Canon Academy trainers teach photography every day, through tutorials, courses, and feedback on someone's first shoot. World Photography Day gave us a reason to ask them a simpler question: what does photography actually mean to you?

Below is what they said, alongside the gear they reach for and the kind of photography they call their own.

"I love photography because when I'm in the studio and shooting with people it feels like a dance, so I love that."

Go-to gear: Canon RF 50mm - "I like the intimate sort of connection between the camera and the subject."

"Photography is my savior. I got to experience it firsthand through the Miraisha program, at the most important phase of my life."

Go-to gear: Canon RF 24-70MM - "It gives me the capability to work within a different range, and I love the texture I get from the light."

"Photography for me is the way to connect people with my story and understand their realities."

Go-to gear: Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM - "one of the lenses that can do anything for me."

"Photography for me is more than just taking pictures, it's how I tell the stories. It taught me patience and helped me connect with people."

Go-to gear: Canon RF 600mm F11 IS STM— "allows me to photograph intimate moments at a safe distance without disturbing the animals."

"Photography to me is a way to immortalize a moment."

Go-to gear: Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM  - "incredibly sharp, very robust, and the best for me."

"Photography is a form of expression. It's the way I see the world, the way I translate the world around me, and the way I relate to people, the environment, and everything around me."

Go-to gear: Canon RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM — "the wider aperture helps my subject pop, creating a perfect separation between subject and background."

"Photography is my creative outlet. It's how I problem-solve for other creators and brands, but really it's about how people feel when they see themselves in all their work."

Go-to gear: Canon EOS C50 &  Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM - "Having a Cinem Camera this strong for stills is exactly what i needed."

"Photography to me is a way of life, turning emotions and moments into memories that can be felt longer. That is priceless."

Go-to gear: Canon EOS R6 Mark II paired with the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM - "amazing reach for my everyday photography."

"Photography is how I help people see more deeply and connect with people, wildlife, and places."

Go-to gear: Canon RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM - "it lets me move within the wider story, then into the intimate details within it."

"Photography means to me a way to present our stories to the next generation, and to show the beauty of my country, and of Africa."

Go-to gear: Canon EOS R5 Mark II

"Photography is like oxygen to me. It allows me to breathe, create, and make beautiful images."

Go-to gear: Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM - "it allows me to focus solely on the subject, gives a shallow depth of field, and brings the subject closer."