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Alright… let’s get something straight.
I did not wake up one morning and decide,
“Hey Bob, today you become an influencer.”
No.
I just kept walking the streets of Toronto…
kept hopping on the GO train…
kept wandering around Ontario like a slightly confused tourist with a camera…
and next thing you know—boom—apparently I’m an “internet influencer.”
The Influencer Gear (Prepare to Be Disappointed)
Now here’s the part where all the YouTube experts faint:
I’m doing all this with old Sony cameras.
- Sony a6000 (my “high-end” machine… from like 10 years ago)
- Sony a5000 (still kicking after freezing winters)
- Sony NEX-3 (basically a museum piece at this point)
No $5000 full-frame.
No lens that costs more than my rent.
No cinematic slow-motion coffee pouring shots.
Just me… a kit lens… and a stubborn refusal to upgrade.
The Secret Influencer Strategy (Don’t Tell Anyone)
Here’s the big influencer secret…
I go outside.
That’s it.
While everyone is inside watching “Top 10 Street Photography Tips” videos,
Bob is out there actually taking photos of:
- People rushing through Union Station
- Weird reflections in puddles
- Construction workers building half the city
- Festivals, protests, random Tuesday afternoons
- That one guy who always looks like he’s late for something
And then I take those photos…
throw them into a blog post…
add a bit of storytelling…
maybe a joke or two…
And suddenly—people are reading it.
Ontario Is Basically My Content Studio
You don’t need a studio when you’ve got Ontario.
One day I’m:
- Walking through downtown Toronto pretending I’m press
- Next day I’m out camping somewhere with more trees than people
- Then I’m back shooting streetcars, crowds, and whatever chaos the city throws at me
Everywhere is content.
Everywhere is a story.
You just have to show up.
Bob vs The World Travelers 🌎
Now here’s where it gets funny…
You’ve got influencers flying across the world,
posting photos from beaches, mountains, and fancy hotels…
Meanwhile…
Bob has probably traveled more of Ontario
than most influencers have traveled the world.
Yeah, I said it.
From small towns to provincial parks,
from quiet lakes to busy city streets—
I’ve covered this province like it’s my full-time job.
And it doesn’t stop there…
I’ve gone coast to coast across Canada with these same old cameras.
Same gear.
Same approach.
Same Bob.
No upgrades required.
The Truth About “Influencing”
Here’s the honest truth…
I’m not influencing people because I have fancy gear.
I’m influencing people because:
- I actually go out and shoot
- I tell real stories
- I use gear people already own
- And I prove you don’t need the latest camera to make something interesting
If anything…
I’m influencing people to stop buying gear.
Which is probably why no camera companies have called me yet
The Bob Method (Highly Advanced Technique)
For those looking to become influencers, here is my proven system:
- Grab old camera
- Walk outside
- Take photos
- Travel across Ontario… a lot
- Accidentally go coast to coast in Canada
- Repeat for 10+ years
- Accidentally become influencer
Final Thoughts from a Reluctant Influencer
Somewhere along the way,
my little street photography habit turned into:
- A blog
- Thousands of photos
- Millions of views
- And apparently… a “brand”
All powered by old Sony cameras, a lot of walking,
and more kilometres across Ontario than most people rack up in airline points.
So yeah…
If you see a guy in Toronto with an older camera,
taking photos like he’s documenting history…
That’s not just Bob.
That’s an influencer in action.
(Still waiting for my free coffee sponsorship though)
