My name is Shinowa Okumura, and I was born and raised in Japan — the country of Anime, Sushi, Toyota, Capsule Hotels, and of course, World-Famous Camera Brands. Ever since I was little, I was surrounded by cameras. I used to carry my dad’s digital camera everywhere I went, snapping photos of anything that caught my eye. My dad was a director for a fishing show long before I was born, and he still works in the entertainment industry in his free time. My mom, on the other hand, was a banquet speaker and often found herself in front of the camera for interviews. You could say I grew up in a family that lived and breathed storytelling.

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You might wonder how I ended up in Canada, working as a storyteller through videography. Funny enough, I never planned to leave Japan — but when I was 16, my mom encouraged (or rather insisted) that I study abroad. It turned out to be one of the greatest opportunities my parents ever gave me. I moved in with a host family on Vancouver Island, BC, started high school in Grade 11, and got my first taste of Canadian life.

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In December 2020, my host parents gifted me a GoPro Hero 7 Silver for Christmas — a moment that changed everything. I had been watching GoPro videos for months, so the excitement was real. From that day on, I brought my GoPro everywhere, even on simple walks. I recorded moments from different angles just for the joy of creating — no plan, no script, just passion.

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That little GoPro became my gateway into the world of videography. My first proper video project was for an outdoor education class in high school, where I filmed all our activities and shared the final piece with my classmates. Since then, I’ve continued to grow as a creator, producing countless videos that capture stories, emotions, and experiences. During my university years, my work was recognized with two film awards (2024 & 2025) and a video contest win from the City of Orillia (2025).

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Now, through my lens, I aim to help individuals and businesses tell their stories, capture meaningful memories, and create visuals that connect people — emotionally and authentically.