photojournalism & communications for Community Engagement
Creative Resume
Hi Im Henna!
(Pronounced Hee-na)
I combine photography and communications for community engagement—supporting people, purpose, and projects that matter. I help individuals, brands, and community organizations share their full narrative through imagery and messaging rooted in compassion and connection.
With a background in social science, my approach goes beyond photography—it’s about storytelling. I blend compelling visuals with thoughtful communication, bringing emotional resonance and intention to every project.
Based in Etobicoke and serving the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, I’ve worked with diverse individuals and communities. My work is guided by the belief that creativity can be both art and service—a way to honour people’s stories, amplify their voices, and reflect their truth.
Core Roles
Lifestyle Photographer & Photojournalist
Visual storyteller, capturing emotional, intentional imagery for individuals, brands & community movements.
Creative Director & Visual Strategist
Lead creative direction while developing visual strategies that centre storytelling and audience impact—carefully considering framing and messaging from concept to execution.
Community Care Advocate
Support people and projects rooted in compassion, dignity, and justice. Draw on lived experience and personal values to uplift stories of resilience, healing, and collective care.
Marketing & Communications Support
Create impactful visual and written content to use across digital and print campaigns. Support branding and outreach through purposeful storytelling.
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
Develop and maintain organized systems and workflows that support smooth project execution, structure, and efficiency.
Project COORDINATOR
Coordinate creative and logistical elements—from initial planning and sales to on-site execution and deliverables. Ensure smooth collaboration with a commitment to clarity and care.
Photo Editor
Refine images through thoughtful editing and retouching that align with each project’s visual narrative. Maintain consistency, quality, and authenticity across final deliverables.
Community Engagement & Social Impact Areas of Focus
Healthcare
Living with senior family members and individuals facing complex illnesses has given me firsthand insight into care, accessibility, and support systems. I offer support grounded in compassion and lived experience to those navigating illness, mental health challenges, and grief.
Animal Welfare
I’ve been involved in cat rescue and rehabilitation from a young age—an experience that deeply shaped my values. I remain committed to animal well-being and the human–animal bond, which continues to guide how I advocate for care, compassion, and coexistence.
Nature, Wildlife & Ethical Agriculture
Nature has always grounded me, both personally and creatively. I feel most connected when photographing people in natural environments, and I care deeply about conserving outdoor spaces, respecting wildlife, and supporting agricultural practices that are sustainable and humane.
Women’s Welfare & Empowerment
As an Indo-Canadian female business owner and entrepreneur, women’s welfare and empowerment is a deeply personal cause. It shapes how I move through the world, how I show up in my work, and why I centre stories rooted in women’s dignity, safety, and personal power.
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS & Equity
I support Indigenous sovereignty, safety, and self-determination. I stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities and care deeply about uplifting voices, honouring traditions, and advocating for justice and healing — especially for Indigenous women and Two-Spirit individuals.
LGBTQ+ Rights & Inclusive Education
I believe in creating a world where all identities are respected and understood. My support for LGBTQ+ rights includes advocating for inclusive education around gender, sexuality, and identity.
Cultural Heritage & Knowledge Preservation
I’m passionate about projects that uplift cultural and spiritual heritage — including the preservation of Vedic knowledge and Hindu identity. These traditions inform my values and serve as one of many lenses through which I approach creative work.
Professional Experience
Money Mama TO
Women’s Welfare & Empowerment Sector
Etobicoke, on
January 2025
Branding Photography Services
Provided a branding photoshoot for Money Mama TO, a financial literacy platform led by a personal finance coach for mothers.
Administrative Coordination
Handled onboarding by guiding client through pricing, packages, questionnaires, and contracts. Set clear expectations to ensure transparency and trust.
Project Coordination
Oversaw the end-to-end execution of the project — from concept development to shoot coordination and final image delivery. Honoured timelines and deliverables to ensure a seamless client experience.
Creative Direction & Visual Strategy
Photographed a variety of lifestyle and brand-relevant imagery for communications and marketing purposes. Captured shots that reflected a personal and polished professional presence.
Photo Editing
Applied brand-appropriate editing with a clean, neutral finish, with attention to detail — including skin retouching, teeth whitening, and natural enhancements.
EXP – Annual Golf Invitational
HealthCare Sector
Maple & etobicoke, ON
2019 – Present
COMMERCIAL Event Photography Services
Photograph the annual golf invitational for EXP, an engineering and design firm involved in major infrastructure projects with municipal and provincial governments across Canada. Event proceeds support healthcare charities including Women’s College Hospital, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and SickKids.
Project Coordination
Coordinated with EXP staff and event organizers to align on logistics. Fostered smooth collaboration to fulfill brand guidelines and expectations.
Visual Strategy
Captured speeches, award ceremonies, prize giveaways, branding materials, and group/candid moments to build a cohesive narrative highlighting sponsors, community engagement, and public impact.
Marketing & Communications Support
Ensured images aligned with EXP’s messaging goals. Delivered content for internal and external marketing and communications materials to amplify the event’s impact and outreach.
Photo Editing
Curated and batch-edited images with a focus on visual storytelling and consistency. Optimized final images for use across digital platforms and print materials.
Etobicoke Rotary Club – Toronto RibFest
Community Care Sector
Etobicoke, oN
July 2025
Photojournalism
Partnered with the Etobicoke Rotary Club, a volunteer-led organization focused on community development and humanitarian efforts — to photograph Toronto Ribfest.
Project Coordination
Supported planning for a large-scale summer festival by aligning with organizers on timelines, logistics, and deliverables months in advance.
Visual Strategy
Documented the full large-scale festival with a narrative-driven approach — capturing and framing visuals intentionally to tell a cohesive and compelling story.
Photo Editing
Curated images to tell a cohesive story, used editing techniques that enhanced quality without compromising the authenticity of the event.
Administrative Coordination
Streamlined multi-stakeholder communication and facilitated efficient delivery of high-resolution images for internal and external use.
Marketing & Communications Support
Created a long-form, SEO-driven blog post highlighting the Rotary Club’s role in Ribfest. Delivered branded visuals to support digital marketing and outreach.
Volunteer & Compassionate Care Work
Cat Rescue & Rehabilitation
Independent Initiative
Animal Welfare Sector
Etobicoke, ON
2006 – Present
Long-Term Cat Care
Currently care for three senior cats and have rescued, fostered, and supported over 30 feral and abandoned cats since 2006. Developed expertise in felines, and long-term animal welfare.
Medical & Behavioural Management
Provide neonatal care, administer medications, monitor health, coordinate vet visits, and support cats through behavioural challenges and post-surgical recovery.
Palliative Care
Provided end-of-life care for a disabled senior cat (2020–2022), managing daily feeding, hygiene, medication, and mobility support.
Animal Welfare Advocacy
Work with local rescues, shelters, and the City of Toronto to access affordable veterinary care, arrange TNR, and safely surrender injured feral cats for treatment and support.
Photojournalism
Document the lives of rescued cats through photography to raise awareness, highlight recovery journeys, and support adoption and fundraising efforts.
OUR WINGS TO FIGHT — FUNDRAISING GALA
Healthcare Sector
Woodbridge & Etobicoke, ON
September 2024
Commercial Event Photography Services
Provided professional photographic coverage for Our Wings to Fight, an annual gala raising funds for Crohn’s and Colitis research at the Zane Cohen Centre for Digestive Diseases, part of Sinai Health / Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.
Project Coordination
Collaborated with committee members to understand the gala’s fundraising, branding, and community engagement goals.
Visual Strategy
Documented speeches, raffles, awards, décor, auction tables, branding, group portraits, and candid interactions — crafting a cohesive story of the event’s mission, atmosphere, and community support.
Marketing & Communications Support
Provided branded imagery featured on the organization’s website and social media, supporting visibility, audience engagement, and alignment with the fundraiser’s mission.
Caregiver
Healthcare Sector
Private Households
Toronto & Mississauga, ON
2020 – Present
Long-Term Care
Support three senior citizens and a young adult with complex medical and cognitive conditions across two homes.
Personal Support Coordinator
Assist with errands, appointments, grocery shopping, housekeeping, yard work, and both daytime and overnight supervision to ensure safety.
Conflict De-Escalation
Navigate situations involving memory loss, paranoia, and resistance to care using calm crisis management and trauma-informed communication.
Healthcare Advocacy
Track behavioural and health concerns to inform decisions. Communicate clearly with healthcare providers and family to ensure continuity of care.
Time & Stress Management
Balance high-intensity caregiving with other responsibilities while maintaining emotional resilience in unpredictable situations.
Skills
Technical Skills
Microsoft Office, Apple iWork, & Google Workspace
Skilled in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), Apple iWork (Pages, Numbers), and Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Maps, Calendar, Drive).
Google Web Tools
Knowledgeable in using web analytics tools (Google Analytics, Google Search Console) to monitor website traffic, assess performance, and guide SEO, marketing, and content strategies.
Administrative Assistance
Skilled in organization, scheduling, email correspondence, contract preparation, CRM tools, workflow coordination, and basic bookkeeping and mileage tracking (QuickBooks).
Project Management
Skilled in managing timelines and logistics with strong attention to detail, ensuring seamless execution of creative projects from start to finish.
Photography
Skilled in DSLR operation, manual exposure settings, studio equipment, natural and artificial lighting, composition, and subject posing.
Photo Editing & Retouching
Proficient in editing and retouching techniques and tools (Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom); skilled in RAW file processing.
Photo Management
Proficient in photo archival, retrieval, and safekeeping. Knowledgeable about image labeling, keywords, metadata embedding, and copyright protection (Photo Mechanic, Adobe Bridge).
Photographic Versatility
Proficient in capturing diverse moments, from lifestyle portraits to commercial events. Experienced in photographing sensitive subjects such as end-of-life pet sessions.
Short-Form Video
Proficient in creating and editing short-form video (Adobe Premiere Pro, Adobe Express, Canva, CapCut), assembling BTS footage, B-roll, photography, and music into polished, social-ready visual stories.
Web Design
Skilled in designing and managing websites to support branding, communications, and user engagement using CMS platforms such as WordPress and various theme builders (Elementor, Gutenberg).
Copywriting
Craft blog content, web copy, and captions informed by SEO, keyword research, and audience-focused marketing strategies to communicate clearly and effectively.
Content Creation & Social Media Management
Experienced in developing content calendars and social media posts using content scheduling tools (Meta Business Suite, Hootsuite, Buffer) to support digital marketing and communications.
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
Customer Service & Client Experience
Strong ability to communicate effectively with clients and customers, providing clear direction, gentle guidance, and professional responses.
Collaboration
Skilled at working effectively with clients, colleagues, and management by incorporating feedback and aligning goals. Experienced with project management tools (Monday.com).
Adaptability
Adept at overcoming challenges presented by unforeseen circumstances. Flexible to change, ensuring high-quality outcomes in dynamic environments.
Ability to Work Independently
Capable of managing responsibilities and multitasking without supervision.
Credentials
Languages
English
Hindi
Urdu
Education
Bachelor of Arts
Social Science
York University
2010-2014
The Photographic Experience
2014
Equipment
Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS USM
Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM
Canon 70-200mm f/4L USM
3 Canon 600EX-RT Speedlites
Backdrop Stands
Light Stands
Light Modifiers
Published Work & Features
Etobicoke Rotary Club – Toronto RibFest
Homepage Feature
Images featured prominently on the official Toronto Ribfest website and Etobicoke Rotary homepage to showcase the event’s vibrancy and impact and branding.
Sponsorship Recognition
Featured as an in-kind sponsor for photography on the official Toronto Ribfest website.
Full Gallery Publication
A complete event gallery of 50+ images published on the Rotary Etobicoke website, capturing key moments, attendees, activities, and the overall atmosphere of Toronto Ribfest.
Links
EXP – Annual Golf Invitational
Website Feature
Photographs featured in EXP’s official news and insights page highlighting their 29th and 30th Annual Golf Invitationals.
Brochure Placement
Select images included in the official printed brochure distributed to attendees at the event.
Links
OUR WINGS TO FIGHT — FUNDRAISING GALA
Social Media Feature
Full gallery of images published on Our Wings to Fight’s official Facebook page, capturing key moments from the 2024 gala.
Social Media Shoutout
Received a public shoutout from the event committee on social media, praising professionalism, warmth, and photographic storytelling; shared within a Toronto group and linked to the official project gallery.
Links
“Henna made everything so seamless and enjoyable, and the results were breathtaking—she has a gift for turning moments into lasting memories”
I was immediately captivated by Henna’s unique ability to capture genuine, candid moments with such artistry and sensitivity. Her photos felt alive, each one telling a story and bringing out the true essence of every subject. I knew right away that she had a remarkable talent that would beautifully capture the spirit of our Gala and the impact of our non-profit’s mission.
I was thoroughly impressed with Henna’s professionalism and warmth throughout the entire process. From the initial inquiry to the booking process, she made everything so seamless and stress-free. She was prompt in her responses, organized, and attentive to our needs, which instantly put us at ease. During our consultation, Henna took the time to understand our vision for the Gala, asking thoughtful questions and offering insights to ensure she captured the moments that mattered most. Her clear communication and genuine care made us feel confident that we were in the best hands.
I was initially worried about finding a photographer for our non-profit Gala, especially for the entire duration of the event. I am so grateful that Henna not only stayed for the entirety of the event but also captured the energy and feel of the evening so wonderfully. Her dedication and generosity made all the difference, and she truly brought our vision to life.
Working with Henna during our Gala was an absolute pleasure. She was both professional and personable, blending into the event effortlessly while capturing each moment with care and creativity. It felt like having a trusted friend behind the camera. Henna’s attention to detail and commitment to capturing the heart of our event truly shines through. Each image tells a story, radiating the warmth, joy, and energy of the evening. The way she caught those candid moments—the laughter, the conversations, the speeches, the love, the little details that made the night unique—truly brings the event back to life every time I look at the photos. It feels like stepping right back into the Gala, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Henna treated our guests with such warmth and respect throughout the entire evening. She interacted with everyone thoughtfully, making each person feel comfortable in front of the camera. Her friendly, approachable manner and calm presence put our guests at ease, allowing her to capture genuine smiles and moments of connection. It was clear that she valued their experience as much as ours. Many guests commented on how natural and relaxed they felt with her.
Henna is an absolute gem to work with. Not only does she have an incredible eye for detail and a talent for capturing authentic moments, but she also brings warmth, professionalism, and genuine care to every step of the process. Henna made everything so seamless and enjoyable, and the results were breathtaking—she has a gift for turning moments into lasting memories. If you want someone who will go above and beyond to capture the essence of your event or special occasion, Henna is the one to book.
Nicole Marques
Our Wings to Fight Gala for Crohn’s & Colitis Research
Mount Sinai Hospital