My Journey: From Iran to Canada, and Why I Started Allen Pictures

Who I Am

My name is Ali, also known as Allen. I was born in 1992 in Shiraz, Iran — a city known for poetry, art, and beautiful light. Photography wasn’t just a hobby for me; it was a language I connected with long before I ever owned a real camera.

How It Started

After high school, I decided to turn that passion into a profession. I studied photography at Payam Noor University in Shiraz, where I spent my days learning composition, lighting, camera mechanics, and darkroom basics. At night, I shot weddings, portraits, and street photography, trying to understand people through the lens.

In 2010, while still a university student, I opened my first photography studio. It was risky and exciting, but Shiraz welcomed me. By the time I graduated in 2014, I was known locally as a wedding photographer and videographer. My reputation grew fast because I cared about moments, not just pictures.

Pandemic & Pivot

When the pandemic hit in 2019, everything changed. Weddings stopped. Events were cancelled. My business, like many others, went silent overnight. It was a challenging time, but it forced me to learn new skills and explore another side of photography: commercial and corporate work.

I started studying marketing, branding, product photography, and visual content strategy — skills that would later become game changers.

Immigrating to Canada

In March 2022, I moved to Canada. It was a new country, a new language, and a new market, but the same passion.

Shortly after arriving, I started working with Auto Trader as a photographer. Within a short time, I became a trainer — helping new photographers improve their techniques, workflow, and communication with dealerships.

In the meantime, I studied Business Entrepreneur/Sales & Marketing at Seneca College and graduated in July 2024.

After two years working with Auto Trader, I made the biggest decision of my career: to rebuild my own business from scratch, once again.

That’s when Allen Pictures was born.

Allen Pictures Today

Since starting my business, I’ve been honored to work with:

• Local businesses

• Dealerships

• Clinics and medical offices

• Construction and carpentry companies

• Wedding couples

• Real estate agents

• Content creators

I’m proud of every project because I see photography as a collaboration. My goal is simple:

Make my clients happy, no matter what.

I believe in working closely with people, understanding their story, and capturing it in the best possible way.

Why I Do This

Photography is not just a job to me — it’s how I connect with people. Every project is a chance to learn someone’s vision and bring it to life.

This website blog is a new chapter for me. I want to share knowledge, experience, and ideas — and hopefully inspire others.