If you’ve ever attended Wilton’s Pumpkin Parade or the Wilton Woman’s Club Fashion Show or perhaps found yourself at the Holiday Sip and Shop, there’s no way you could have missed local photographer (and GOOD Morning Wilton contributor) Justin Baiad.
With his infectious enthusiasm and warm personality, it’s hard not to lose your inhibitions and feel instantly at ease.
Lesley Kirschner sat down for some coffee, conversation and portrait-ready tips on being present and being yourself. She very quickly brought into focus why this extremely accomplished cameraman-with-a-cause and documentarian of all things good in Wilton prides himself on living in the moment, showing up and giving back.
1. You took a stunning photo of my husband and son at last year’s PRIDE festival that I have framed. You do a lot in terms of showing up at Wilton events and giving back. What does community mean to you, and how did you find yourself connected to Wilton?
Justin Baiad: In college, I was working at a studio in the [Danbury] mall, The Picture People. It was an interesting and fun experience and through that, I got connected with a dance studio in Wilton and [separately] Wilton photographer Andrea Topalian.
Anyway, she [Andrea] asked if I wanted to help with the Pumpkin Parade Portrait Fundraiser and that’s what made me realize the sense of community that’s here in town, and what honestly brought me here and what keeps bringing me back. It’s the people and how much they care about each other and take care of everyone, of their neighbors.
Last year I did the pumpkin parade to benefit Ambler Farm, and I was just so happy with how many people came out and wanted to support [the farm], which I thought was so lovely.
2. My dad is a later in life photographer, having lived through and been through many vocational incarnations. Have you always known you wanted to capture the moment or is that something that came to you later as well?
Baiad: I think I really fell in love with photography the moment I realized I had the power to change someone’s perception of themselves. A good photo can really shift a narrative; not just how others see us, but how we see ourselves.
I always liked photography… even in high school, I always had a camera around. I would go out with friends and do little photo shoots just for fun. But I went to school for public relations writing and I got an internship at a PR firm.
I had mentioned to my parents that I was thinking of maybe switching my major to photography. One thing that my father always told me is, do what you love and the money will follow.
My parents were always there for me. Everything was out of love and concern, never criticism.
3. I’m a person who struggles with technology and often takes 400 images, hoping one will look decent. Any tips for the cinematically challenged out there on photographing and being photographed?
Baiad: For me, it starts with a conversation. If you want a natural photo, you have to help someone feel natural. I always start by asking questions that bring out joy or curiosity. Most people naturally smile when you ask them their favorite flavor of ice cream or type of candy. I always need to know the person I’m photographing, so I like to ask them a lot of questions about themselves — but keeping it positive: “What are some of your favorite features? What is something most people don’t know that you can do? What’s your dream vacation?” Those kinds of questions help shift people out of that hyper-aware space we all enter the second a camera appears.
Most of us aren’t used to being photographed — especially in a studio setting with big lights and cameras — and it’s not fair to expect someone to just “act natural” in an environment that feels completely unfamiliar. That’s why I always take time to “test the light” early in a session. It’s really a warm-up — for both of us.
But the real key? Listening. I ask people to tell me what they like about themselves, what makes them feel confident, or what they want to show the world. Then I keep checking in — sharing images throughout the session, asking for feedback, giving encouragement. When someone feels seen, heard and respected, they stop performing and start showing up as themselves.
My job isn’t to tell you how you should look or who you should be. My job is to help show who you really are, in the best light possible; and that can only happen through trust, collaboration and listening.
4. What advice would you give to young people about posting on social media and using it responsibly?
Baiad: Honestly, I’d say — embrace it. Social media gets a bad rap, but it’s also a powerful tool. If you don’t tell your own story, someone else will. So take the opportunity to define yourself, on your terms. Be honest, be kind and be real. We’re all more compelling when we stop trying to look perfect and start showing who we really are.
There’s that quote: ‘Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.’ That applies more than ever online. So use your platform to say something meaningful — tell your story visually, creatively, authentically.
And honestly… I should probably follow my own advice. I spend so much time helping other people tell their stories, I’ve kind of neglected my own feed. So maybe we’ll all work on that together.
5. In an age of having everything at our fingertips and living life through the looking glass of social media, how do you think people can learn to pull back and enjoy the moment without feeling the need to preserve it? Are you a “live in the moment” person?
Baiad: If you notice, I don’t post a lot on social media and maybe that’s because I am very much in the moment. That’s where I like to be.
I think a large part of what I do requires me to do that. I have to be completely present because, you know, at a wedding, for example, I can’t be thinking about anything else. There are so many details and little things that I have to capture, that if I take myself out of being completely present, then something gets missed; and it could be something big. There’s a timeline and a schedule. I don’t have a choice but to be completely present.
But then there’s the flip side of that when I have to go home and edit everything.
I typically have a second shooter at events or an assistant photographer. I carry two cameras, the second shooter carries two and a third assistant photographer might carry one. So at times it’s five cameras. It’s crazy with lots of photos. It’s hours at work, hours.
Lesley Kirschner: That sounds tedious, like doing jigsaw puzzles or untangling necklaces (one of my mother’s favorite pastimes). Do you enjoy that aspect of things?
Baiad: Sometimes when I first look at it and see literally thousands of photos, I might feel like, ‘How am I going to get this all done?’ But then I typically break it up into little sections and break it down and once everything’s sorted, it’s much less overwhelming. So it’s kind of a love/hate relationship because I love checking things off the list but at times, it can feel like a lot.
That’s part of the reason why I really enjoy being in the moment when I get to be because so much of life is revisiting moments.
I like to appreciate the ones that I get to be present in. That’s nice.