Portraits « da Silva Photography

I’m a thirty somethin’ mamma, photographer, activist and lover of the outdoors. I grew up in bustling Montréal, Québec, and have been on the West Coast of Canada since 2005. I live in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia (Canada) – a smallish city on Vancouver island, surrounded by awe-inspiring landscapes. I received my education and most of my professional experience in Montréal. I have been photographing professionally for over 15 years. I am inspired daily by great conversation, my daughter, friends, laughter, food, magazines, books, music, film, and the outdoors. As I grow as a mom, partner, friend and visual artist, so does my appreciation for spirituality, sustainability and well-being. Welcome to my blog!

Interested in working with me? Click here to contact me via my website.



  • Archive for the ‘Portraits’ Category

    Kanna Laird – Body Karma

    Saturday, April 30th, 2011

    Kanna and I connected in Twitterverse, and from our initial phone conversation, we both knew we were going to have a blast working together! Kanna runs a health, fitness and well-being business in Sidney called Body Karma, and needed to update her images for use on her site and promotional materials.

    And so, early one Wednesday morning, coffee in one hand and a beautiful bag of local fresh produce in the other, Kanna smilingly strolled into my studio ready to play! Here’s the final product!

    To connect with Kanna on twitter: @BBKarmaKanna

    HOPE LOVE JAPAN Fundraiser

    Saturday, March 19th, 2011

    On Thursday March 10th I awoke to the news that the world had suffered yet another natural disaster. I watched stunned, as most of us did, at images coming out of Japan. Our world is fragile, and for some reason, it always takes these catastrophic events to remind us of its fragility. In one moment, everything that we take for granted can be taken from us. The silliness of our daily rants seem so absurd…

    I thought of a family, much like mine, and thought of how devastating it would be to lose everything that “means” something to us – our home, our things, our art, our work, our quality of life, or in the worst case scenario, the tragic loss of loved ones. I immediately felt compelled to help. I joined a group of local concerned citizens, and together over coffee and social media, we got the ball moving on a family-friendly fundraising event to be held in a week. The event is called HOPE LOVE JAPAN.

    WHAT: HOPE LOVE JAPAN – an afternoon inspired by Japanese tradition, with music by Masako Hockey and Satomi Edwards, tea service and Japanese blessing. The afternoon will feature a silent auction, with incredible products and services donated by local businesses. There will also be a photo-booth set up (photographs by moi :) by donation), and a children’s craft area hosting a 1000 cranes for Japan craft project, as well as a Support Japan 2011 t-shirt sale. Admission is by donation (suggested minimum donation $20).

    WHEN: SUNDAY MARCH 27, 2011, FROM 1PM TO 5PM

    WHERE: PARKSIDE VICTORIA RESORT AND SPA, ATRIUM, 810 HUMBOLT STREET, VICTORIA BC

    Find the event on Facebook: Hope Love Japan: Fundraising event

    Follow the Conversation on Twitter: @HOPELOVEJAPAN

    Thank you for spreading the word and the love. I’ll see you there!

    More info about the Studio Rental

    Thursday, March 17th, 2011

    Here is more information about my studio, which is available for rent! It’s received a tremendous amount of attention already! Book your slot!

    Home for the Honeymoon

    Monday, March 14th, 2011

    What a brilliant idea! Patricia Kiteke and Christina Carrick teamed up to create an “international wedding registry and Canada’s only wedding registry that allows couples to register for the down payment towards the purchase of a house”. With people settling down later in life (and some for the second or third time ;) ), the idea of asking your loved ones to help build your fine china and crystal collection seems somewhat dated! The Home for the Honeymoon website allows wedding guests to give towards a down payment fund!

    Congrats on the launch of your already successful business!

    FunctionFox

    Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

    Super fun shoot for FunctionFox. Hats off to my awesome crew, Heather, Erin, and Gail – mwahhh!

    Corporate Headshot promotion

    Thursday, January 20th, 2011

    We are offering a super deal to people wanting to refresh their corporate image! Book multiple sittings at a time and save a substantial amount of coin! Please enquire for all the details!

    Erin Froese

    Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

    My go-to gal for make up and hair! I love Erin :) With a generous heart and a mystical spirit, Erin captivates and enriches the lives of the lucky people who have the chance of calling her a friend.

    Uber talented, professional and creative, she brings positive energy and beauty to every set. You may view her portfolio online at www.erinfroese.com. Warning – she is in high demand!

    Help-Portrait – year 2!

    Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

    In September of 2009, Jeremy Cowart, a commercial photographer out of LA, had the brilliant idea of reuniting photographers, make-up artists and volunteers worldwide to create an annual philanthropic photographic day. A day where we can collaborate to GIVE BACK to our community, to people in need.

    Out of an idea came Help-Portrait, and 3 months later, the first global Help-Portrait day happened. On December 12, 2009, 10,000 photographers and volunteers delivered over 42,000 images to people in need in 42 countries!

    This year’s global event is scheduled for December 4th, 2010. The internet is alive with the buzz around Help-Portrait! It’s incredible to follow the live chatter of photographers planning events on Twitter and on Facebook.

    The task at hand is simple:
    - find people in need
    - take their picture
    - print their picture
    - deliver their picture

    Voila!

    This year will be my second year participating in this fabulous event. I cannot begin to convey the immense pleasure I had creating and delivering images to the amazing people I met last year because of the event. I call out to my fellow photographers, to ralley together and create a special moment for someone else this year :) I guarantee that the personal satisfaction you will receive from that simple gesture will stay with you forever!

    I invite you to check out the following links and videos, and get inspired, get moving and create!
    Involve your network, get the word out and see the response! There is no limit to what these events can look like! Involve your local florists, hair dressers, make-up artists, massage therapists, bakery, coffee shop…… SO many people want to help!

    HELP-PORTRAIT official site: help-portrait.com (tons of resources, downloadable graphics and information)

    HELP-PORTRAIT 2010 promo video:

    HELP SPREAD THE WORD FOR THE LOCAL EVENTS I AM PLANNING:

    HERE IS THE CHEK INTERVIEW PIECE:

    Babes go Bare for Cancer – Calendar launch

    Saturday, November 6th, 2010

    Here’s your sneak peek!
    Taking orders :)
    Out-of-towners please visit the Babes go Bare for Cancer website

    Babes go Bare for Cancer – BC Cancer Foundation fundraising calendar

    Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

    The lovely Trish Caddy contacted me early August to discuss the possibility of photographing the second year of the fundraising calendar for the BC Cancer Foundation. Having first-hand family experience and loss to this terrible disease, it was my pleasure to jump on board with this project.

    From the Babes go Bare website: “Babes Go Bare for Cancer is a non-Profit project started by Trish Caddy, of Nanaimo BC, to change the way people look at their bodies. Instead of spending time and energy on “flaws”, the energy is diverted- in this case, by making tasteful nude calendars featuring un-airbrushed pictures of REAL PEOPLE. The goal is not to be crass, but to be honest about what real bodies look like and to showcase people who love their bodies, regardless of what’s in movies or magazines.

    Last year (the first year of the project) through the sales of over 800 calendars, a silent auction and a headshaving rally, the Babes raised over $19,000 for the BC Cancer Foundation, supporting research and enhancements to patient care. Calendars were sold all across Canada, the US, Brazil, Argentina, the Philippines, Australia and even Afghanistan! The project was featured on CBC radio, in the Times Colonist and the Vancouver Sun, on Chek TV and many more sources!”

    After gathering a professional glam squad including Erin Froese on make-up, Piper London on hair (no website, but you can find her at Artiste on Yates Street) and Deanna Froese on massage (no website either but contact her through her sister, Erin!), we prepared for 3 full days of shooting at a beautiful Fan Tan alley studio. This year’s twist? Men and women were invited to pose for the calendar! A few local celebrities jumped on board, including Gordie Tupper from CHEK news and Eshu Martin, Victoria’s Zen Buddhist Abbott. We had a blast and the photos look great!

    The calendar is set to launch mid to late October (competing with the firemen’s calendar :) ). Distribution has been picked up by Country Grocers across Vancouver Island, as well as several other local merchants. You will also be able to purchase the calendars through me! The cost will be $25 – going to a great cause.

    The photos of the calendar men and women will be kept TOP SECRET until the calendar launch, but here’s a sneak peek at the crew and glam squad :)

    The lovely Trish Caddy

    Kirsten (right) of Boucherat Gallery and studio in Fan Tan Alley

    Yes, that's me.... and Heather Johnston (float media) my wonderful assistant

    Deanna Froese, Erin Froese and Piper London

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