

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Renaud.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My career started in a very very different direction. I had always been drawn to visual arts, namely, film, but thought that I would actually be a writer or English teacher when I grew up! I studied or an English degree at a small school in New England until I realized that the part I resonated most within films, beyond a strong narrative, was the stunning visuals, cinematography, and motifs that captivated me and held my attention.
Two and a half years into my college degree, I packed up everything and moved to Nashville, TN, where I finished my BFA in film at Belmont University. During this time, I had also picked up a basic Canon DSLR and had begun shooting models and editorials for fun on the side. Little did I know that by the time I was out of college, I would end up pursuing photography as a full-time freelance job!
I remained in Nashville for a few months to continue learning and collaborating with like-minded artists in the city, until I felt the need to make the leap into the heart of the entertainment industry in LA. I’ve been out here about six months now and have had the privilege to work with some amazing people in the process!
Please tell us about your art.
Primarily, I’m an editorial photographer – working with designers, models, and brands to craft a narrative and striking visual themes that people can resonate with. I’m most known for my on-location work, which I believe can be the most difficult and rewarding mode of photography at the same time – it’s always a fun challenge to try to frame a naturally occurring composition or man-made structure in a way that hasn’t been done before.
I would be lying if I said all my work has a deeper, hidden truth that I want you to see – although I do create intentional narratives with a lot of my concepts, there are also times when I just want to create something visually interesting or appealing because I want people to put their own concepts and meaning into it.
Visual art is so often in the eye of the beholder that even if I were to control and intentionally theme every single thing in one photography, from the ground up, people might still take a completely different meaning out of it. Which is also the beauty of putting a series out there, and letting it manifest into something you didn’t ever expect.
One consistent visual theme of mine as of late has been playing with shadows and natural diffusion (how light falls off or is softened). I’ve always believed that the most beautiful light is soft natural light, and there’s infinite possibilities of how that light and its shadow can look on a person’s face.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
The biggest challenge is easily keeping one’s artistic integrity in a social media-heavy culture that values what’s popular over what’s good. Sometimes they’re the same, but more often that not a lot of amazing photographers and creators get overshadowed by people with louder voices or a cultural trend that quickly fizzles out after it’s started.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Online is where I post the majority of work as of right now, although have plans for an exhibition/gallery of sorts later this year. Instagram, web, as well as any publications that have published series of mine in the past.
The best way to support my work, and I would say most people’s now, is to simply share it. Not if you don’t like it of course, but if you find that it really does resonate with you or you can take some enjoyment from it, then share! My profile, portfolio, or even my number. It’s the only way to spread the word.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 8603357491
- Email: jasonrenaud@me.com
- Instagram: @jasonrenaud
Image Credit:
Models featured: Elaine Chang, Chloe Henderson, Lily Loomis, Cheyenne Conrady, Yuliia Kurochka, Alex Boldea, Portia.
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.