Together, this father-and-son team has given a chair a voice; one that speaks a universal language of unity, responsibility, and individual power that is being shared with audiences around the world.
In 2022, they were named "Photojournalists of the Year" by the Canadian Ethnic Media Association.
Randy VanDerStarren
Randy has traveled the world creating commercials for global brands like Coca-Cola and Mercedes. He has worked for multinational advertising agencies in Canada and abroad including Ogilvy & Mather, Young & Rubicam, BBDO, and Scali McCabe Sloves. Every journey brought new adventures.
His career in Commercial Art and Advertising has coupled with his love of photography to create iconic images that share stories with audiences on an emotive, personal level. His work has been shown at internationally-known galleries, airports, Embassies, and even with the Toronto Symphony.
Randy is a Film graduate from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He has won numerous awards for his advertising, art, and photojournalism and is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
Spencer VanDerStarren
Having lived and worked in Tokyo, Paris, LA, Athens, Toronto, and Montréal, Spencer's global perspective on preserving our planet shines in his photographs and digital work.
Whether on a mountain top in Hong Kong or on the shores of the Mediterranean, Take Your Seat's images are informed by his love of planet and photographer's ability to capture that love. Large scale murals and digital walls, gallery prints and online content, all reflect Spencer's dedication to his craft.
Spencer earned his degree in Sustainable International Business from Whittier College in Los Angeles, California.
...and many friends!
Our global photographic stories are made possible through local engagement.
Around the world, Take Your Seat is fortunate to collaborate with local partners, community members, and friends. Their voices direct our creative and planning processes. Their embrace allows us to experience and share authentic stories.
Take Your Seat is the work of a team of hundreds of people.
In no particular order, but with equal gratitude, thank you to:
Jim, Kelly, Carré, Gavin, Punam, Amanda, Jacob, Andrew, Gillian, Jeff, Candace, Devon, Mario, Andrew, Beth, Sarah, Christoph, Joanna, Rhodri, Adeline, Louie, Janine, Tanya, Kurush, Sara, Kevin, Robin, Kelly, Hayley, Lea, Jackie, Sarah, Kirsten, Bob, Blake, Sandra, Don, Uzo, George, Joe, Kevin, Robin, Sara, Eric, Damon, Allison, Laura, Gallant, Norman, Terry, Alysha, Kalaya, Arissa, Sarah, Julie, Franca, Liann, Najma, Kirsten, Bob, Stan, Kelly, Bonnie, John, Dee Dee, Karisa, Carol, Jorge, Michael, Sidney, Ihor, Debbie, Kiu, Pauline, Madeline, Dominic, Dennis, Jennifer, Hel, Courtney, Andrea, Nick, Vikas, Carol, Claire, Jordan, Rawan, Rafiq, Zeinab, Christine, Rola, Fahad, Mohammed, Rebecca, Christina, Dan, Esra, Kerim, Selçuk, Sinem, Erdinez, Simin, Tarik, Murat, Umut, Ozel, Emre, Hikmet, Osman, Mehmet, Melike, Jamal, Marie-Thérèse, Fatima, Zafer, Ayhan, Ahmet, Serap, Aybala, Ali, Derya, Lorraine, Bruno, Pam, Natalie, Cindy, Darcy, Sarah, Jeff, Kallayana, Pam, Thanapol, Sue, Christoph, Tan, Zine, Beau, Peam, Som, Paul, Bright, Micole, Joseph, Cameron, Donna, Itthiphol, Urusaya, Kart, Derek, Krachu, Pensiri, Auradis, Greg, Lew, Kayla, Misty, Alex, Kevin, Ryan, Curtis, Tanya, Deb, Robert, Deborah, Tim, Edith, Pat, Jill, Edwina, Alyse, John, Gary, Barry, Ian, Michio, Tevfik, Iwasaki-san, Kelly, Dania, Ito-san, Gianmarco, Katie, Jerry, Edvard, Michael, Warren, Andrew, Gregory, Carl, Mina, Ineke, Jacques, Jerry, Coco, Norm, Jeff, Jonathan, Krista, Peter, Laura, Linda, Mitch, Jeff, Marc, Neil, Rick, Rosalind, Tammy, Sara, Adam, Steve, Jeff, Sophie, Steven, Sunny, Jeff, Susana, Claire, Jamie, Jeff, Yishmael, Upkar, Joseph, Hami, Stephen, Riza, Yeni, Hanife, Batuhan, Ufuk, Nazmi, Tolga, Onder, Pinar, Trang, Dung, Matt, Patricia, Ryuko, Shin, Neil, Pamela, Andrew, Judith, Anthony, Rania, Gabriella, Kelsey, Jennifer, Meghan, Nasser, Mohamed, Fatima, Youseffi, Sabr, Alaoui, Abada, Nell, Mustafa, Samir, Anushka, Mina, Andy, Jerry, Ashley, Mike, Kaley, Bill, Tamy, Mara, Shelley, Sally, Morgan, Marielle, Darcy, Renée, Kathy, Rosie, Diana, Arwen, Zaib, Scott, Andrew, Farnaz, Kartlos, Marina, Cliff, Salome, Konstantin, George, Kate, Tinatin, Khatuna, Ketevan, Marika, Teimuraz, Dariko, John, Anne, Emily, Phil, Amanda, Claire, Deanna, Heather, Annie, Yovan, Mo, Darren, Kevin, Ted, Sylvie, Jose, Frank, Ploy, Ann, Arm, Ladawan, Sitichai, Bummie, Pump, Stephanie, Lina, Somin, Min Jeong, Sungeun, Mr. Lee, Mr. So, Mr. Moon, Mr. Kang, Mr. Kim, Seong Min, Pascal, Samnang, Poch, James, Joseph, Beau, Cameron, Mei, Stamp, Marjo, Mu, Stamp, Memory, Mai, Note, KP, Pui, Augustin, Lily, Jones, Dave, Derry, Chloe, Ivania, Sonia, Emmanuel, Jose Elias and family, Maricela and family, Marco Gabriel, Breayan, Don Gerardo, Nancy, Marlene, Chief Diego, Debbie, Erin, Sue, Kayle, Irene, Louris, Federico, Fernando, Luanna, Patricia, Rita. Gabriel, Martin, Roberto, Maria Cristina. Selene. Christian, Alejandro, Teresa, Rose Mary, Izabella, Jacobo, Cesar, Michele, Andrea. Monica, Svetlana, Pattie, Christine, Annie, John, Robin, Alissa, Dan, Jerry, Josie, Paul, and you!