Motivated to use his skill set to give back, Canadian photographer, Joel Séguin, started out inspired by his own infant son’s heart surgery.  That single incident has brought his help to dozens of different projects in the community.  While his story is great to read, his best comment and the advice for all of us is:

“Don’t expect anything in return, the smiles are well worth it!”

Thank you Joel for what you’re doing in your community and for sharing it with us during Charity Fest!

I started my business 2.5 years ago. My son was born in February 2007 with a heart condition and needed open heart surgery when he was 7 days old. He got through it like a little champ after 8 hours on the table. By the time he was 4 months old, we were told by the hospital he no longer needed any medications and he was well on his way to a complete recovery.

On that day, I was changing his diaper and telling him we had great news about his condition.   While talking I was telling him that the best gift I wanted to give him was to encourage him to follow is dreams in life. I did not care if he became a florist or doctor as long has he did it with passion. I started to listen to myself talk and took the decision right there to leave my 11 year career and open my studio…by September 2007 Élyxstudio opened (Élyx beeing my son’s name).

Ever since I opened I’ve worked my butt off cause I had little money, a house, a son, a wife with a job that could not support us and normal debts for an early 30’s guys. The road has been so rough,but so gratifying. Even when my wife lost her job, somehow we made it through.

Along the way, I took the decision to help out different causes that were important to me. First, there is a foundation called “La fondation en coeur” which helps out parents with kids who have heart problems. They helped us out for Élyx when he was born and I have been giving back by photographing all their fund-raising events that need coverage. They put on a bike race, activities for kids etc. I also shot an ad for them that went in a French Canadian cycling magazine. I don’t have money that I can invest, but giving them my time and my photos, I’m happy to do it.

I also decided to associate myself with a local organization that takes young athletes (from a very young age) and provides different services and guidance to them free of charge to help them get to the highest levels of their sports. They help them get to the Olympics, to the Canada games etc. I’ve been shooting different sports, events and other things for them free of charge to help them promote their organization and get funding for the athletes. The Canada games are coming to my city in 2013 and we are working on a project to photograph the kids and teens who are sponsored by this organization so the public will get to know them and encourage them.  Also with the way it’ll be done, we are going to connect these kids with local business so they might get some sponsorship.

My business is growing and this year I’ll finally be profitable. After all the efforts I put in, finally, I’m there. This will let me think of new ways to help out different causes.  I always said to myself that if I can help people along the way, I’ll be glad to do it and it feels even better than I thought it would.

So that’s my story. If it motivates someone to give back, I’ll be very happy. Don’t expect anything in return, the smiles are well worth it! Joel Séguin, April 30, 2010