Ashleigh Kaliszuk, the owner/operator of Construct YEG is one of the few construction photographers in Canada.
“I founded Construct YEG a year-and-a-half ago, although my first commercial shoot was in 2020,” says Kaliszuk. “I work mostly in Edmonton and area but have worked, and will work, anywhere.”
Kaliszuk has been toiling in the western Canadian heavy lifting industry since 2008.
In addition to being a photographer, she is a Red Seal and Blue Seal licensed mobile crane operator and an instructor at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, where she trains crane and hoist operators.
Kaliszuk is a self-taught photographer.
“I learned to take photos while I was a crane operator, during downtime on construction sites,” she says.
A good construction photograph focuses on the people behind the company’s projects and is authentic to the company and its branding, says Kaliszuk.
“Whether it’s the progression of a project or the addition of a new crane to the fleet, photography resonates and makes a construction company’s brand more relatable,” she says. “Authentic images capture attention, whether from potential clients or future employees. They’re far better than stock photos. Authenticity is the biggest part of the story.”
Kaliszuk says construction photography requires different skills than regular commercial photography.
“First of all, you need to know your way around a construction site,” she says. “On top of that, a construction photographer has to have a solid knowledge and understanding of the principles of construction site safety.”
One of Construct YEG’s clients is North West Crane Enterprises Ltd., which specializes in truck-mounted and self-propelled cranes and operates across Western Canada.
Steve Chorney, president and CEO of the Leduc, Alta.-based company, says Kaliszuk shot the company’s new rough terrain cranes and crawler cranes.
“The photos show that North West is professional and knowledgeable and that we have high-quality products,” says Chorney. “The photos are the proof our professionalism. They say things that words by themselves cannot express.”
North West uses the photos on social media, advertising, LinkedIn and in a trade publication.
Tadano America Corporation, which sells lifting and access equipment, hired Construct YEG to take photos of its all-terrain cranes.
“The photos help to promote our cranes, exhibiting and highlighting Tadano products as the right choice for customers,” says Michele Olsen, marketing manager in the Houston office of Tadano’s Pan-American region.
“We have used Ashleigh’s photos for press releases and social media posts,” says Olsen. “One of my favourite things about Ashleigh’s photos is that she understands the best features of a crane and makes sure to capture the best angles that enhance those features.”
Olsen says Kaliszuk is “a true professional in every sense of the word.
“Her communication style is clear and the results strengthen our brand, providing enhanced visuals to the featured Tadano products,” she says.
Kaliszuk has also done photography work for Edmonton-based Mammoet Canada Western Ltd., which provides heavy lifting and transportation services for clients in oil and gas, construction, power and civil engineering.
Branch manager Tanya Gairdner says Kaliszuk has taken photos and videos of the company’s equipment and personnel in action at various jobsites and branch facilities.
Gairdner says Kaliszuk’s field construction experience enhances her ability to photograph Mammoet’s equipment and operators “and the strong safety culture that Mammoet upholds.
“What draws me to Ashleigh’s photography is how she captures our field staff in action alongside the equipment,” says Gairdner. “Our success is driven by the hard work of our team, and her photos help put a face to that effort.”
Mammoet uses Kaliszuk’s photos on social media, submissions for articles to crane industry publications, internal and external promotional materials and cover pages for proposals and quotes.
“Photos help to highlight the scale, complexity and precision of Mammoet’s operations,” says Gairdner. “They capture our intensity and safety measures and the dedication and teamwork that contribute to our success.”
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