Dollard swimsuit photographer and fashion models

The majority of fashion photographers born to a chilly climate fantasize about the moment in their careers when they can feel sand sift through their feet and a salty breeze blowing in the air. Dollard des Ormeaux’s Norm Edwards, a self taught, portrait photographer since 1999, is no stranger to capturing a turquoise landscape in panoramic view, with a sparingly clad supermodel, also in view.

On Aug. 25 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico he will be competing in the internationally recognized Ujena Bikini Jam 2008 contest, an event that unites 75 photographers with over 150 models from around the world.

Regardless of the eye candy factor, working with eight or more supermodels from six a.m. until 11 p.m. in Mexico isn’t just a laid back day at the beach, “You get up at sunrise, you shoot all day, its non-stop,” Edwards said. Contrary to what a lot of people think, when you’re working all day with them you don’t see them that way.

This year, Edwards has the added pressure of being the only Canadian photographer representing his nation at the Ujena jam. I am a bit disappointed there are not more photographers from Canada. I am proud to print the Canadian flag on all of my shirts.

But Edwards, established as he is in the realm of photography, is himself a relative newcomer to the industry, as well as to the West Island. Bikini models plays a good roll in fashion photography. His life reads like a racy novel; he ran away from his home in St. Jerome at the age of 16, moved to Vancouver where he joined the army and spent time in the Middle East, owned a business or two before finally settling down in the West Island with his wife, who is a family owner of the well known hip hop dance school, 8 Count, for love, marriage, and a lot of picture making. I’ve always been a fan of photography. Since I was a boy I owned every magazine from National Geographic to Playboy.