Man turns passion for sneakers into a picture-perfect career
An Ottawa man living in Nova Scotia has taken his passion for sneakers and turned it into a full-time career.
Jesse Ingalls is a sneaker photographer in Glen Haven, N.S., who works with many well-known brands, including Reebok, Nike and Puma.
(Photo courtesy: Instagram/ jro._)
(Photo courtesy: Instagram/ jro._)
Ingalls says he realized his love for sneakers in the 90s, while watching a Chicago Bulls basketball game.
"Just becoming enamored with, one, basketball. I played basketball as a kid and loved sports but also, shoes," said Ingalls. "Just obsessed, obsessed with shoes."
Ingalls went to college to study graphic design and art direction and says his "obsession" with sneakers never strayed.
"A lot of the ideas I had for my portfolio, I wasn't able to actually fully create them because the images that I wanted didn't exist," he said.
That's when Ingalls started taking pictures of shoes.
Jesse Ingalls is a sneaker photographer in Glen Haven, N.S. – working with many well-known brands, including Reebok, Nike and Puma. (Photo courtesy: Instagram/ jro._)
(Photo courtesy: Instagram/ jro._)
"I used them in some of my executions and then I was like, 'I just enjoy doing this,'" said Ingalls.
At first, Ingalls was mainly taking pictures for himself and to help grow his skills, but his work quickly caught the attention of a much broader audience.
(Photo courtesy: Instagram/ jro._)
(Photo courtesy: Instagram/ jro._)
"At that exact same time, Reebok was trying to really switch up what they were doing and I went from doing those pictures just for myself and then Reebok reaching out saying, 'You want to take some pictures for us,' and I said, 'Are you serious? Are you joking me, guy,'" explained Ingalls. "And they were dead serious."
Ingalls says that's when his career as a sneaker photographer took a run for it – with some of his work even appearing on Good Morning America.
(Photo courtesy: Instagram/ jro._)
(Photo courtesy: Instagram/ jro._)
Ingalls' latest project is called Project Samqwan -- Samqwan meaning water in Mi’kmaw.
The idea is to mix traditional Indigenous art with a modern medium, the Nike Air Force 1.
The sneaker will become a canvas for the colourful beadwork that explores the history and experiences of many Indigenous people.
"We're going to present five different shoes that people have never seen and they're going to be auctioned off," said Ingalls.
Ingalls says all of the proceeds from the auction will go towards clean water drinking initiatives in Indigenous communities.
"I am so happy that I've been able to take this passion that I have for sneakers and use the skills that I have acquired and help in any way, shape or form with something that I truly think is important," he said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The lost season': Winter comes to a close as Canada's warmest on record
The warmest winter on record could have far-reaching effects on everything from wildfire season to erosion, climatologists say, while offering a preview of what the season could resemble in the not-so-distant future unless steps are taken to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
NEW High thoughts: The habits of Canadian cannabis users are revealed in a new StatCan report
Statistics Canada has conducted a series of surveys to measure the impacts of legalized cannabis since the Cannabis Act took effect in 2018. The latest one, the 2023 National Cannabis Survey, sheds light on users' preferences and habits last year.
Freddie Mercury's home is on the market for first time since 1980 minus his 'exquisite clutter'
Freddie Mercury's sanctuary in London, where he lived the last decade of his life, is on sale for the first time in nearly half a century -- minus his "exquisite clutter."
NEW Where to watch the state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney
A state funeral for former prime minister Brian Mulroney will be held in Montreal on March 23. CTV News will have live special coverage of his funeral service.
Trump says Jews who vote for Democrats 'hate Israel' and their religion
Former U.S. president Donald Trump on Monday charged that Jews who vote for Democrats 'hate Israel' and hate 'their religion,' igniting a firestorm of criticism from the White House and Jewish leaders.
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.