Phone: 416-262-8883

Email: michele@micheletaras.com

          Internationally-exhibited, Award-winning photography. In business since 1998, Michele Taras' specialization has long been portrait photography. Taras' photographs capture the essence of her subject's personality and moods. Taras is mostly known for her children's portraits, being able to photograph even the most uncooperative of children.
          Michele Taras, originally from Montreal, is a graduate of Sheridan College. She received the distinction of "Sheridan Scholar" in recognition of her high achievement. She as well graduated from the acclaimed New York Institute of Photography. Michele Taras has been recognized by various prestigious international photography awards, including several first, second and third place with the PX3 international photography awards based out of Paris, France, many awards with the IPA International Lucie Awards based out of the USA, recognition through WPGA – World Photography Gala Awards, as well as first place and others with WIPI – Women in Photography International, and recognition with the Colour Awards Master's Cup and the B&W Spider Awards.
          Taras has also been published in Photo Life, Canada's leading photography magazine, The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun, and The Canadian Nurse's Journal among other publications. Look for the book by the group Photosensitive, "Cancer Connections" where her stunning photograph figures on the cover, as well as 21 more images in the interior. Articles about her have been published in the Toronto Sun, the Mississauga News, the Brampton Guardian, the Enroute Magazine with Air Canada, the London Free Press, as well as numerous television and radio interviews. Taras’s images have been exhibited in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, Halifax, Toronto, London, Brampton, Mississauga, Ottawa, as well as internationally in the US, France, Germany, Argentina and Spain.
          In addition to her photographic talents, Taras also contributes significantly to the community, raising money for breast cancer research through exhibits of her breast cancer photography, as well as fund raising with calendars of her images made specifically for Toronto Sick Kids Hospital. Taras has also received the Brampton City Citizen's award with Art Acclaim. Taras says: "The essence of good photography is the ability to see the extraordinary in even the simplest of things; to capture a moment in time and transform it into a work of art." Taras also began painting in 2018. Her vivid, colourful paintings immediately received great acclaim from art collectors all over the world.

A journey as profound as cancer deserves healing. The first step in that direction is being brave enough to tell your story. Share in the unique experience of telling your story and having it captured in a storybook series of photographs. Contact the photographer for more information.
Nothing speaks to the heart more than a photograph with your loved ones. Contact the photographer to book an appointment for a photo session with someone who understands. P: (519)-941-7444. Commemorate life.

The Breast Cancer Project

Raising funds and awareness for Breast Cancer, telling the stories that need to be told. Celebrating Life through Art. Truly a Must-See event!

This photographic event includes photographs of over 100 breast cancer survivors and their stories. The Breast Cancer Project has been been exhibited at System 44 in Toronto, Art Trax in Mississauga, Beaux Arts Brampton, The Arts Project, in London and has shown in conjunction with PhotoSensitive's Cancer Connections Project, exhibiting all across Canada. To date over $40 000.00 has been raised for Princess Margaret Hospital, Credit Valley Hospital, Wellspring Chinguacousy and the London Regional Cancer Program. You can contact Michele Taras for more information about The Breast Cancer Project at 519-941-7444, or email: michele@micheletaras.com Michele Taras is also currently working together with Photosensitive and TIEd together, photographing prostate cancer survivors. Please contact Michele Taras if you would like to participate.

This project originated with the strong belief that it is important for every individual to give back to the community, and was inspired by my grandmother who passed away from cancer in 2005. The idea of a photographic fund raiser was only natural. This project incorporates not only powerful images of breast cancer survivors, but also documents their stories as real tributes of courage.This project will be inspiring survivors of breast cancer all across North America, and sending them a message of hope. As well, we hope to encourage women to get checked; early detection is the key to surviving breast cancer. Past events: October 2007 in Toronto for the research team of Dr. Tak Mak at The Princess Margaret Hospital November 2008 in Mississauga for medical equipment and the Arts in Medicine Program at Credit Valley Hospital April 2009 in Brampton for Wellspring Chinguacousy in Brampton. October 2009 in London for the translational breast cancer research team of the London Regional Cancer Program If you would like to donate or would like to host a future show, you can call Michele at 519-941-7444 or email: michele@micheletaras.com Raising funds to find a cure for breast cancer is so important. See the photographs and be moved, read the stories and be inspired.

"Dear Michele I'm writing today to thank-you for the amazing opportunity to participate in your breast cancer project. The experience of being a photographic model was not only fun but liberating. As a breast cancer survivor with bilateral mastectomies, my body image has been tremendously altered. Although I live without breasts and still feel very much a woman, there is something I haven't felt much of since being diagnosed with breast cancer. The experience of being photographed and to see the images that you created instills a sense of pride that it is okay to be me, just the way I am, without breasts. For the first time in ages, I felt beautiful. The images are powerfully moving and illicit a strong emotion when I look at them. You have a remarkable talent and have artistically and uniquely told my personal story with breast cancer. I am so grateful for that, for what I could not describe to people verbally I can now point to your photo's and say "look, this is what breast cancer is like, this is exactly how I felt" I think donating your energies to this project to raise monies for breast cancer research is a wonderful endeavour and I wish you tremendous success with it all.
Sincerely Mary Coulter."

Photographs in this exhibit were recognized by the International Photography Awards, based out of the United States and the PX3 awards based out of Paris, France, including the people's choice awards.

Photographs

Please see the following (link) for more about the project.

Please help Stephanie Simmons (link) raise awareness for Childhood cancer by signing her petition to Canada Post for a gold ribbon stamp. It's simple. All it takes is a signature.

Please help support Rachel's Rainbow (link). No child should ever have to know cancer.

You can purchase the book "Cancer Connections" (link) by the non-profit organization Photosensitive in major cities across Canada. 20 of my images figure in the book, as well as on the cover. Photography can make a difference in the all important battle against cancer.

2012 "Kids and Pets" calendar

To purchase calendars, please call Michele at 416-262-8883 or email: michele@micheletaras.com

The 2012 Calendar has been awarded Honourable Mention with the Interational Photography Awards, Lucie Awards 2012. Making the best possible calendars to raise funds for SickKids hospital

The 2011 calendar "Children Outdoors" was a huge success, and enabled us to get a plaque commemorating Matteo at SickKids. Thanks to everyone for your amazing support whether by buying a calendar, or sponsoring a month.

2010 calendar "What I Want to Be When I Grow Up" - Encouraging your children's dreams

After my friend's son Matteo passed at the age of 4 of a heart attack, the 2010 SickKids calendar shifted its proceeds to Matteo's fund. There is nothing more devastating to a parent than losing one's son, but in spite of that the D'Ermo's wanted to do something to give back to SickKids as the hospital had always done so much for their son. We set out our goal to raise enough money to get Matteo a plaque on the hospital wall.

2009 calendar "Eat Your Fruits and Vegetables" - Encouraging health and raising funds

Photographs in the 2009 calendar won first place with the PX3 international awards based out of Paris, France and two HM with the International Photography Awards based out of the United States.

The 2009 calendar originated with the strong belief that it is important for every individual to give back to the community, and is made as a tribute to Joshua. At the age of 3, completely out of the blue, Joshua began having seizures. The seizures went from one a day to - two days later - 25 a day. The seizures began in his eyes, then his arms, then his whole body, with even his breathing becoming problematic. It was a very stressful time for his parents. His mother describes it as having her heart "cracked in a million pieces." There is nothing worse than watching your child suffer and be unable to do anything. Joshua needed surgery in order to stop having seizures. He is now healthy and happy thanks to SickKids hospital. We would like to donate our proceeds to SickKids Hospital so that more children like Joshua can continue living healthy, happy lives.
The 2009 calendar incorporates not only fun images of children, but also encourages healthy eating habits.
The 2009 calendar has raised $16 517.16, thank you, we couldn't have done it without your help!
If you would like to donate or purchase a calendar, you can also call Michele at 416-262-8883 or email: michele@micheletaras.com
Raising funds for SickKids Hospital is so important. Please join us in making this calendar a huge success.

"It is important to raise money for the hospital so kids won't be sick anymore. So they can stop throwing up and be at home and get presents and feel better." Michael - 5 years old. "Lily loved your calendar so much that I had to hide it so that it would survive 2009! Because of it she even tried Broccoli! Well, she tried to put it on her head like Michael, but then she actually tasted it... a definite step in the right direction! Thanks!"
Nicole - parent