Meet Srini Balram | Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Srini Balram and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Srini, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
I was born and brought up in India. Married and had started a family in India. Had a successful career in India. To give up all that and start afresh in a new country was a tough decision to make. Canada is a very welcoming nation. You get to know that only after you land and start your new life here. Till then, the uncertainty and several decisions to be made have a colossal emotional stress on you. Thanks to my wife’s perspective on the impending change, made it feel that was the right thing to do then. We looked at coming to Canada as the second chapter in our life. Most people are pleased with having just one chapter well planned and executed in their lives. We as a family decided to have a second chapter. It was as simple as that.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I run an online art gallery called Srini Balram Photography – ( www.srinibalramphotography.com). My gallery consists of photographs that I have taken across the globe and are put up for sale. Anyone in the US and Canada can buy online Art/Canvas Prints or frames. In sizes and paper, they chose. It started as a hobby, and over time, after several trials, mistakes finally had the confidence to put some of my work online. It is still a small business but slowly getting traction and sales. My business is nowhere near success, but I do know the consistent effort will take the company nearer to being ‘successful.’

Selling artworks in any form is a tough one. How often does one look at the wall in the house and think of filling it with wall art? Besides, the product has visual appeal, and personal likes and dislikes play a considerable part in decision-making.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Thanks for this question. We do get a lot of visitors to Toronto. Here are our things to do/se list. It is comprehensive and has always had a good response. Here goes…

1. Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake…including visits to the winery.
2. If in summer, then a trip to the islands across Ontario lake is a must. It is a trip in Autumn, a visit to Algonquin park, Always magical and sure success with guests.
3. Some of my guests need to have their morning walks, and I take them on presunrise walks in Ontario Lake and allow them to witness the sunrise at the Lake. They always come back spellbound.
4.Resturants are plenty in Toronto. I dedicate a day to two for restaurant hopping and combine it with visiting downtown Toronto. A drive through the University Of Toronto, Close by visiting the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) .
Stroll/shop on Bloor Street. Head to a Greek town for some authentic Greek food.
5. I love to end the trip with some walking and jazz music; this would be best enjoyed as a separate event on a day and not combined with other activities. The day will start at 11 with a visit to High park for a good one-hour walk. Follow that up with an afternoon of live New Orleans Jazz at Grossman’s Tavern. Hang to till about 6 pm and head for dinner. Several Chinese and Thai cuisine options all within walking distance, and you get a chance to see Toronto’s Chinatown. Post dinner listed to incredible jazz shows at the Rex. Great talent, great music till the wee hours of the morning.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
To my wife Veena Balram

Website: https://www.srinibalramphotography.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/srinibalramphotography/