We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zach Benard. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zach below.
Zach, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
I first picked up a camera in high school. Initially, I was attracted to filmmaking and I made short films and music videos with my friends. In college, I fell in love with photography and, from then on, it became my main creative endeavor. I was self-taught in my first couple years, but I learned a lot more in college. That set my foundation, and then I consumed a lot of art over the years and did a lot of self-analysis and reflection to get where I am today. Knowing what I know now, I could have experimented more: try new techniques, photograph new subjects, and push myself more out of my comfort zone. When it comes to essential skills, there’s the technical side of things with knowing how to harness light and composition, but another crucial skill is the art of noticing: noticing a moment or a subject that you can’t help but capture. A few obstacles that come to mind are financial (gear can get expensive!), the self-confidence to explore the why behind my art, and, probably the biggest obstacle of all: time.
Zach, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m Zach Benard, I live in Massachusetts with my wife, two daughters, and dog. In college, I studied visual media production, and I currently work in marketing for a pet nutrition company, where I get to flex my creative muscles, too. I’m fortunate to have had opportunities for my commercial pet photography to appear in tradeshows and retail stores. As for my beginnings, I first got into the visual arts with a desire to make films. In my last year of college, my love for photography really blossomed. Over the past few years, my photography style has shifted mainly into urban landscapes around New England. I’ve grown to really appreciate and notice both the peculiar and the mundane of my region, and being in an area that has been largely unphotographed inspires me even more. When it comes to my personal photography, I’m proud of creating a cohesive collection of work in the form of a zine, ‘Illegible & Lovable,’ which I published in late 2024. This collection contains photos of signage that have weathered storms, are no longer serving a purpose, or have seen better days in general. It’s propelled me into creating more printed collections of work, which I have slated to release in 2025, and has helped me connect with other photographers to collaborate on our art together.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I can’t help but name a couple. Being able to create art that evokes an emotional response from people is very rewarding. If I think about why I consume art, I want to feel something and be moved. So, being able to create *that* kind of art for someone makes the creative journey even more meaningful. The community aspect is a big one, too. I’ve met some awesome people in my life all because of art. Whether it’s photography, filmmaking, music, or other art forms, connecting with people over art is an amazing part of the human experience. And, when escapism feels necessary, the arts have been there for me.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I mentioned earlier that the area of where I live in Massachusetts is largely unphotographed. It’s not a destination like Boston, and I believe there’s a lot of potential here for my art to prosper. It’s my goal to put these places more on the map. The curiously peculiar and the beautifully mundane exist in this area, and I’m working to capture those themes. It’s also my goal to create new connections with other artists and find ways to create bodies of work together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.zachbenard.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zacharybenard/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-benard-a05080106/
- Other: My online store: https://zachbenard.bigcartel.com/
Image Credits
N/A (I took all of these photos).