Strast Media

Strast Media Strast Media is a collaborative company spearheaded by Adrienne Row - Smith. We aim to our passion into your vision

Meg Max | After many months of waiting in anticipation I am happy to share the new portraits fully of Meg Max (and her ...
04/15/2026

Meg Max |

After many months of waiting in anticipation I am happy to share the new portraits fully of Meg Max (and her beautiful hair, look how gorgeous!)

Meg won a portrait session with me for donating to support the Ottawa Trans Library turned into a full end portrait production for her rebrand that she worked tirelessly with to create.

Meg is a writer and multi-media q***r/ neurodivergent( we love) artist working in so-called Ottawa. She works as a facilitator for other neurospicy baddies to process and create as a radical act of self care.

The portraits needed to tie in the grounded and supa cool 😎 nature of Megs work, while still remaining relatively professional (whatever that means). She also wanted to ensure we showed off all her neat little crafts which are also featured as part of the website design!

Thanks Meg for the trust and Casper for making it all slick and rad 🔥

If this sounds appealing to you - Meg has an upcoming online workshop “Too Tired for Words” on April 19th from 10:00am - 12:00pm

If you need website design support hit up Casper ❤️🫡

Thanks for having me CAWI City For All Women Initiative: une ville pour toutes les femmes IVTF!
04/07/2026

Thanks for having me CAWI City For All Women Initiative: une ville pour toutes les femmes IVTF!

March Light Study - Omar Apollo Ivory This one was honestly tough, it was a busy and a bit of a in the feels kind of mon...
03/30/2026

March Light Study - Omar Apollo Ivory

This one was honestly tough, it was a busy and a bit of a in the feels kind of month. Which meant I was listening to a lot of similarly toned songs as one does! I was listening to a lot of Chavela Vargas who was a Q***r Mexican singer who came out when she was 80, and gained recognition for her interpretation of Rancheras. These types of songs usually cover the themes of love, heartbreak and/or nature.

So anyway, initially was considered doing one of her covers but rain into issues; namely I’m not Mexician nor do I live in a location with consistently nice weather.

So returning to other music, I ended up listening to .apollo Ivory, specifically the song “ En El Olvido“ reminded me of the Vargas songs and I opted to do this cover instead.

This one was a tough one to do, I believe the original cover had opted to use a net flag for the transition between light and dark, which is something I have been putting off for years of actually purchasing. So unfortunately we had to use opaque card flags, I also did posed the wrong way and you know….bunch of other happen stance things lead to a near but not quite exact result. But that’s the fun with this, learning and exploring light to become better at this kind of thing.

This one was particularly challenging to recreate and get into the headspace for, and I take it as a win as I did learn a lot and what I can do better for next time!

As a visual specialist, one of my main goals is to help people look and feel their best on camera.A big part of that sta...
05/02/2025

As a visual specialist, one of my main goals is to help people look and feel their best on camera.

A big part of that starts before the shutter button is pressed with what you choose to wear. I get a lot of questions from clients about what works best, so I put together this clothing guide.

A few disclaimers. This is not a rule book, nor should it be taken as fact regarding industry standards. It is just a helpful starting point for folks who haven’t stepped in front of the camera before.

If your brand and by extension your style is represented by bold, colourful or signature prints, lean into it!

For the full and more comprehensive guide click- head to my website!

1. Start Simple
Go for plain, solid colours. Be mindful of white and black shirts ensure they are layered, textured or suited for the lighting aesthetic you’re aiming for.

2. Think in Tones, not Trends
Use bright colours only when they support the overall concept. Prioritize subtle contrasts over bold clashes unless a striking effect is the goal.

3. No logos* No slogans No distractions
Skip clothes with brand logos (unless it’s your brand!). Are you getting paid to promote? No? Skip it and save yourself and the creative team the licensing headache.

4. Patterns - Use with Caution
Avoid thing stripes and small intricate patterns. They can distort on camera and create virtual noise. Colour blocking or simple designs appear best on screen.

5. Jewellery Rules
For film interviews - avoid heavy or noisy jewellery. Microphones will pick up even the slightest sound. Unless it’s part of your brand or directed by the creative team, it is best to go without.

For photography sessions: Expect assistants to adjust your jewellery often. Bring a variety of options.

Final notes:
Use hangers and garment bags to transport clothes. Clean, pressed and lint free clothing is the goal. Any creative you book with should have a steamer or lint roller available. Bring options!

If you’re unsure about your outfit, feel free to ask or send your wardrobe options. Review should be part of the service!

Made with
Photos photographed with z6,8 and lights
Photos edited in

Happy accident | Sometimes when I’m setting up a shot I take a test to see where I’m at and where I need to go. So for t...
02/28/2024

Happy accident |

Sometimes when I’m setting up a shot I take a test to see where I’m at and where I need to go. So for this one in my opinion I need more light (more power) from the flash. However, when I was working on editing from Prom. These tests stuck out to me. So I kept them, and edited them to be more “moody”. This is kind of stuff that I preferred to do personally when I was younger (like 6 years ago).

If you like it and want you’re own moody accident send me an e-mail!

Prom 2024 | I am very grateful to have photographed prom again this year 🙌🏽
02/28/2024

Prom 2024 |

I am very grateful to have photographed prom again this year 🙌🏽

Layla | Kimiya Project Lab I haven’t been able to share a lot of work this year 👀✨ but earlier in the fall I had the abs...
12/29/2023

Layla | Kimiya Project Lab

I haven’t been able to share a lot of work this year 👀✨ but earlier in the fall I had the absolute pleasure of working with Alicia and Layla from Kimiya Project Lab (Thanks Debbie!!).

Kimiya Project Lab is a consultancy that works with clients across industries to develop strategies, products, and programs that contribute to a world where everyone can thrive.

They work in English, French, and Arabic.

Alicia and Layla | Kimiya Project Lab I haven’t been able to share a lot of work this year 👀✨ but earlier in the fall I ...
12/29/2023

Alicia and Layla | Kimiya Project Lab

I haven’t been able to share a lot of work this year 👀✨ but earlier in the fall I had the absolute pleasure of working with Alicia and Layla from Kimiya Project Lab (Thanks Debbie!!).

Kimiya Project Lab is a consultancy that works with clients across industries to develop strategies, products, and programs that contribute to a world where everyone can thrive.

They work in English, French, and Arabic.

Alicia D | Kimiya Project Lab I haven’t been able to share a lot of work this year 👀✨ but earlier in the fall I had the ...
12/29/2023

Alicia D | Kimiya Project Lab

I haven’t been able to share a lot of work this year 👀✨ but earlier in the fall I had the absolute pleasure of working with Alicia and Layla from Kimiya Project Lab (Thanks Debbie!!).

Kimiya Project Lab is a consultancy that works with clients across industries to develop strategies, products, and programs that contribute to a world where everyone can thrive.

They work in English, French, and Arabic.

fall picture day 2023 See you in the New Year for the next one!
12/22/2023

fall picture day 2023

See you in the New Year for the next one!

kills it in purple Part of the fall Picture day, gearing up for the next one
12/22/2023

kills it in purple

Part of the fall Picture day, gearing up for the next one

Address

Ottawa, ON

Telephone

+16138168969

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Strast Media posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share