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
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
BREAKING Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife’s edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.