Friday Follow #FF with JJ Thompson

Name: JJ Thompson

Occupation: Photographer and founder of The Compendium Daily.

Who is your role model/mentor:

Laura Serra for keeping me on my A game and teaching me the exact standards of editorial content, Shinan Govani for helping me navigate Toronto's perilous social waters and George Pimintel for making event photography something worth aspiring to.

What do you like most about your job:

The flexibility and variety and it’s never boring. I'm doing totally different things every single day in different parts of the city and best of all, I get to choose when I work.

Daily ritual:

I’m religious about my morning smoothies. Spending half my life at events, my eating is pretty irregular, the mornings smoothies at least guarantee me one wholesome meal a day. Morning is all business: working on the site, emailing, phone calls, etc.

The afternoon is where it gets military: checking all my equipment, selecting my evening wear, polishing shoes, a power nap if I can get one in and then out the door by 5 pm.

The best event I’ve been to and am most excited to go to again:

A great event is full of great people and great food. I’ll tell you, with unashamed bias, that Paws For The Cause totally rocked. Out of what I’ve attended recently, I really enjoyed Casey House’s ‘Art With Heart’ and the ‘Stems Of Hope’ gala.

Is there an event you didn’t get to go to but wish you had:

Probably Food Network’s 10th Anniversary last week. I had another event that night.... I love my food, but it’s just not possible to be everywhere all the time.

Most creative invitation you’ve received:

I received chopsticks and candy sushi in a cute little box for the anniversary of a Toronto sushi spot AME. I've received a lot of really cool invites, but the ones that stick in the memory usually have some fun element to them... even better if they have candy attached.

Favourite celebrity encounter:

I’ve had a few since I’ve lived in LA for a couple of years. Tarantino once sat next to me at bar when I was having lunch. I’ve hung out with friends of friends, who ended up being on hits like Mad Men. It’s pretty weird talking to stars of your favorite sci-fi over cheese and crackers at a house warming.

Favourite hangout:

I’ve got a few. My top would be Marben, Niagara Street Cafe, Union. For a drink, I like hotel bars like Thompson, they don’t have to be crazy. I just like the setting... I’m a people watcher.

Favourite outfit to wear to an event:

Not one in particular, but I’m partial for formal wear. I love an excuse to wear all the trimmings, cufflinks, tie clips etc.

Favourite social network:

Twitter. I was pretty reluctant to get involved at first... but I’ve taken to it recently.

Last website you visited:

Ain’t It Cool.

Favourite Blog:

It’s a tossup between NOTCOT and Eater . I couldn’t live without either.

If there was more time in the day you would:

Take up a hobby... one that I wouldn’t end up monetizing. I’d love to finish learning the piano and construct more than basic requests in a foreign language.

Any other comments you’d like to add:

I’ve never been to Vancouver, isn’t that terrible?

Thanks JJ & hopefully you will consider visiting our beautiful city soon. For live updates on fashion, entertainment and fabulous parties, you can follow JJ on twitter.