10 up-and-coming fashion photographers in Toronto
A whole slew of Toronto fashion photographers have made it to the international big leagues - Tommy Ton, Chris Nicholls and Benjamin Kanarek spring to mind - but the city's talent doesn't stop there. We're pumping out so many whizzes with cameras and great eyes that it won't be long before the next local name hits the glossies. These new (and semi-new) photographers are just blossoming in our backyards. Although their strong suits range from street style to editorial, they've got one thing in common: they'll be making waves in the scene before you know it.
Here are 10 up-and-coming Toronto fashion photographers you need to know.
Lawrence Cortez
A (very) recent Ryerson University School of Fashion graduate, Lawrence Cortez is well on his way to a career in fashion photography. A spur-of-the-moment trip to New York landed him a few gigs with established models; David Chiang and Adam Kaszewski among others have played muses in Lawrence's expressive and almost painterly images. Though he has plans to return to The Big Apple post-convocation, Toronto will always be his stomping ground.
Dane Hao
Dane Hao - formerly known as Danny Nguyen - is an old pro at portraits despite his young age. His crisp, clean aesthetic captures both new faces and big names in the model-sphere - unconventional topliners Shaun Ross and Winnie Harlow are already on his roster. Dane has also been featured on hip-and-with-it menswear publications like Complex, Fucking Young! and Esquire UK.
Marko Mijailovic
Twenty-four-year-old Marko Mijailovic switches between film and digital, but his work always has a raw edge. With an impressive portfolio covering all facets of fashion photography - portraits, beauty and editorial spreads - the sky is the limit. The Fashionisto, Oyster and Factice have already benefitted from his impeccable eye.
Jane & Jane
Twins Brittany and Brianne Daigle share the same middle name, Jane, amongst a whole whack of other things. It may seem like separate creative visions would muddle the quality of their work, but it's actually quite the opposite - the two feed off each other's ideas to come up with something twice as exciting. Though they've been at it for years, they only recently exploded due to their signature, dreamlike aesthetic. The models always seem detached from reality; the muted tones of each photograph make them even more ethereal.
Mike Lewis
Mike Lewis originally studied film at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver before discovering his true calling: fashion photography. He merged his skills to become a wonder at fashion cinemagraphs (moving pictures - gifs, if you will) and editorials alike. Publications like Vogue Italia, Fashion and Zinc Magazine - as well as companies including MAC Cosmetics, Hudson's Bay, and Sears - know it firsthand.
Katie Sadie
Katie Sadie is angst, rawness, and surrealism rolled into one fashion photographer. Since graduating at Sheridan College, she's worked for Dorothy Hong, Fashion Magazine, and Elite Model Management, assisting and shooting work of her own. She's now an in-house photographer at Think Contra - look out for her funky creatives; pretty soon they'll be everywhere.
Carlo Calope
"Calope will make you fall in love" is Carlo's tagline, and it's nothing short of the truth. A portrait virtuoso, his style is dark, eerie, and intimate - for the most part, his photographs are shot in natural lighting with very little editing in post. His more expressive work features blurred figures reminiscent of Edward Steichen, and he's shot with in-demand models like Frances Coombe and Sophie Touchet.
Tiffany S.
Tiffany S. has a penchant for creative shoots - whether they're fashion, beauty, or portraits, there's always a story to go along with every photo. Her aesthetic is glamorous and ethereal, like Richard Avedon in colour. She got her start assisting other photographers in the city and quickly moved onto shooting new faces on her own.
Ted Belton
Ted Belton's rather dramatic portraits are almost exclusively in black and white - a classic approach that's actually quite difficult to master. His eye for moody lighting and shadow play have most recently landed him gigs with fashion brands like Lucian Matis and Elan + Castor.
Alex Evans
A Montreal native now based in Toronto, Alex Evans started portrait photography at a young age - his artful selfies gained him internet fame via Myspace and, eventually, an undeniable knack for capturing the natural beauty of male and female models alike. His work has been featured in a whole whack of print publications, such as Flare, Chloe, and Ion.
Image by Marko Mijailovic.
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