Make meaning and find fulfillment in your photographic work through personal projects.
The FIND Meaning Guide will help you plan your next personal project right freaking now.
You fell in love with photography and started a business. Now you take care of a ton of clients and suddenly have to worry about things like accounting, consistent editing, price lists, album design, and staying on top of your inquiries.
The joy you used to feel when you picked up a camera is GONE.
Somehow, photography is all stress and deadlines, client demands and trying to make ends meet.
You stopped taking photos for fun. Your family hasn't been photographed in months, and you can't remember why you used to like picking up a camera in the first place.
Somehow, photography is all stress and deadlines, client demands and trying to make ends meet.
You stopped taking photos for fun. Your family hasn't been photographed in months, and you can't remember why you used to like picking up a camera in the first place.
Dollars and likes don't add up to fulfillment. Personal work keeps me thrilled to pick up a camera, challenged at every level, and honing my craft all the time.
Projects big and small -- like documenting my six kids -- are the lifeblood of my photographic work.
I've always got a few going, and they've led to hundreds of thousands of dollars in paid work over the years.
Dollars and likes don't add up to fulfillment. Personal work keeps me thrilled to pick up a camera, challenged at every level, and honing my craft all the time.
Projects big and small -- like documenting my six kids -- are the lifeblood of my photographic work.
I've always got a few going, and they've led to hundreds of thousands of dollars in paid work over the years.
FIND MEANING WILL HELP YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY AGAIN.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL HELP YOU GET OFF YOUR DAMN PHONE AND MAKE WORK YOU'RE PROUD OF, STARTING RIGHT NOW.
FIND MEANING WILL HELP YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY AGAIN.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL HELP YOU GET OFF YOUR DAMN computer AND MAKE WORK YOU'RE PROUD OF, STARTING RIGHT NOW.
If there's ever been a piece of writing that makes you want to jump out of your chair and go chase your next story that may just change your life, this is it.
Full of honest, authentic stories that will move you in a way to find your next project with meaning and stop living in the Instagram-crazed world of pretty pictures just for the likes. This writing had me in tears many times and furiously writing notes on projects I want to start myself. All said in a 'no-BS-straight-to-the-point Jonathan Canlas' way,' you will be moved. Thank you for giving a voice to those who can't.
- KATIE GOLOBIC
I've checked all the boxes in the photographic industry: portrait and wedding clients all over the globe, 6-figure earnings, worldwide workshops, a sold-out print run of the Film is Not Dead book, standing-room only conference talks, and 16K Instagram followers.
Those things mean NOTHING to me without my personal work.
In FIND Meaning, I'll show you how I stay sane, keep riding my creative edge, and consistently create work that feels fresh and new after 20 years in this business.
I'm Jon Canlas.
A 200+ page PDF guide to walk you through the triumphs and challenges of my favorite personal projects
A breakdown of the four types of personal projects and how to start each one, as well as tech specs and FAQs
The quickstart guide to finding and funding your first personal project so you can start right now
GIVEAWAY! One lucky buyer will receive a shoot in my new studio, all the digital files from the session, and airfare from anywhere in the continental U.S.!
A live group Q+A call in July to answer any lingering questions you've got going on
A generous FIND Lab coupon to save on developing your film
A behind-the-scenes interview with my wife, Callie, to hear how she handles my work and its challenges
GET IT NOW
FIND Meaning doesn't leave anything on the table. Embarrassing stories, failures, misses, and mistakes are featured just as much as the times I came out on top.
The guide costs $279.
YOU'LL GET:
- PO CHI FUNG
- PO CHI FUNG
ALL I CAN SAY IS THANK YOU.
Thank you for keeping it real...sharing your personal story and talking about something photographers so rarely talk about - the importance of creating work for ourselves and not for other purposes, money, or likes.
GET FIND MEANING NOW!
GET FIND MEANING NOW!
SIMPLY PUT, THIS GUIDE MADE ME WEEP.
I couldn't believe how much I was able to relate to your photography journey, coping with change and time and grief with your camera and the insatiable passion you have for capturing your family on film. I can relate to these so hard.
I'm incredibly thankful for your transparency and openness. I don't know you, have never met you but I can hear your voice in your writing here...
- ANDREA NAYLOR
Simply put, this guide made me weep. I couldn't believe how much I was able to relate to your photography journey, coping with change and time and grief with your camera and the insatiable passion you have for capturing your family on film. I can relate to these so hard.
I'm incredibly thankful for your transparency and openness. I don't know you, have never met you but I can hear your voice in your writing here...
- ANDREA NAYLOR
All things FIND Meaning will be delivered to your inbox via email automatically. If nothing arrives within 24 hours of purchase, please reach out and let me know!
WHEN DO I RECEIVE FIND MEANING AFTER PURCHASE?
$279. (Spoiler alert: you get a 1/2 off coupon for all other FIND guides to use within 24 hours.)
How much does this cost?
This is all new material from start to finish, so you should be pleasantly surprised. I'm showing images and telling stories that have never been shown or told before!
does this content overlap with any of your other stuff?
Email me via jonathan.canlas@gmail.com and I'll answer.
i have a different question.
This guide lays bare what parts of Jon's work were hustle, which were pre-planning, and which were serendipity. Jon is very honest about what he thinks he did well and why, as well as what regrets he holds.
I appreciate that Jon elevates the importance of personal work and pushes everyone to evaluate if they are actually producing the work that matters to them and their community. Full of specific advice as well as more philosophical perspectives, FIND Meaning is my favorite of the FIND guides.
- REBECCA BOXWELL
NEXT
EVERY STORY MATTERS.
That’s what Jon’s work communicates to me. Whether he is capturing his own family or a project that showcases the struggles and triumphs of others, Jon Canlas teaches us the importance of showing up and preserving the story.
- ANNIE GROVES
NEXT
He's shown me that everything is worth documenting and he shoots in a way that makes you look at simple things like you've never seen them before. I find more beauty in the every day, and that's largely due to him.
- ASHLEY CRAWFORD
NEXT
Jon's personal work is irreverent, in the very best way possible.
The way Jon takes photographs for his personal work, especially those of his own children, truly shows his extraordinary talent in conveying the simple day-to-day moments in the most magical way. What inspires me is the way he preserves the authenticity of his subjects’ experiences and allows those seemingly imperfect moments to become something special and long-lasting.
- PIM YANAPRASART
NEXT
This guide lays bare what parts of Jon's work were hustle, which were pre-planning, and which were serendipity. Jon is very honest about what he thinks he did well and why, as well as what regrets he holds.
I appreciate that Jon elevates the importance of personal work and pushes everyone to evaluate if they are actually producing the work that matters to them and their community. Full of specific advice as well as more philosophical perspectives, FIND Meaning is my favorite of the FIND guides.
- REBECCA BOXWELL
NEXT
EVERY STORY MATTERS.
That’s what Jon’s work communicates to me. Whether he is capturing his own family or a project that showcases the struggles and triumphs of others, Jon Canlas teaches us the importance of showing up and preserving the story.
- ANNIE GROVES
NEXT
He's shown me that everything is worth documenting and he shoots in a way that makes you look at simple things like you've never seen them before. I find more beauty in the every day, and that's largely due to him.
- ASHLEY CRAWFORD
NEXT
Jon's personal work is irreverent, in the very best way possible.
"The way Jon takes photographs for his personal work, especially those of his own children, truly shows his extraordinary talent in conveying the simple day-to-day moments in the most magical way. What inspires me is the way he preserves the authenticity of his subjects’ experiences and allows those seemingly imperfect moments to become something special and long-lasting."
- PIM YANAPRASART
NEXT
let's do some good!
5% of all proceeds will be donated to MMIW, the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women.
giving back
Pop your email in the box and I'll send you the FIND: Meaning Quickstart Guide, free! You can plan and start your next personal project TODAY.
sound good?