Over the last four years, Portraits With Impact has brought together Canadian women who lead their respective categories in business, entrepreneurship, and beyond. Following that success, the first edition of Portraits With Impact for Men was held in late November — built on the same model of an elevated and personal experience with luxury brand partners that goes miles above and beyond the average headshot session. More than a photoshoot, the event shares the stories of various high-achieving professionals, fostering genuine connections and collaborations.
The team at Julianne Costigan Style Consulting Firm tapped into every facet of the experience, from the complimentary Mercedes-Benz car service, to a one-on-one styling workshop with Julianne and Harry Rosen style advisors, to an exclusive whiskey-tasting experience with The Macallan, and more. Grooming experts were on hand to guide guests with their own arsenal of tips and tricks, and to put the final touches on the experience, Frederique Constant and Alpina offered a curated luxury timepiece fitting the perfect finishing touch to each look.
It’s long been said that looking good and feeling good run hand-in-hand, and the feedback that Costigan and her team have received from prior PWI events reflects this loud and clear. “Over the past four years, we’ve photographed over 250 women and witnessed the transformative effect of Portraits with Impact. We’ve seen how a portrait can elevate personal branding and command presence, especially in today’s world where your online image is so important, so bringing this opportunity to men felt like a natural next step.”
This statement was clearly echoed by the event’s many guests, who SHARP took a moment to speak with after the event. Robert Furtado, the founder and CEO of CourseCompare — a leading Canadian educational tech firm — connected with the event through family friends. What started out as a simple desire for updated headshots delivered well above and beyond his expectations. “The experience is thoughtfully curated and everything you need is taken care of for you — from the driver to the haircut to styling by Harry Rosen. But it’s more than just a photoshoot; it’s an empowering moment to recognize your impact and share your story with authenticity and confidence. I’d absolutely encourage others who need portraits to take part.”
Similarly, Steven Rankin, a Toronto-based software IT executive whose work stretches from medical tech startups to guiding product strategy and market development for an AI company, was quickly drawn in by the all-encompassing nature of Portraits With Impact. “You learn something when you reach out to others you trust — and I did. Spending time with the other hosts and attendees offered an opportunity to get to know people interested in similar things. Meeting people in real life with similar interests is something precious these days, and should be sought out. Events like these are not about superficial judgments but the holistic benefits of self-care and personal expression.”
With its first successful edition in the books, Julianne Costigan and her team have already begun laying the groundwork for the next edition of Portraits With Impact for Men. From what we’ve seen so far, the buzz around this is likely to build; if it’s on your radar, you’d be best to sign up for the waitlist before the next edition is fully booked out. When the next edition is released, those on the waitlist are the first to know.
All photography courtesy of Erin Leydon and Marybeth De Santos.
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