Jeannette Breward is a local photographer from Port Hope, Ontario. She has been doing photography as a hobby for over a decade, and five years as a side job. This is her first year doing full time photography - and she has made some major accomplishments!
Jeannette recently graduated from Ryserson university's
Bachelor's Degree of Fine Art Photography program. She has been involved in some fun projects since - such as a
52 weeks project, and
The Birthday Book Project. One of Jeannette's photos was also purchased by Ryerson, and will be installed at the school's conference room, in Toronto. The
Timeraiser has also chosen to buy her work, and it will be auctioned off in a silent auction exhibition where people will bid volunteer hours to win it. Jeannette was also chosen to be a part of the
Maximum Exposure: Crossroads exhibition at Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres in Toronto. Her work will be displayed there through June.
Jeannette has such a creative mind, and shows her wild imagination and expression through her images. She is beyond talented - and one of the most humble artists I have ever met. Read her full interview with me below, and take a look at the lovely photos I captured of her in the woods! I am no professional by any means. Jeannette posed so beautifully - even though it was a weird experience for her to be in front of the lens instead of behind it for this shoot. Also check the very bottom of the post to see some of the amazing work she has done in Wedding Photography, Fashion Photography, and Surreal Photography.
Mikayla:
What is it that you love about photography?
Jeanntte:
There are so many things that I love about photography! It is a way to express myself and my ideas and passions. I love capturing honest emotion and those brief moments in time and creating something lasting and beautiful from it that can be looked back on fondly forever. I love telling stories through images - and the fact that they are totally different for each viewer depending on their interpretation of my piece. That is what is so magical about photography - it captures people's personal stories, but it can also be used to create new and magical narratives for whoever spends some time with each piece.
Mikayla:
You have done some fashion photography before, how is it different from what you usually shoot? (Weddings, conceptual, fine art, etc)
Jeannette:
Fashion photography definitely has some different elements to it. You want to make sure you are showing off the garments, accessories, and the model to their fullest extent. But it still uses many of the same principals I use in all of my other photography – find the light, use it to your best advantage, and create an image that is unique and interesting to look at.
Mikayla:
Do you have a favorite type of photography or anything in particular you love to shoot?
Jeannette:
This is a really hard question because there are SO many things I love to photograph. I guess to keep it simple, my favourite thing to photograph is portraits. Be that fashion, weddings, surreal creations. People are almost always in my photographs (although I am getting really into food photography lately as well! Haha).
Mikayla:
What did you like about Ryerson's fine art photography program?
Jeannette:
Everything! Haha No, but really. It’s a wonderful program. I completed my first year right out of high school and then went back many years later to complete my degree and it was the best decision I could have made. The professors are all amazing teachers and photographers working in the field. They provide amazing advice to grow your own work. Being around others with the same passions as you on a regular basis is beyond inspiring. And the school provided so many opportunities to have our work exhibited around Toronto. It was such a great experience.
Mikayla:
Talk about The Birthday Book Project, and what that experience has been like for you as one of the Canadian Photographers.
Jeannette:
I feel incredibly honoured to have been chosen to be one of 12 Canadian photographers collaborating on The Birthday Book Project. The goal is to photograph one person born on every day of the calendar year over the course of 2015, and then put those portraits together into a book in 2016. The project was the brain child of the wonderful Camila Gargantini . It’s been a lot of fun so far – connecting with the subjects, learning about the memories behind their birthdays. I can’t wait to see the project come to fruition! You can check out more about it at www.thebirthdaybookproject.ca
Mikayla:
Where do you get your inspiration from for your creative photography?
Jeannette:
So many different places! Song lyrics, novels, poetry, paintings, a beautiful spot I see while out on a walk, a gorgeous piece of architecture. Basically anywhere and everywhere!
Mikayla:
What are the names of some of your favorite photographers whom you look up to?
Jeannette:
Oh there are so many. One of my favourites has always been Gregory Crewdson. His work is so cinematic and haunting. The way he creates his elaborate scenes is incredible!
Sally Mann has also been incredibly inspiring – the honesty and beauty in her portraits is unparalleled in my eyes.
In terms of photographers with a more surreal body of work, the first photographer who’s work I saw that inspired me to start creating those types of pieces was Brooke Shaden. Her work is much more dark then my own in some ways, but it so striking and beautiful and her style is very recognizable. She is one of those young photographers who has managed to use her work to travel the world teaching and giving back, which is a huge goal for me.
I could go on and on here, but I’ll leave it at those three.
Mikayla:
What are some of your goals or aspirations as a photographer? (What else would you love to do with your career ex: traveling, start a new project, etc?)
Jeannette:
I definitely want to get my career to the point where it allows me to travel the world. I would love to see new places, walk on new soil, breathe the air of a different place! If my work allowed me to go there and create new art it would be a dream come true for sure! Some of my other goals include having my work published on a book cover and an album cover. So any aspiring musicians or authors out there that would like a custom piece created for your next project, drop me a line!
What Jeannette Wore:
Kimono // Boathouse
Glasses // Amazon (with prescription)
Amethyst ring and bangles // Kensington Market
Shoes // Mad Monkey Clothing
Heart Locket // Wedding gift from husband
Jeannette's Photography Work Samples:
Photograph © Jeannette Breward
Photograph © Jeannette Breward
Photograph © Jeannette Breward
Photograph © Jeannette Breward
Photograph © Jeannette Breward
Photograph © Jeannette Breward
