Playing Tourist for a Day

Here’s what happens when your branding shoot becomes
a tribute to the city you love.

Meet Debora, a Brazilian friend of mine who has called Canada home for the past 15 years. I’ve known her for 10 of those years and she is nothing short of a boss at everything she does. By day, she’s an award-winning marketing boss, but she has this incredible gig outside of that 9-5: she’s a tour guide for Brazilian families visiting Toronto and Niagara Falls. She helps them explore, navigate, and most importantly—fall in love with this corner of Canada the way she has.

I have always known about her tour company Guia Em Toronto and I was always secretly jealous that I didn’t speak Portuguese so I could get the full tour. But when she reached out and said she needed updated photos for her business, I jumped at the chance. What I didn’t realize was that I was about to get the best bonus of all—my very own private tour of Toronto.

As we moved from one iconic spot to the next, Debora was this never-ending fountain of stories and facts about the city. She shared little pieces of history, cultural quirks, and even insider recommendations—things that only someone who has both the curiosity of an outsider and the love of a local could notice.

It was so fun seeing Toronto through her eyes. You can tell right away how much she adores this city, and even more, how passionate she is about helping families from Brazil feel at home here while creating memories of their travels. She’s not just showing people around—she’s connecting them to her home.

And as I look at her finished gallery, I can’t help but think how special it would be to do something similar for my own family. Imagine spending a day playing tourist in your own city, walking through all the spots you usually rush past—and having it all captured on camera. Not just the big iconic spots like the CN Tower or Toronto streetcars, but the hidden gem ice cream spots or best burritos that are your family’s regular joints. Those are the kinds of photos that end up being treasures.

Working with Debora reminded me: sometimes the best adventures are right where you already live—you just need the right person to help you see it in a new way.