Through the lens: The visual essence of Espace M Yoga

In the summer of 2023, I had the opportunity to work closely with Estelle Gagné, founder of Espace M Yoga, to create the visual identity of her dynamic business. And what a wonderful experience it was! Following the recent launch of the platform’s version 2.0, I invite you to dive into the world of Espace M Yoga, discover how I contributed to shaping its image, and explore this exceptional platform dedicated to well-being and yoga.

By May photographie at Espace M yoga

Espace M Yoga: What Is It?

By May photographie at Espace M yoga

Espace M Yoga, founded by Estelle Gagné in 2020, is, simply put, an online yoga platform. But in reality, it’s so much more! It’s a space designed to meet everyone’s needs, offering unlimited access to yoga classes tailored to your schedule, your energy, and your personal goals. It’s also a collection of programs that focus not only on physical health but also on mental well-being. And it’s a community of passionate, inspiring teachers—several of whom I had the chance to meet in person during our photo shoot!

The idea behind Espace M Yoga is to recreate the yoga studio experience at home—offering fewer commutes, more affordability, and the flexibility to practice anywhere, anytime.

The beginning of a beautiful collaboration

I first met Estelle during the ExPAONsion yoga retreat, which I had the chance to document a few months earlier—a retreat she had organized and guided in collaboration with Ariane Vermeersch. From that moment, she struck me as someone with a big heart, deeply passionate about people’s well-being. And throughout our collaboration, this impression only proved to be true.

So it was a real joy when she reached out to me to create images that would embody her vision and her business. Through our conversations, I could see her passion and dedication to making yoga accessible to everyone. For Estelle, yoga is so much more than just a physical practice—it’s a way to reconnect with oneself, to restore balance between body, soul, and spirit. With Espace M Yoga, she aspires to offer others the very resource she wishes she had herself in recent years.

By May photographie at Espace M yoga

The creative process behind Espace M Yoga’s images

During my first conversation with Estelle about this project, I was immediately inspired by her vision. We spoke at length about the visual identity she wanted to create for Espace M Yoga. It was so much more than just a photo shoot. Together, we worked on defining an aesthetic that would reflect the philosophy of Espace M Yoga, highlighting connection, simplicity, and accessibility.

Following our discussions, I created mood boards for her, explored potential shoot locations based on her criteria, and together we ultimately chose the beautiful studio Caravelle in Montreal as the backdrop for our photos. The studio perfectly embodied the atmosphere we wanted to convey: peaceful, minimalist, and ideal for the practice of yoga. I then put together a detailed shot list and schedule to make the most of our time in the studio. It was very important to create images that reflected the idea of a yoga studio experience at home, as well as portraits of Estelle and the other teachers—both for the website and for social media.

Estelle’s Testimonial

Estelle herself was delighted with this collaboration and shared her thoughts with me about our experience. She said:

“I worked with Mayou for my business, as well as for family photos. I was fascinated by her dedication to my visual identity and by her professionalism. She is very attentive, creative, and open to new ideas. With masterful skill, she brought the ideas in my head to life through photography. She is the photographer in demand right now. My dear, this is certainly the beginning of a long collaboration. Xx Thank you.”

Estelle Gagné: Beyond Espace M Yoga

In addition to being a yoga teacher and the founder of Espace M Yoga, Estelle is also a holistic health management therapist and naturopath. Her goal? To help busy women find balance in their health through personalized therapeutic guidance! She also reached out to me to create the imagery for her personal business, an experience I’ll be sharing in an upcoming blog post. In the meantime, here’s a little sneak peek at a few of the images:

Bringing businesses’ visions to life through photography

Working alongside Estelle to create an authentic visual identity was a unique opportunity to highlight the values of this remarkable business. Espace M Yoga offers so much more than online yoga classes—it’s a true invitation to self-discovery, to finding balance, and to embracing well-being! I wholeheartedly encourage you to visit their website, explore their diverse programs, and take advantage of their special launch offer: a free 30-day trial.

For me, it is a privilege to work with local entrepreneurs and businesses, to bring their vision to life, and to capture those unique, precious moments that reflect the very essence of what they do. I find deep fulfillment in creating images that tell a story, that convey emotions, and that shine a light on the talent and dedication of the people behind each business. My work allows me to celebrate the beauty of reality, highlight the positive values that drive these organizations, and contribute to their success. That’s why I so deeply enjoyed working with Estelle—and with all the wonderful people who contributed to this beautiful project!

Estelle Gagné: Holistic Health Management Therapist & Naturopath

Espace M Yoga: Online Yoga Platform MAY Photographie: Visual Identity Creation through Photography AV Consultation (Ariane Vermeersch): Marketing Manager and Website for Espace M Yoga Shop YOD: Yoga Clothing & Accessories I’ll leave you with more beautiful images from our session!