Tori Sutton
Staff Reporter
Some say a picture is worth a thousand words.
And when a local photographer wins a major industry award? Well, that’s priceless.
In October, Stratford-based Roel Photography received Studio of the Month honours from the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International, the world’s largest professional wedding photography organization.
WPPI has 30,000 members in at least 30 countries around the world. Roel Photography is only the third Canadian studio to receive the honour since 2001.
“It was a total surprise,” said Roel Dixon-Mahatoo, owner and principal photographer. “We were obviously tickled pink. To be included on that list is huge.”
Dixon-Mahatoo admits when he first received the phone call from the WPPI editor in August, he initially thought it was a joke.
However, he acknowledges his studio’s work has been getting plenty of attention, both locally and internationally. His website receives about 10,000 hits a month, with 60 per cent originating in Canada and the rest coming from visitors around the world.
When selecting members to honour, Dixon-Mahatoo said WPPI often looks for established and up-and-coming photographers. And those who end up in the spotlight can stay there – a few of the photographers selected last year also appeared on the list of the top 10 photographers in the world.
Winners of the organization’s print and album competitions often become the rock stars of the industry.
“It’s almost if they become superstars,” he explained. “When they walk into the wedding photography crowd, they’re treated like a Hollywood celebrity.”
He’s also quick to point out he’s not in this alone. Roel Photography is truly a family affair, where he works alongside his wife Anne – the business manager, master retoucher and album designer – in their home-based studio. He also has an associate photographer, David Chang-Sang and a graphic designer, Kristen Amies. He jokes his maltipoo Zeus is the studio’s chief executive dog.
There has already been an impact from the award, with several companies contacting him to offer sponsorships. He has also been invited to speak at an upcoming meeting of the Professional Photographers of Ontario.
“It’s a brand new ball game for me,” he said.
He’s learned from his mentors that an award won’t necessarily boost business by itself, but it will certainly make people take a second look.
“When they see your peers recognize you, especially at that level, there is obviously something special about you.”
And his unique brand of photography is something that’s being recognized by more and more people in the area since Dixon-Mahatoo and his wife moved to Stratford from Toronto in June 2007.
He estimates about one-third of his business is now generated in the local area, including Waterloo Region and London, and it continues to grow. Because his style is so different than other local photographers, he said it brings something new to the table.
“It’s nice to know we’re appealing to a wide range of people who are living in Stratford,” he said.
“Professionally it’s been really great and we’re quite touched by how we’ve been welcomed by the whole community.”
Before moving to Stratford, he didn’t realize there was such a large artistic community outside the theatre. Now he finds himself feeding on the energy of other artists, who help him to see things in a new light.
And he’s also enjoyed helping couples forever capture the memories of their special day, presenting them with albums that don’t just contain photographers, but tell a story through them.
“We want people to have a really great experience. We bring a very different style to our work and it’s been nicely received by a lot of people.”
PHOTO: Roel Dixon-Mahatoo and his wife Anne, the team behind Roel Photography, recently received a top industry honour, being named Studio of the Month for October by Wedding and Portrait Photographers International. (Roel Photography)
