Just keep showing up.

Even when you’re tired.
Even when you barely have words.
Even when you’re unsure of who you are.

Don’t do it for them.
Don’t do it for fame.
Don’t do it for the money.

Show up for YOU.
Show up to discover YOU.
Show up to remember YOU.

Rest, sleep, eat and be merry, but keep fucking showing up.

Don’t let resistance win.
Don’t let comparison win.
Don’t let the algorithm win.

You’re stronger than you realize.
You’re stronger than you realize.
You’re stronger than you realize.

And we all have hard parts in our lives.
The hard parts make you strong.
Don’t be afraid of the pain.

The pain is a gatekeeper to separate the bystanders from the masters.

Don’t be a bystander.

Be a master.

Thank you for being a part of my life.

Thank you for being a part of this community.

Thank you for the kindness you have shared with me over the years. It has deeply impacted my heart.

Maybe we found each other through my NoStrangers project.

Maybe you have been meditating with me on Insight Timer or Artist Morning for a while.

Maybe we did a HEARTshots photoshoot together.

Maybe we are old friends.

Or maybe you just joined our community recently.

Regardless, your care and presence has impacted my life.

I know it might sound funny to be impacted by humans you have never met before, or been in the same room with, but I am impacted.

Like many of you, I am a sensitive soul that believes everything is energy.

And the energy of this community has brought so much joy into my life.

Thank you.

Bless you.

I love you.

D

Small token of my appreciation:

Have you ever wanted to ask me a question? I’ve made a simple online form (link below). I will do my best to answer as many questions as possible. CLICK HERE

I’m going to let you in on a secret: I rarely work with real estate agents or realtors. Because the type of photos they’re usually looking for aren’t the type of photos I usually take.

Additionally, real estate professionals aren’t as interested in my unique process, which involves getting to know each other. We do a deep dive into what your intentions are with the photos and how you want your audience to FEEL when they experience the final results.

My dream clients love this process. They see that it benefits their brand to be asked such questions and explore the answers in depth.

To be honest, when I’ve shared my process with real estate agents and realtors in the past, they look at me like I’m speaking a different language. Or worse… they try to break the process and do it the way they’re used to instead, which is a more in-and-out, transactional experience.

The good news is that Zack (@zackfenwick_7) is no typical realtor. From our first Zoom call it was clear he understood the value of breaking off from the pack and differentiating himself from his peers.

It was also clear that he is significantly more successful than the average realtor. Through our photoshoot and our deep conversations I learned a lot about Zack and his dedication to his business.

There was a clarity about Zack. He has focus and discipline. But there was also an ease with him, that in my experience only comes with true self-belief.

From what Zack shared about his origin story, his success isn’t an accident or luck: It’s a result of his commitment to health, to family, to how he runs his business, and how he runs his life.

He knows who he is and what he wants, and it was an honour to help him take photos that would help him along his path.

Zack, I enjoyed our time together and love the photos we co-created.

Big love,

D

PS: If there is something about these photos or my writing that calls to you, and you want to know more about working together, have a look at the link below (or the link in my bio on IG @dariusbashar). I would love to support your vision and help you share more of your gifts with the world. —> https://www.dariusbashar.com/heartshots

A dangerous game to play in any major relationship is to be so preoccupied with what USED to be that we miss out on what’s happening NOW. So why do we do this to ourselves?

I’m in my 40s, and it’s taken me over a year to realize that the NEW ME is a very different dude from who I was a decade ago.

His core is the same as the old me, but he thrives under different circumstances. He has different tastes, needs, and desires.

At the beginning of 2024, the new me shared some non-negotiables:

• The new me needs movement every single day. The old me would go weeks or months without taking a (now mandatory) walk.

• The new me works out 7 days a week. This might sound extreme, but the workouts are less about big heavy weights and more about sustainable and supportive body nourishment.

• The new me does well with more sleep: 7 hours. The old me was more of a 5-hours-a-night type of guy.

• The new me meditates every day, but for not as long. 15-20 minutes is the sweet spot.

• The old me loved the news, but in a recent meditation the new me opened up about how online content impacts my mind and body. The new me doesn’t follow any news accounts.

• The new me rarely works past 6pm, and almost never on the weekends.

I’m doing my best to be present and honest with the new me, and to swap my old assumptions with an attitude of curiosity and excitement. It’s the same feeling as dating a new person.

The good news is you don’t need to wait a decade to meet the new you.

Tomorrow at Artist Morning, I will be leading a free guided meditation and journaling journey on this very topic. It will be gentle and loving, but also direct. We will slow down, go inwards, ask some good questions, and most of all, listen.

Let’s meet the NEW YOU and really listen to what they have to share.

If you are interested in joining us on this journey, go to www.ArtistMorning.com and join us tomorrow at 9am Eastern Standard Time.

If you can’t make that time, I will be sending the replay next week. If you sign up for Artist Morning, you will get the meditation replay in your inbox.

Big love,

D

Theano had a bold vision. Which makes sense, because Theano is a bold woman.

Although it was our first time working together, my photoshoot with Theano (@eroticmenopause) was one I will never forget.

We had many Zoom chats before the shoot to prepare. The HEARTshots™ photography process involves many conversations where we get crystal clear on intentions, goals, and vision for the photos.

The plan was ambitious, but it was clear that Theano trusted the process. By planning ahead, we create a safety structure which allowed us to let go and flow on the day of the shoot.

Theano took all the insights and lessons from our Zoom chats and did her homework. When she showed up that day her energy was clear, grounded, and present.

We also had an amazing team to support us:

• Kelly (@kellyd.makeup) killed it with hair and makeup. One of my favourite things about Kelly is how much time she spends getting to know a client’s personality and brand before a shoot.

• We booked two spacious and distinct rooms at Mint Room Studios (@mintroomstudios), one of my favourite studios in Toronto.

• My two assistants, Sean and Misha (@misha_ras) were super dialed in.

Together, we tapped into a powerful group flow. We were 5 people working as one consciousness, allowing Theano to reveal her most magnetic self to the world.

There are so many bold, powerful and sensual photos in this collection, which makes sense because Theano is a Certified Authentic Tantra Practitioner.

What really stood out to me on set is how much we laughed and played together. Playfulness is one of the best tools I know to achieving great photos, even when the end goal is a more serious tone.

Thank you Theano for bringing your radiant light and open heart to this collaboration. It was an absolute blast, and I can’t wait for our next co-creation.

Big love,

D

PS: If there is something about these photos or my writing that calls to you, and you want to know more about working together, have a look at the link below (or the link in my bio on IG @dariusbashar). I would love to support your vision and help you share your gifts with the world. —> https://www.dariusbashar.com/heartshots

I love all types of artists. But authors hold a special place in my heart.

Maybe it’s because I love books so much.

Or maybe it’s because I romanticize the writing process.

To tell stories, build characters and the worlds they live in, with as little as a notebook and a pen—that looks liberating to me.

I think most people want to write a book. But I’m guessing only 0.01% of people actually do.

(Which only makes me love and respect authors even more.)

I imagine getting to the finish line as an author takes tremendous strength and courage.

You have to be strong enough to go into the depths of your heart and find your truth. And then you have to be courageous enough to speak your truth in your own authentic voice.

As a photographer, I’ve had the honour of working with probably 100 authors in my career: some who’ve written New York Times best sellers, and others still working on their first book.

Of all those writers, none have published as many books as my friend, the patron saint of authors, Angela Lauria (@drangelalauria).

Since 1994, she’s helped almost 2,000 entrepreneurs write, publish, and promote their books. Her clients’ books have received over 10 million reads and $100 million in cumulative revenue.

She’s also one of the most interesting humans to talk to. Her life feels like a movie. In fact, they actually made a documentary film about her life a few years back.

These photos are from our shoot in the Hollywood Hills in 2020, right before the pandemic started.

I am grateful that there are guides like Angela helping aspiring authors bring their creative babies into the world.

Thank you Angela for all the inspiration, conversations and laughs over the years.

Love you friend,

D

PS: If you’re an author or have plans to become one in the next year or two, I’d love to support your book launch with photos that showcase your most confident and magnetic self to the world. I specialize in working with emerging thought leaders and would love to chat. I have a great promo this month as well. Here’s the link —> dariusbashar.com/heartshots or if you are seeing this on Instagram, the link is in my bio (@dariusbashar).

“It is an impossible situation. Either we comply with Apple’s demands or Insight Timer will die. These are our two choices.”

This is what Christopher Plowman (the CEO of Insight Timer) said, understanding the gravity of the situation.

A few weeks ago, Apple blocked Insight Timer from being able to update their app on the iPhone App Store. Apple recently updated their Terms of Use and claimed Insight Timer was not in compliance.

Apple’s new policy calls for 30% of all revenue from digital content through streaming.

At the heart of this battle is a difference of opinion on what “digital content” means.

On the one hand, I believe Apple sees the future of streaming and wants to be properly compensated from it’s app developers.

For example, on a video game platform like Fortnite, the term “digital content” could be an in-app purchase of a shield within the game. The game developers create a small digital product once, which is on sale forever. Apple would receive 30%.

But Insight Timer has something called Live Meditations, which are often 60-90 minute custom experiences. The community can donate to teachers during these live events.

I’ve hosted several of these events on Insight Timer and they are so wonderful. So full of love, kindness and depth. The donations allow teachers like me to spend more time making meditations and spiritual wellness content.

100% of these donations used to go to its teachers, but now Apple needs 30%.

It makes no sense that these events are in the same “digital content” bucket, because it’s a totally different thing. And Insight Timer has no choice but to comply.

Over the last few years, Insight Timer has shared over $20 million of their revenues with their teachers. They’re the most generous platform I have ever worked with BY FAR and are legitimately making the world a better place.

They’ve helped so many of us on our journeys of meditation, mindfulness and wellness.

Now, Insight Timer needs our help.

So reply, share, repost and add your views to this conversation. Be heard. Tell Apple your Insight Timer story. Explain what this community means to you.

Together we are infinite.

Big love,

D

When two dancers can find a moment of flow and freedom together, they leave their minds and get swooped up by something beyond themselves.

It’s beyond thinking, beyond logic, beyond practicality.

When I started taking black and white portraits 9 years ago, I was a very different human. There was a part of me that was lost.

Despite having many wonderful people in my life, I felt a deep sense of loneliness. I think this was because I didn’t really know who I was, and at the time I was afraid to go inwards and find out.

In hindsight, the black and white portraits series I started 9 years ago was an attempt to learn more about myself by looking deep within others.

I spent hundreds of hours with humans of all backgrounds, ages, sizes, ethnicities; each person who sat in front of my camera taught me something about my own journey. In each person I would see myself, and to be honest I think they could see themselves in me too.

It was a surprising (and often beautiful) transcendent experience of two people becoming one… and then almost become none.

That might sound strange. Because it is. There’s nothing normal about it, but it’s the most beautifully strange and moving experience I have ever felt.

Sometimes it feels like the most amazing dance.

I often look back and ask myself, “How did we even take those photos?! I don’t remember any of it.” I think this is because we were in flow and something beyond us was working through us.

I am so grateful for all the dance partners I have had over the years:

All the humans who have trusted me to take them on this magical journey. 🙏🏽

If there is something about my photos or my writing that calls to you and you’d like to learn more about these dances, then let’s chat. I have a great promo for my HEARTshots this month. Here’s the link www.dariusbashar.com or if you are seeing this on Instagram the link is in my bio (@dariusbashar).

Big love,

D

PS: Special shoutout to the amazing human in the photos, my “little bro” who I trust and love deeply, the one and only Brandon Ferguson.

Most of my clients are emerging thought-leaders: authors, coaches, speakers and business leaders. Usually their brands call for photos in a relaxed professional studio setting. My studio is great for this because it’s both bright and vibrant, and also creative and professional.

Many of my clients also need to capture lifestyle shots to round out their branding, and this can be achieved with outdoor photoshoots.

Last year, for the first time ever, I offered clients the option of doing both indoor and outdoor photoshoots in a SINGLE day.

I called them COMBO Shoots and last year I probably shot 15.

It was amazing.

What makes COMBO Shoots work is that they generate so many photos with such a wide range of energies—this could cover your photo branding needs for years.

We also have a ton of cost savings when we do it all in one day and I’m sure clients love that part too.

Here you can see one of my favourite COMBO Shoots from last year.

This was the first day Brenda (@theearclinic) and I met in real life. We had a few Zoom calls to prepare for the shoot, but hadn’t actually met.

Let me tell you: Brenda came to win.

She embraced all my notes and guidance on how to prepare for the photoshoot and she fully leaned into the experience.

All the time and energy we spend in pre-production (before the shoot day) is so important because for most of my clients, this is their first professional photoshoot.

I’ve had the honour of working with hundreds of people and have taken over 1,000,000 photos to date. As you can imagine, that leads to many tips and strategies for future clients to have a better experience and walk away with better photos.

It’s a lot of fun sharing these tips with clients and watching their confidence grow throughout the day.

Watching Brenda continue to step into her power and confidence was a thing of beauty.

If you’d like to learn more and explore working together this spring or summer, check out my promo page —> dariusbashar.com/heartshots. Or if you are seeing this on Instagram, the link is in my bio.

My summer shoot days book up fast, so if you feel called, don’t wait too long.

Big love,

D

I wouldn’t be a photographer if it wasn’t for RESET.

The summer of the first Camp Reset in 2015, I fell in love with so many beautiful strangers and wanted to share their stories. Portrait photography became my outlet.

I remember the opening night of the first year. One of the founders (and now one of my best friends) Adil Dhalla-Kim spoke to a group of 100+ adults about how summers felt endless when we were kids.

He explained how time feels different for kids because we’re experiencing so many things for the first time. And if the open and curious mind of a child can somehow bend time, then we could tap into the same magic as adults if we want to.

Reset was the first place I heard adults talk about inner child work. If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know how important play and inner child exploration is to my life.

I wouldn’t even be making meditations if it wasn’t for RESET. (Or at least, the meditations would be very different.)

Reset was also where I first experienced the transformational impact of PLAY. I knew what play was before, but for the first time—thanks to the brilliant curators at Reset—I saw how healing and expansive play could be.

I hate to think what my life would be without Reset.

They have a space in Toronto called the Reset Living Room, and it’s like a community centre—except that it’s so much more. You’ll find co-working space, games, arts and crafts, focussed work areas, a sauna, music, and the kindest humans you’ll ever meet.

(I promise, you’ve never been to a place like this before.)

In a time where so many of us feel alone, disconnected and divided, Reset is a totally new way of bringing people together.

I am sharing this with you because Reset is in the midst of a campaign to keep their brick-and-mortar location open.

Their campaign to keep the Living Room open runs until March 28th.

Reset is a community that played such a big role in my life that I literally would not be here, doing this work, living this life, if it wasn’t for them.

So go learn more about the great work that Adil and his amazing team at Reset are doing here —> @helloreset

And I’ll see you at the Reset Living Room 🙏🏽

Big love,

D