About Justin Veenema

Justin Veenema

I’m a photographer and content creator based in Vancouver, Canada. 🇨🇦

I capture portraits of people and their pets, and share their stories with a global audience. While I could technically be considered a full-time creator, I’m also a business owner, designer, mentor and educator.

Photography has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. My journey started with my dad’s VHS camcorder as a child, and grew as the first digital cameras hit the market.
In high school, I spent countless hours in the film development lab, learning to bring photos to life. This passion for creativity and capturing moments led me to pursue photography more seriously during my college years.
I went to school for graphic design, but during those years, my love for photography became even stronger, ultimately guiding my career path.
After college, I relocated from Ontario to Vancouver to pursue a career in tech, focusing on social media and community engagement.
Over the next eight years, I worked with companies like Unbounce, Clearly.ca, and Indochino, while also teaching at BrainStation.
In 2018 I took a leap of faith to start my own creative businesses: Brand Stories, a video production company, Better Matches, a photography business helping people connect, and Creator Frameworks, delivering premium Squarespace templates.
In 2024, after a tough breakup and years of social anxiety, I started the Stranger Project to push myself and face my fears.
By offering free portraits to strangers and their dogs, and documenting these interactions, I found a way to confront my fears.
The project quickly resonated with audiences, allowing me to connect with incredible people and travel the world. Through this journey, I’ve collaborated with world-class brands and found a deeper sense of purpose.
The Stranger Project’s significant reach, engaging over 30 million people monthly, has led to collaborations with brands like Sony, Cirque du Soleil, Vessi, Insta360, and Adorama.
Together, we create authentic content that introduces these brands to a wide audience in a genuine, impactful way. These partnerships have been incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to continuing this work.
🤝 Learn about brand partnerships here.
In 2024, I became a full-time content creator, achieving milestones like receiving my 100,000 subscriber plaque from YouTube.
Looking ahead, I plan to travel more, collaborate with amazing brands, and continually improve my photography.
I’m excited about the future and can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.