{"id":5436,"date":"2022-03-23T13:59:47","date_gmt":"2022-03-23T17:59:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blackfashioncanada.ca\/database\/?post_type=cpt_portfolio&p=5436"},"modified":"2026-06-04T13:43:16","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T17:43:16","slug":"steve-carty","status":"publish","type":"cpt_portfolio","link":"https:\/\/blackfashioncanada.ca\/database\/fr\/profiles\/steve-carty\/","title":{"rendered":"Steve Carty"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t

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Charmaine Gooden<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Highlights<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Born in Toronto in 1970, Carty discovered photography at 14 as a creative outlet in school, later choosing it over hockey.<\/li>\r\n \t
Despite mockery and discrimination as a young Black photographer in the '80s and '90s, agent Celia Sears gave him his breakthrough at 18, leading to work with Apple, Nike, and celebrities like Kanye West.<\/li>\r\n \t
As Canon Canada's first brand ambassador, he continues battling industry racism and tokenism while maintaining his signature understated portrait style, insisting he wants recognition for his work, not his race.<\/li>\r\n \t
Now he mentors emerging photographers worldwide through YouTube shows 'Behind the Picture' and 'Ask a Pro.'<\/li>\r\n<\/ul><\/span><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Toronto-based photographer Steve Carty is known for his understated but bold images and has been working in photography for over 30 years. His signature style has allowed him to work with some of the biggest brands in the world, like Apple, Nike, and Starbucks Canada, to name a few. He\u2019s photographed many celebrities, from Kanye West to Radiohead\u2019s lead singer Thom Yorke. He was also Canon Canada’s first brand ambassador.<\/p>
Being Black, he\u2019s always faced racism and having Crohn\u2019s disease was another challenge. Carty is also legally blind. Despite all that, his accomplishments are ongoing, he perseveres, he\u2019s dedicated to his craft and continues to captivate and inspire.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Kanye West by Steve Carty (Photo courtesy of Steve Carty)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Pharrell Williams by Steve Carty (Photo courtesy of Steve Carty)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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The 52-year-old photographer was born in Scarborough, the youngest of three children and raised with older brother Leslie and sister Kathy, in Toronto\u2019s East York neighbourhood. His passion for photography blossomed when he was 14, attending East York Collegiate Institute. \u201cI needed a way to express myself creatively and finding photography was that outlet for me,\u201d Carty says.<\/p>
Growing up in predominantly white schools, Carty faced racism from his earliest memories. \u201cI experienced racism throughtout my school life back as far as grade one, which is why I’m an observer. It’s how I became who I am, how I developed this visual OCD,\u201d he explains. At 17, Carty saw his first Vogue magazine and knew that he wanted to photograph high fashion models and celebrities.<\/p>
Throughout his childhood and in high school, Carty pursued an interest in hockey but a Crohn\u2019s disease diagnosis when he was 18 changed that. \u201cCrohn’s changed my life and instead of becoming a serious hockey player, I chose photography,\u201d he admits.<\/p>
After graduating, Carty took a year off, shifting between working at a local camera store and shooting models. Soon after, he was accepted into one of the top photography programs in North America, at TMU, previously Ryerson University. He later dropped out, preferring hands-on work in the field instead.<\/p>
Explaining his dilemma, he recalls that Professor Bill Scanlon said, \u2018Carty, don’t let school interfere with your photography education. It didn\u2019t start here, and if it ends when you leave, you’re missing the whole point of photography.”\u00a0 That motivated Carty to go for it.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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This special section creates a spread of 2 photos that will jut out into the side margin.<\/p>\n
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Thom Yorke of Radiohead (Photo courtesy of Steve Carty)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Thom Yorke by Steve Carty (Photo courtesy of Steve Carty)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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I’ve experienced racism throughtout my school life back as far as grade one, which is why I’m an observer. It’s how I became who I am, how I developed this visual OCD<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Fashion and Diversity<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As a young, aspiring Black photographer in the \u201880s and \u201890s, Carty struggled to get his foot in the door and was often passed over when opportunities came along.<\/p>
He still remembers the mocking he experienced at one meeting he attended for a fashion photography gig when he was 18. \u201cThe woman opened my portfolio, laughed, said, \u2018oh my God’, laughed again, went into the back room, showed the other agents who laughed, came back and gave me my book.\u201d She then thanked Carty for the \u201cgood laugh\u201d and walked away.<\/p>
Despite the obstacles, Carty remained unhindered, continuing to work hard and pitch himself. His talent and dedication paid off. He began shooting portraits of rising stars and established celebrities from Colin Firth to Kanye West and quickly gained a reputation for his unique and simple style of portrait photography.<\/p>
It wasn\u2019t until he met an agent named Celia Sears<\/a> that all of this was made possible. She gave him the keys to his career, helping him break into the industry at 18, giving him his first photography job. Carty approached her, saying he wanted to be a fashion photographer and needed a break to prove himself.<\/p>
Sears, who is Black, said to Carty, \u2018There aren’t enough Black photographers and although you have a lot to learn about portfolios, I’m gonna help you,\u201d Carty explains. Sears, who was the Penny Noble Models Management Director at the time, showed him what top photographers’ portfolios look like and then gave him models to shoot.<\/p>
We reached out to Sears to ask her what she saw in young Steve Carty, who she described as determined, talented, and forward-thinking.<\/p>
\u201cIt was serendipitous,” says Sears. “I saw that he obviously had talent, but also had the desire to really move forward. I thought \u2018what the heck, I\u2019ll give him a test and see how it works out.’\u00a0 He tested one of our models and it was fantastic,\u201d she remembers. \u201cHe\u2019d always thank me for giving him his first break. I thought it was important for me, a woman of colour, to open the door for him,\u201d she adds. Today Sears is the President of the Italy-based company Show Division and she and Carty still keep in touch.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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(Photo courtesy of Steve Carty)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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He\u2019d always thank me for giving him his first break. I thought it was important for me, a woman of colour, to open the door for him.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Even at the top of his profession, Carty continues to deal with racism and discrimination. \u201cIt happens to this day,\u201d he says. \u201cPeople will hire a white face rather than hire me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>
Carty elaborates on the long-standing phoniness and two-faced nature of the fashion industry and how he still doesn\u2019t feel truly appreciated. \u201cI don’t want to be the token Black. I want to be there because of my work,\u201d he asserts. He never let racism stop him from pursuing his dreams, believing the obstacles along the way made him stronger, which photographers have to be. “It forces us to be unbreakable,” Carty adds. “There\u2019s nothing anyone can do to stop me.\u201d<\/p>
He remains hopeful for a future with less racism and discrimination, believing change is in the making. \u201cIt is<\/em> systemic,\u201d he says, \u201cbut this, and the previous generation of kids, are changing the perspective.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Influence and Legacy<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Carty teaches and mentors young, aspiring photographers from all over the world. \u201cAround 2006, I started a workshop, mentoring emerging photographers. Through COVID-19, I started live streaming,\u201d he states,<\/em> highlighting his two YouTube shows, ‘Behind the Picture’ and ‘Ask a Pro’ and shares he\u2019s been teaching photography in Toronto schools since he was 25.<\/p>
\u201cMy professors invited me to lecture at a school I dropped out of,” he reflects. “I\u2019ve also lectured and taught photography at TMU (Ryerson), Humber, Sheridan and OCAD\u201d<\/p>
Looking ahead, Carty plans to expand his YouTube content creation as well as continuing teaching and mentoring, with the goal of helping more prospective photographers achieve their dreams.<\/p>
With his talent, passion, and dedication, it\u2019s clear Carty will continue to be a leading figure in the world of photography for years to come. Sears says it best. \u201cSteve Carty has a specific kind of energy that\u2019s infectious. It\u2019s been wonderful to watch him evolve,\u201d she concludes. \u201cHe\u2019s kept a step ahead of the industry, while staying true to his craft.\u201d<\/p>
Carty didn\u2019t let discrimination stop him from achieving his dreams and doesn\u2019t think anyone should. \u201cBe spectacular,\u201d he advises. \u201cSpectacular knows no race, no colour, no language, no age. Everyone can recognize it.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\u201cIt is systemic,\u201d he says, \u201cbut this, and the previous generation of kids, are changing the perspective.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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(Photo courtesy of Steve Carty)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Over the years Prof. Gooden has built a multi-media career as an editor, writer, presenter, public relations consultant and special event manager, spokesperson, host, and educator. She...<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>
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Charmaine Gooden<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Over the years Prof. Gooden has built a multi-media career as an editor, writer, presenter, public relations consultant and special event manager, spokesperson, host, and educator. She...<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>
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Charmaine Gooden<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Over the years Prof. Gooden has built a multi-media career as an editor, writer, presenter, public relations consultant and special event manager, spokesperson, host, and educator. She...<\/p>\n Read More<\/a><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>
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Charmaine Gooden<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Archive of images at BFC:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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0<\/span>Comments<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Share your thoughts:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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