shops in Europe, but why would I have print products shipped across the world (contributing needless GHG emissions) when there are excellent companies right here in Toronto? I would rather support local businesses, minimize my carbon footprint, and know who to call if I run into any issues. Here are the two companies I use and trust:

GTA Imaging: This family-owned, Canadian company has served the Greater Toronto Area for more than 35 years. They deal directly with professional photographers and are known for their amazing  customer service and craftsmanship.

Pikto: Located in Toronto, Pikto offers albums and photobooks, wall art, prints, stationary, and keepsakes. Their print quality is top notch, with amazing colour rendition and high-grade materials. They also have quick turnaround times.

I buy photography gear from Canadian companies

Although I sometimes shop second-hand or from online retailers, I purchase most of my photography gear from Canadian stores. Here are my go-to retailers:

Vistek: Founded in 1976 by Toronto photographer Ron Silverstein, Vistek is an institution. I make all major purchases at Vistek, and I won’t miss their annual ProFusion conference and trade show. Vistek is also the only local photography store that still has a rental service, which I use when I want to try out a new camera or lens.

Strobepro: Located in Calgary, Strobepro is the Canadian distributer of Godox — the brand of lighting equipment I use. Strobepro also makes fantastic light modifiers like soft boxes and beauty dishes, which I use to create soft, flattering light for my headshots and portraits. While I could purchase Godox gear from any number of stores, I like Strobepro because they are experts in everything Godox, have great customer service, and offer a free warranty.

My website platform is Canadian

I’ve built websites with Wordpress and Wix, and tested out all sorts of DIY website builders. By far, the most beautiful and user-friendly website platform I’ve found is Pixieset. And it just so happens that Pixieset is a Canadian company, with its headquarters in downtown Vancouver.