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Toronto Portrait Photographer || HEARTshots || Black + White Photography

Memoirs and musings of Darius Bashar. Toronto portrait photographer and writer, in pursuit of all things real, raw and intimate. 

How To Wake Up Before 5AM (And NOT Hate Your Life)

I used to go to bed at 4AM. I was convinced I was NOT a morning person. 

Now I know I most definitely am a morning person, I’m just NOT a “wake-up person”. These are 2 very different things. 

For the past 3 years now I trained myself to wake up at 4:30AM. 

This would sound totally insane to the the old me. 

The reason I do it is because I have discovered that the hours of 4am to 7am are easily worth 3 times as much when it comes to productivity and CREATIVITY. 

I literally feel like I get 9 hours of work done before most people are awake. 

In this video I share a few of my fav tips that have helped me wake up before 5AM. 

Big love!

D

PS: If you like this video and would like to see more like it, subscribe to my YouTube channel. I will be sharing all sorts of FREE videos like this that will help you continue up-leveling your skills as a Creator. ⁣⁣ ⁣

PPS: Come meditate with me!!! → https://www.artistmorning.com

DSLR Camera As Webcam for ZOOM ($6000 VS $1000)

Before you spend a bunch of money to upgrade the quality of your Zoom video conferencing look, watch this video and see if you really need all the bells and whistles. ⁣⁣

I will show you the difference between a $6000 Zoom DSLR camera setup VS a less than $1000 DSLR camera setup. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

If you would like more information on how to upgrade your Zoom, tips on getting more comfortable on camera, and a ton of guidance on how to LOOK and FEEL better in front of the screen I have a new Video Boot Camp I will be launching soon. To place your name on a waiting list pls go to -- https://www.artistmorning.com/video-boot-camp-waiting-list

D⁣⁣

PS: If you like this video and would like to see more like it, subscribe to my YouTube channel. I will be sharing all sorts of FREE videos like this that will help you continue up-leveling your skills as a Creator. ⁣⁣⁣⁣

PPS: Come meditate with me!!! → https://www.artistmorning.com

How To GET OVER Over A CREATIVE BLOCK (5 Tips)

For me there is no better feeling than creating.

It feels like I am dancing with God.

It feels like riding my bike on the first day of summer, when I was 10 years old.

It feels like everything is possible. 

I’m really lucky to be able to create so many different things in my life, but sometimes it feels like my connection to my heart and my art is a million miles away.

I use to get really frustrated and down on myself when I ran into a creative block. Sometimes I would also get scared that maybe I had reached my limit for creativity in this lifetime.

In this video I share 5 TIPS I personally use when I’m in a creative rut and am feeling creatively blocked. 

Hope you enjoy the video and feel free to share a few of your own tips for dealing with creative blocks in the comments below or you can DM me too.

Love,

D

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PS: If you like this video and would like to see more like it or want to show some love, subscribe to this YouTube channel. I will be sharing all sorts of FREE videos like this that will help you continue up-leveling your skills as a Creator. ⁣⁣ ⁣

PPS: Come meditate with me!!! FREE weekly group meditations → https://www.artistmorning.com

If This Was My Last Year As Darius What Would I Leave Behind?

I have recently been thinking a lot about death —  particularly my own. The idea of death has been finding me in my dreams and also in my waking life. 

I don’t mind. I actually appreciate it. Reflecting on the limited time I have left here on Earth helps me focus. 

I keep going back to the same question…”If this was my last year as Darius what would I leave behind?”

Recently I’ve been making some fun How-To YouTube videos, mostly on how to make better videos and how to look and feel great on Zoom. 

I love making these videos and you guys seem to appreciate them too. I want to keep making How-To videos that help people CREATE more cool stuff…

AND…

I HAVE SO MUCH MORE I WANT TO EXPRESS AND CREATE BEFORE I LEAVE!

The truth is we all have a last breath that is looking for us. 

My last breath might find me in 50 years from now or it might find me in 50 mins from now. 

When it finally does, I want to do everything in my power to make sure I don’t leave this earth and this body with light trapped inside me. Light that never got a chance to shine bright.

13 Things That Keep My Soul Awake

There is a reason my soul chose this body. 

There is a reason I am here on this planet now

For me, this isn’t one BIG reason, but rather an ever unfolding series of reasons. 

It can be easy to forget that being here on earth was a choice I made. 

There are things in this world that help remind me that I am a soul having a human experience and not the other way around. 

These things help keep my soul awake. 

13 Things That Help Keep My Soul Awake

  1. Creating just for me

  2. Meditating in the early mornings

  3. Movement (walking especially)

  4. Embracing impermanence; especially my own death

  5. Psilocybin (aka magic mushrooms, but only when done with reverence)

  6. Transcendental Sex (sex so powerful I literally open a vortex to alternative worlds)  

  7. Self-Love (healthy and wholesome living where I honor and support my human)

  8. Embracing Oneness (letting go of the illusion of separation and leaning into empathy)

  9. Transcendental Breathwork

  10. Travel (expanding my perspective of the planet)

  11. Ecstatic Dance

  12. Radical Aliveness therapy

  13. Holding babies and having conversations with young kids

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9 Zoom Tips That Saved My Butt During COVID

Since April I have been hosting and facilitating Zoom groups 3–5 times EVERY single week. 

I did the math and that’s over 100 Zooms that I have lead for Artist, Creators and Meditators from around the world. 

As you can imagine doing the same thing 100+ times in a row will teach you things. I made so many mistakes, especially in the early days. 

My background is in photography and film, so holding space for 15–25 people several times a week could be REALLY.

This was made even more difficult because I can get really introverted and am SUPER sensitive to other people’s energies. 

With this How-To Video I share my 9 Best Zoom Facilitation Tips that have saved my BUTT during these past 100+ Zooms that I have lead during COVID. 

PS: If you like this video and would like to see more like it, subscribe to my YouTube channel. I will be sharing all sorts of FREE videos like this that will help you continue up-leveling your skills as a Creator. ⁣

PPS: Come meditate with me!!! → www.artitsmorning.com

Guided Meditation to BOOST CREATIVITY + Increase FOCUS

Hey Y'all! ⁣⁣⁣⁣

I wrote this mediation on Friday for the Artist Morning community. I really love this thing and wanted to share it with you awesome humans on Facebook too. ⁣⁣

It's great as a guide to help you calm any nervous energy down. It will also help you GET CLOSER TO YOU HEART and lastly, it's fun for any CREATORs out there who might be feeling unfocussed or stuck. ⁣⁣

From my heart to yours...

D ⁣⁣

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PS: If you dig the meditation and want to join us for a LIVE group meditation we meet Wednesdays and Fridays at 9am EST.

It's totally FREE to join. --> www.artistmorning.com

PPS: Subscribe to the Artist Morning YouTube page for weekly Guided Meditations and How-To Videos all made with the intention of HELPING HUMANS EXPRESS and CREATE. :) ⁣⁣

How To Look Better On Zoom (5 Simple Tricks)

Every day at least 2–3 people ask me about my Zoom setup.

As a professional cinematographer and photographer I definitely have an advantage when it comes to Zoom.

In this video I show you how the sausage gets made and share my entire Zoom setup—including my camera, lens, mic, monitor, mixer, and everything else I use for Zoom.

BUT more importantly I also share 5 tips to make YOUR Zoom calls look better. All of which will cost you nothing. None of the tips I use require you to buy any new tech and can be implemented immediately.

Hope you dig the video.

Much love,

D

PS: If you like this video and would like to see more like it, subscribe to my YouTube channel. I will be sharing all sorts of FREE videos like this that will help you continue up-leveling your skills as a Creator. ⁣

SoftMen Book (and Movement) Might Be Getting Funded!

HOLY SHIT! I just found out that I am a Top 10 Finalist in the $50,000 Archangel Dreamer competition. ⁣

I'll know Saturday if my SoftMen book and movement is about to get funded by one of my favourite organizations on the planet. ⁣

Huge thank you to Giovanni Marsico, Stephie Major, Crystal Adair-Benning and the entire Archangel team for being the real deal when it comes to helping entrepreneurs bring their dreams to life. ⁣

PS: As a finalist I get an exclusive 75% discount code for friends and family who want to attend this Saturday's BIG event. The discount code turns the $97 USD Festival ticket to $24.25.⁣

If you want to attend this Saturday's Dream Festival and get your freaking mind blown by a killer line-up of WORLD CLASS thought leaders DM me or comment below with the word "dreamer". ⁣

To see the full speaker line-up --> https://dreamerfestival.com⁣

PPS: Here's my 60 second video pitch in case you missed it. ⁣

PPPS: Thanks for all the love and support. ⁣

PPPPS: I'M SO FREAKING EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!⁣