You don't have to be good in front of the camera.
A lot of the people I photograph start by telling me they're awkward, camera-shy or just don't know what to do.
Perfect. You don't need to perform for me.
I'm your photographer, hype man and occasional motivational speaker. My job is to figure out what helps you loosen up, feel good and recognize the person I can already see through my camera.
I'd rather give you something to do than somewhere to put your hands.
I use actions more than poses. Walk together. Pull each other in. Move. Talk. Look at each other. A pose can make you question every little thing your body is doing. An action gives you something real to respond to.
That's usually where things start feeling natural. And when I get the shot? You'll know. Expect some version of “OMG YESSSS,” “hell yeah,” or “okayyyy models… I thought you said you were camera-shy?”
I show people the back of my camera, too. Watching someone go from unsure of themselves to genuinely excited about how they look is one of my favourite parts of this job.
“He made us feel super comfortable and relaxed.”
— Priscilla
“He’s got a key eye to detail and brings incredible energy.”
— Dylan
The work changes.
I’m still looking for people.
I pay attention to people first.
Some people need direction. Some need reassurance. Some need a terrible dad joke and a few minutes to forget there's a camera in front of them.
And sometimes the best thing I can do is stop talking altogether and watch what's happening around me. That's the balance I look for: knowing when to step in, when to hype you up, and when to get out of the way.
It started with a Samsung Galaxy S3.
No fancy camera. No grand business plan. I started taking photos on my phone and loved the way they looked. Making an image I was proud of made me feel like I'd accomplished something huge.
Years later, after building a career in communications and engagement, life gave me an unexpected push. In 2026, I decided to give the thing I'd always wanted a real shot: working for myself and taking Aperture by Aguilar full-time.
My communications background never left. It taught me to listen, read a room and think about what an image needs to communicate — skills I use every time I pick up a camera.
Photography built on relationship.
Working alongside Indigenous communities and organizations has shaped more than my portfolio. It has shaped the way I think about responsibility, representation and the role a photographer carries when they are invited into someone else's space.
Through communications, engagement and photography, I have had the privilege of documenting community gatherings, National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations, leaders, Elders, youth, artists, entrepreneurs and moments of culture, business and connection.
For me, reconciliation is not something I want to reduce to a line on a website. It is an ongoing responsibility to listen, learn, respect cultural protocols, build genuine relationships and approach the work with care.
A little more Daveed.
I take my work seriously. Myself? Not so much.
My hype person has a hype person.
My wife hypes me up about my work just as much as I hype up the people in front of my camera. Spending time with her is pretty much the ideal day off — assuming I can convince myself to actually take the day off.
I take restaurant recommendations personally.
Vietnamese food has my heart, and I take an unreasonable amount of pride in knowing where to send someone for a good meal. If you tell me a place is amazing and it isn't… I will have opinions.
Bribery menu: Phnom Penh chicken wings, bomb-ass pupusas, great Mexican food or coffee.
Canadian, Salvadoran, and learning more about where I come from.
I visited El Salvador for the first time in 2025 and something about it immediately felt like home. I remember looking around and realizing, people look like me here.
I'm proud to be Canadian, and I'm equally proud to choose a deeper connection with my Salvadoran heritage. My great-grandmother was Nahuatl, and I've been learning more about that Indigenous part of my family's history. It's something I'm still discovering, and something that means more to me the more I learn.
Things you should probably know.
Tell me you love your photos. Or bring me coffee. Both work.
Bad Bunny.
Nice try. 😂
I'm breaking out the worst dad jokes. We'll see which one of us can make it more awkward.
My work.
Life.
Dad jokes included at no additional charge.
Whether I'm photographing your wedding, your team or a room full of people, I want you to feel like you've got someone in your corner — someone who will work hard, keep things moving and remind you that you look damn good while we're at it.
Alright. Your turn.
I've told you enough about me. Tell me what you're planning, who matters, and what you want these photographs to feel like.
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