James Dawson
Photographer/Owner
I’m James Dawson, and I make photographs of the things that enhance colour, texture, and the story of quiet corners and neighbourhoods in well-travelled cities or the peaceful solitude of expansive landscapes.
Most people tell me they get a sense of calm from my photographs, and I take that as the highest compliment. My personal challenge is always to see different—to see beyond the distraction of the obvious, to capture the uniqueness of a subject.
I make photographic prints to rekindle your nostalgia for a place. Or to remind you there are corners of the world waiting for you to experience. Or to offer you something at last to grace the blank space on your wall that’s been bugging you for years.
In photographic prints of Venice Italy, Portugal and the Azores, Ireland, Scotland, France, Barbados, Canada and other countries I've visited, I bring the poetry of place to You, to bring You back to the places You love (without those pesky airport security lineups).
I’m intentional with what I photograph. Each photograph and print represent a moment, a thought process, a time in one's life one cannot revisit except through memory or a print. Every print tells a story. Whatever brought You here, I hope the art I create brings to life something meaningful to You, a memory rekindled or a longing to be fulfilled.
I believe there is beauty in everything if we only look for it. I hope you find something here that invites you to see different, to discover beauty in unusual ways and places, to look more carefully at the world around you—both near and far.
Looking for something in particular? A colour, a scene, a size? Get in touch and let me know.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I believe that purpose fuels passion—and that being there for others is as important as being anywhere in the world. There are few things that make an impact like giving back.
As much as I am drawn to travel, I’m also pulled to be there for people in need closer to home. In part, not only so I can donate, but to lend a hand whenever I can.
I will donate all profits from photographic prints to GlobalMedic, a registered Canadian charity that provides disaster relief and humanitarian aid worldwide.
The most beautiful thing about humanity is that we’re all part of it. I wanted to build a business that not only invites you into the corners of places you may not otherwise see but also gives back to those in need. My goal was to connect with a non-profit that was close to my Oshawa, Ontario home that has both local and global impact. When I learned about GlobalMedic, I knew it was the perfect fit.
What value did you receive from BACD in starting your business?
I received very valuable advice from the standpoint of marketing and campaign development. I also received technical advice that was very helpful in developing my e-store.
Tell us about the growth of your business?
As an e-store owner who creates my own products, I don’t employ anyone to manage or operate my e-store.
What advice would you give someone who is starting a business?
Make use of all the resources provided by BACD and of other resources such as what is offered by authors like Seth Godin and “The Practise. Shipping Creative Work, Ray Edwards and “How to write copy that sells, Ray Biesenbach, and “Unleash the Power of Story Telling, and Donald Miller and “Marketing Made Simple, plus many others.
