FRESH FACES - THE FUTURE OF CANADIAN PORTRAITURE

We asked five recent photo school students from across Canada for their reflections on becoming the next generation of Canadian portrait photographers.

Editing and crafting an image around a face is one of my favourite parts of photography. I think of portraits as incredible canvases for artistic experimentation through lighting, colour, and digital manipulation. For me, portraits are the ultimate way of conveying emotion. I spend hours on each image, sorting RAW files and meticulously working to create something I feel really proud of.

I have learned to get out of my comfort zone more often and not be scared of trying new things or things that I’m convinced I’m not good enough to do yet. The pressure you put on yourself to make sure you fulfill clients’ needs can be daunting. Will they be satisfied with what I have to offer and with the vision I have? Does it usually work out? Yes. This is what I am now focused on. I am more capable than I think. I still mess things up sometimes, and still get stressed out before a shoot, but it gets easier every time. I like to think that I become a better photographer and also a better version of myself every time I photograph someone new.

The hardest part has been getting my name out and gaining clients. It can be a slow process but, seeing my own evolution, I think I can say now that if you put enough effort into making connections and putting out good work, it will happen. One of the most rewarding things has been growing from a newbie who would do shoots for free to gain experience, to a professional from whom people seek quality. Early stages can be tough on morale. As you don’t always feel validated by other professionals, it is easy to doubt yourself. Once you understand that what you have to offer is just as legitimate as anyone else’s ideas or creations, you start cultivating what makes your work unique and how it somehow reflects a bit of who you are. It is not always easy, but I often force myself to have confidence and be proud of what I create.

I left Charlottetown soon after high school on a six-year adventure: travelling, volunteering, and working around the world. Coming home, I realized that there was so much to explore and so many interesting people to meet right here. As I grow my career, I am definitely looking forward to building more connections and collaborating with the talented artists and professionals here in PEI.

Portrait work allows me to meet different people and connect with them in a unique way. It’s not just about taking my subject’s portrait but making an image that encapsulates who the person is.

I have used photography to explore different parts of who I am. In my most recent work, category:HUMAN, I explore trans-masculinity. Being a part of the LGBTQ+ community has been a big part of my life, to some degree because of my own struggles with and questions about gender. My project was as much about me as it was my subjects: a collaboration that celebrates humanness.

The COVID-19 outbreak halted many aspects of my graduation and gallery showcase. Getting started is proving much more difficult than I expected. School doesn’t teach you what to do when a pandemic strikes. Undoubtedly, perseverance and my “can-do” attitude will help to push me forward.

I am looking forward to more learning: not just about how to establish a successful career or about how to take better photographs, but about who I am along the way.

For me, portraiture can be so many different things. I love using photography to express an emotion without the use of words. I draw a lot of inspiration from cinema and enjoy the ties between photography stills and motion.

I’ve learned communication is just as, if not more important than, your technical skills when photographing people. Trying to illustrate your ideas with another person can be difficult, but being able to articulate your vision with others is extremely valuable.

When I started in photography, my focus was landscapes, rather than people. It was challenging at first working with others; it adds a level of complexity. But, pushing myself out of my comfort zone and sharing the results has been very rewarding.

I’m looking forward to working with more people on bigger productions. I think collaboration is so important, and working with people talented in different genres is really exciting for me.

The perfect portrait in my opinion is one that shows the true essence of the person you are photographing. Building a connection with the person I’m photographing is by far the most important and interesting part of the process for me. When someone trusts you and drops their guard, the best images get made.

The biggest thing that I have learned about myself in this journey is a willingness to learn mixed with humility… and a smile will take you far in life. We are all the same no matter how different our life experiences may be. At the end of the day, we’re all human. I have met some of the most amazing people through photography and I have learned so much from them.

The hardest thing for me when starting was imposter syndrome. The feeling of not being good enough. Instead of celebrating my victories, I would focus on others’ accomplishments. It is so scary putting everything you have into a project and putting it out for the world to judge. The most rewarding thing so far has been the confidence that I have built, as well as the relationships I now have with many incredible people.

The biggest thing I am looking forward to in my career is shooting for international big brands and realizing my goal to shoot a Vogue magazine cover. The most important things for me are never losing my joy in learning or my willingness to learn.

Every detail of a portrait tells its own story, from the eyes of the subject, to the way a subject interacts with their environment. I’m driven by the impact of human faces to convey greater narratives. I seek stories that often go unseen and unheard: the stories that make up the fabric of our everyday lives.

Portraiture has taught me to see the humanity in others. It has also taught me that I cannot expect my subjects to be genuine and candid with me if I don’t reveal my own vulnerabilities.

In the beginning, I found it challenging to strike a balance between capturing a subject in an aesthetic way and communicating an honest story through their portrait. Over time, I have learned how to create imagery that an audience can connect to while remaining true to my subjects’ stories. I have found it incredibly rewarding to create images that tell stories which might not have otherwise been told.

Many photographers struggle with the choice of whether to pursue what they are passionate about photographing or the projects that will give them the most financial stability. As my career progresses, I hope to continue working with organizations whose causes I care deeply about while still earning an income. My hope is that my work will take me all over the world and allow me to experience cultures different from my own.