Photographing the People Behind the 2026 Founders Choice Awards
This year, I had the chance to be involved in the Founders Choice Awards in two ways. As co chair of the Parry Sound Area Founders Circle, I was part of the event itself. As a photographer, I also photographed each of the finalists along the way.
That made it interesting, because I was not only seeing the businesses from the outside. I was also meeting the people behind them, hearing a bit about what they were building, and watching how they carried themselves through the process.
This year’s winners were Floratomy and Level Health, both well deserved. The full group of finalists also included Doherty’s Masonry & Contracting Inc., Greener Grass Lawn & Property Maintenance Inc., and The Solidarity Space.
What I liked about this year’s group was how different they were. Different kinds of businesses, different personalities, different stages of growth. Some were very polished in how they talked about their work. Others were still figuring that out. But all of them were doing the hard work of building something in this region.
Over the months leading up to the awards, the finalists went through workshops, coaching, and then a live pitch. By the time the final presentations happened, you could see the difference. People had a clearer sense of what they wanted to say and where they wanted to take their business.
I saw some of that in the photo sessions too. Most people do not walk in feeling completely relaxed in front of a camera. That part is pretty normal. But once the conversation starts and they settle in, you begin to see the person a bit more clearly. That is usually when the photo starts to feel honest.
In that way, it was not that different from the People of Parry Sound project. In both cases, what interests me is not just the image. It is the person and the story behind it.
The awards were held on April 16 at Grand Tappattoo Resort, with Lisa Bentley as keynote speaker. It was a strong night and a good reminder that there is a lot of talent, effort, and ambition in Parry Sound and the surrounding area.
Small businesses do a lot more than sell a product or service. Over time, they help shape a place. They create work, solve problems, and give a community more of its own identity.
It was a privilege to be part of it, and to photograph the people behind this year’s finalists.
If you need a headshot that feels like you, you can book a session here.
Related business profiles:
- Michael Schacht | Chicago Headshot Photographer
- Kathleen McGill |Therapist Serving Parry Sound and Muskoka
- Nicole Boyd | Parry Sound Real Estate
- Wood and Heart Design
- Kaila Stevenson, Sound Wealth Financial
- Or, read about Pamela Newall, Officer of the Order of Canada, was photographed in Toronto as part of a story on forensic DNA science and public trust.
