JOCELYN HAMEL INTERVIEW

Surrounded by photographers from a young age, 27 year old Jocelyn Hamel naturally grew curious of his Father and Grandfather’s ability to tell stories through still images. Discovering his passion for this art form as a teenager, Jocelyn began learning new photography techniques using his grandfather's old camera and discovering his personal style. Due to the camera's speciality in passport photography Jocelyn grew interested in capturing polaroid images of people, capturing them in a more laidback environment. 

Branching out from polaroid style photography, Jocelyn began practicing his craft at events and concerts as a way to express his passion for music and the arts. Through the pursuit of these projects he began gaining notoriety as doors opened for him in the fashion world. Staying true to his creative vision Jocelyn’s abilities didn’t go unnoticed, choosing to formulate a path for himself and continuing to do so with the progression of his career. 

With the release of his new photobook, we were privileged enough to talk to Jocelyn about his journey as a photographer leading him to this moment.

 Were you ever scared of being stuck in your parents' shadow at the beginning of your career? How did you grow into your own personal style and find footing in the industry outside of that?

Jocelyn:   No, I wasn't afraid of being in my parents' shadow at first because they didn't take photos in the same field as me. They specialise in product packshots, while I do more portrait or campaign photos in music and fashion! I developed my style by photographing what I was passionate about at the beginning, trying out different types of editing until I found what I really liked.

 Were there any moments/shoots during your career that made you second guess your abilities? How did you bounce back from that and learn from the experience instead of letting it beat you down?

Jocelyn:  Normally I don’t have doubts about my work, I know I'm going to enjoy it! Despite that, I do wonder whether the person who hired me will be satisfied and like what I have to offer! I used to do everything on my own, but I learned that I could hire lighting assistants and digitizers who really help me during shoots to produce the best images possible!

 As an artist every project forces you to step out of your comfort zone and challenge your abilities. How did you deal with the pressure of living up to your past works while trying something new, and how did you  get over the imposter syndrome allowing yourself to execute new ideas despite the risks?

Jocelyn: It's a never-ending struggle haha! It's always difficult not to get stuck in a format that works well! That's why I like to try out different formats in photography, with film, medium format, and Polaroid.

Otherwise, I think it's mainly the art direction of the shoot that allows you to try out new things and new ideas.

How has your creative vision developed throughout your career? Has your environment and the people around you changed how you approach photography?

Jocelyn: My creative vision is constantly evolving based on what I see and experience every day!

My loved ones influence me slightly, but I think it's really my passions outside of photography that influence my artistic vision.

What areas of the creative industry are you interested in collaborating with if you haven’t already? ie., doing photography in theatre.

Jocelyn:  I would love to take photos on a movie set! Shooting behind the scenes of a film would be really cool.

If you didn’t start photography what other areas would you see yourself working in (in or outside of the creative industry) ?

Jocelyn: I think I would have gone into art direction, or some other creative profession in any case!

 I know as a photographer the environment and the models' change the vibe of the shoot. What industry of creatives do you have the most fun photographing, and where do you get the most interesting ideas? 

Jocelyn: I prefer shooting in the fashion industry, as this is where models are most open to shooting ideas that are a little out of the ordinary and trying new poses, makeup, and styling!

How do you think your approach to photography has reflected your inner world and perception of life?

Jocelyn: My photography reflects my inner world through very subtle retouching and framing!

I am increasingly taking charge of the artistic direction, whether in the choice of styling, location, or poses, to stay true to my inspiration.

Working with celebrities must be an interesting aspect of your career. How do you go about choosing the right people for your shoots and photographing them in a way that’s reflective of both your personal style, and their personality outside of their work?

Jocelyn: At first, I would contact the celebrities I admire directly to ask if I could photograph them, but they seem to be reaching out to me a lot more now!

I enjoy photographing all types of people; I am very open-minded!

Other than that, I remain natural during shoots, try to be friendly and make sure the person I am photographing is as comfortable as possible

 Are there any exciting projects you’re looking forward to working on? 

Jocelyn: Yes!! I'm currently working on my first photo book and exhibition.I look forward to seeing the project come to fruition!

Other than that, I'd like to do a little more production work this year, as well as magazine covers. That would be incredible!

 If you could start your photography career again what advice would you give to yourself?

Jocelyn: Take your time, don't rush things! 

Everything will eventually fall into place with the effort you put in.

Interviewer- Esther Akinborewa

Copy editor- Esther Akinborewa