MONIQUE SMITH

PHOTOGRAPHER, KID-WHISPERER & ACROBAT

In addition to having artistic skill and technical know-how of photography, Monique is known for:
Singing “I’m a Little Tea Pot,” jumping up and down, making silly faces, and much more in order to make kids laugh.
Lying down in knee-deep snow in minus 20 degree weather, to capture that perfect ‘Winter Wonderland’ wedding photo!
Scaling to the top of playground equipment, hanging off bridge railings, and wading through knee-deep water in order to get the best angle for a photograph.
Monique will do (almost!) whatever it takes to get that special shot! These photographic moments are the ones that will stand out from the rest. In addition to being a photographer, Monique runs a private practice specializing in child to young adult counselling (www.prusikyouthservices.com). She also mentors varsity and national level athletes through Athletes in Action and occasionally works as an outdoor guide. All of these professional experiences have contributed to her ability to capture unique, memorable and striking images. Some may wonder with all of these other jobs how she finds the time for photography, but she does! In fact, in her spare time during a counselling contract up North you’ll often see Monique roaming the streets of Nunavut looking for that perfect photo because photography is not just her job, it’s what she loves to do! In addition to photography, Monique’s hobbies include getting out to the mountains (backpacking, rock and ice climbing, cross-country skiing etc.), freestyle wrestling, jamming on the guitar, traveling and art. Monique loves new experiences and is always taking photographs along the way!

It’s one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it’s another thing to make a portrait of who they are.

— Paul Caponigro-