Between lockdown x and sanitary measures y, there were a few months in late 2021 where business started to pick up, where things started to feel almost “normal”. I had photographed Osheaga and IleSoniq (slimmed down versions), a few portraits, old clients came back and new clients called.
One of the nicer surprises was signing on to be the official photographer for Montreal’s Salon du Livre 2021. As many events, things were last minute as no one could control government regulations.
They were presented in a mixed way this year, from being virtually available, to having a few areas around the city with events, to the major Salon happening over 4 days at the Palais des Congrès. I was hired on as the official photographer for 3 days at the Palais.
A mixed back of book signings, ministers, the mayor of Montreal, spoken word sessions, an elaborate kid’s corner, art installations. With the amount of activities, you couldn’t guess that planning was last minute. I even got to meet up with friend and badass dog photographer Chantal Levesque, who was signing a book she collaborated on!
The beauty of it all? The people came. At times it was packed with distanced bodies, you could tell that people were smiling under their masks, happy to be out and about, happy to volunteer to help, happy to be back in a form of reality.
A small selection of images from the 3 days there.
