Check Out Jennifer Toole’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Toole

Hi Jennifer, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a storyteller. Writing is my first love. As a young woman with a Creative Writing degree from Montreal’s Concordia University, I set out into the world on a mission to put my words to good use. It wasn’t long before I realized the one thing they neglected to tell us in writing school. Namely, don’t be a writer if you want to make any money. After working two jobs to exhaustion because the one full time writing gig wasn’t enough to live on, and after my second bout of pneumonia in the same winter, I dared ask the boss for a raise. That was a request that quickly got me replaced. It was time for a fresh start. I would have to pick up writing again when I was older, wiser and had a book in me.
I decided to try my hand at photography. It was writing with light after all and didn’t feel too far from my first love. They do say a picture is worth a thousand words. My first subjects were my friends. I began to submit my photographs to local competitions and began collecting awards and selling prints. I took these initial open doors as a sign from the universe that I was on the right path. My photography exploits have since taken me to L.A. to shoot celebrities for TV promos, to Julliard in New York to shoot young opera stars, to Ibiza for a fashion campaign, to Paris as a corporate vacation photographer, and more. My photographs of actress Caitlin Stasey for herself.com went viral and were published all over the world. I was inspired by the uplifting feminist movement that Herself was a part of and gave birth to The Goddess Array project. Breathing new life into the archetypes of the ancient Greek goddesses through photography and poetry, The Goddess Array is forty images strong now, has been exhibited three times and is published in a limited edition coffee table book by the same name.
In more recent years I have made a move into the world of filmmaking. Now a member of the International Cinematographer’s Union, I am enjoying bringing my two loves, writing and photography, back together. You can view my acclaimed short film ‘Blackout Rage’ and the music videos I’ve directed on jennifertoole.com. I am currently back to my desk working on the novel that will eventually become my first feature film. I love a full circle moment. I am older now, wiser and I have a book in me.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think everyone can agree that the pandemic put a real wrench in any plans to get ahead. I felt very lucky that everyone in the film industry persevered and we kept on shooting right through it all. Looking back now, it feels like a wild fever dream. We worked our usual 60-hour weeks on set in full personal protective equipment including mask and visor. We were not allowed to socialize with coworkers in other departments. We ate lunch segregated in white cardboard cubicles and it was mandatory we got our noses swabbed three times a week. I don’t think we can overstate the oddness of that time and the deep effects it had on everyone’s mental health. However you got through that time, you should feel proud you came out the other side intact.
I am a firm believer in our only real obstacle being the limits of our imagination. Dream big! And then think about how you can dream even bigger! Then, risk it all for your dream. Life is short. Why not reach for the stars? Honestly, I would get bored living life any other way.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I take a direct approach to image creation. Lots of planning goes into the preproduction of a shoot so when we do get to set everyone involved knows exactly what the end goal is and what their role is in the reaching of that goal. I am very clear in my direction of subjects as well which I feel allows them to relax and lose themselves in the moment. That being said, amongst all the structure I always leave room for improvisation. Sometimes I even break my own rules and let the subject get very tense and uncomfortable to get a different kind of expression out of them. It all depends on the shoot. Preparation is everything and from there, you play.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Email me directly at [email protected].

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.Jennifertoole.com
• Instagram: @jentoole
• Other: https://Www.dailytoole.com