First Capture Studios

"First Capture Studios workshop student Randell Browne, 14, captures his mother, Rebecca Hart, and his sister, Libby, playing cards in the backyard in Hamilton, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. They say it's a great way to pass the time and stay positive during such a pressing time in their lives. (Randell Browne/First Capture Studios)" This is a theme that often came up throughout the workshop: more time spent with family or other loved ones, which otherwise wouldn't have happened before social isolation. While this may not be the reality for everyone, we recognize that small moments of beauty can be found in even the most dire of situations. Whether that's with others or in solitude.

"The Lavigne family is captured sitting in the dining room eating dinner in Hamilton, Friday, May 29, 2020. Before the pandemic, their busy lives meant they were often moving in different directions. Recently, they have spent much more time cooking and eating together. (Keara Lavigne/First Capture Studios)"

"Randell Browne, 14, sits in front of the TV in the basement of his home in Hamilton, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Randell says he's tired of playing video games day in and day out. He daydreams about when he used to be able to hangout with his friends and Big Brother Nick from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton and Hamilton. (Randell Browne/First Capture Studios)" Who can relate???

"Sisters Aaliyah, 13, and Ola, 11, kept themselves busy during quarantine by building a fort in the middle of the living room in their two bedroom apartment in Oakville, Thursday, June 4, 2020. This caused their mother, Titi Babatunde, to re-locate her normal area of relaxing of the couch to the dining room table. To keep everyone safe and indoors, Titi says she was more then happy to let her daughters use the majority of the apartment space for play. (Ola Babatunde/First Capture Studios)"

"Aaliyah, 13, watches the sunrise on a beautiful Sunday morning, May 31, 2020, after pulling an all-nighter with her sister, Ola, 11. She starred out the window for almost an hour in an attempt to capture the perfect shot for the First Capture Studios photography workshop. Aaliyah and Ola are first-time camera users and tried several different angles and shots. They say it was an exciting time for them both. (Ola Babatunde/First Capture Studios)" This caption, written by Ola ...with the help of her Big Sister Sara, from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Halton and Hamilton, says it all. The goal of our photography workshops are first and foremost to make the experience fun, but this was especially the case during the pandemic when we, along with the staff at BBBS, recognized that youth needed a creative outlet. The pandemic can make us feel helpless, but this was an opportunity for them to be part of history and document their stories. See more