ARTIST OF THE MONTH - MARYLINE RIVARD
This November we would love to present you the amazing artist Maryline Rivard from Canada. Her creative and unique style makes her probably the queen of self-portraits in our LOOKSLIKEFILM community. Beside her inspiring 52-weeks self portrait challenge she shoots couples, kids and weddings as well. It's time for us to get to know her story a little better.
How old are you and where are you from?
I am 32 years old and come from a small town located in the province of Quebec in Canada. I started my career as a teacher in visual arts and drama but in the course of my studies, I learned film photography. I have been a full time professional photographer for about 1 year and a half now.
Tell us a little bit about your life in the moment?
I live in the countryside in a house surrounded by forest. I don’t like cities, I prefer nature or abandoned places. I devote myself entirely to photography. In my work, I mainly photograph families, weddings, maternities and portraits.
In my personal practice, I am currently doing the 52 week self-portrait challenge for 36 weeks. I create conceptual and surrealistic images in a timeless atmosphere based on fairy tales. I am the heroine in my story so every self-portrait represents a part of my life such as the emotions that I feel, the people I meet, the songs I listen to, etc.
How did you end up being a photographer?
I started photography as a model in 2010 which explains my tendency towards self-portraits. Being very passionate, I became an amateur photographer. Later, thanks to Facebook, I turned professional which allowed me to make myself known in my area. It takes a lot of discipline, perseverance and hard work but I am an ambitious person.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
I believe that one of the most important things in life is to realize one's dreams and always aiming high, so in 20 years I would like to travel around the world and have an international career.
What gear are you currently using?
I am currently using a Nikon D750 camera and I have three lenses: 35mm F1.8 G ED, 50mm F1.4D and 85mm F1.8 G. I have a soft spot for the vintage rendering of the D range lenses which is why I recently bought a 24 mm F2.8 D. I only work in natural light and therefore do not use any flash.
What advice could you give out to a new starting photographer?
The greatest advice I could give to a new photographer is that you should never compare your work to that of others. Each person’s journey is unique and we all have to start somewhere. Photography is a complex field and there are many things to learn; I am still learning every day! You have to be patient and persevere in your practice and especially not be afraid to take risks!
Did the LLF community changed the way you see or shoot portraits, lifestyle etc.?
When I discovered the LLF community, it changed my way of looking at photography. All these talented photographers have the same taste as me and the same way of looking at photography. I started using VSCO presets and finally got the result I wanted in my editing. For the first time in 5 years, I was satisfied with the final rendering of my photos.
When I had my first “Choo Choo”, I was filled with pride. I felt recognized by my peers and it gave me a lot of confidence and motivation! I love the LLF community; it has given me a lot assurances in my practice with all the likes and comments on my photos as with the beautiful images that I see every day that inspire me!
What plans do you have for this year/next year?
In the next year, I will exhibit a selection of my self-portraits at the end of my 52 week self-portrait challenge in April 2018. I am also working on a project to publish a book with the 52 photos. I feel sad that this project is coming to an end but am planning for a possibility of maybe doing a 365-day self-portrait challenge which remains to be seen!
SEE MORE OF HER WORK
