We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Annie Forrest a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Annie, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you take vacations? Why or why not?

Definitely – vacation is an important part of my values as well as my creative process. This is the time I feel most free, curious and creative. Whether it’s taking time ‘off’ just to relax and have some downtime, spending time in nature or going on an adventure I think it’s critical to break the routine and top up your energy in whichever area is depleted.

One of the reasons I’ve chosen to work for myself is to have the ability to control and manage my own time. Yes there is risk involved in taking time off, but to me the payoff outweighs the potential lost revenue or disruption. If you’re anxious about unplugging or being inaccessible setup the necessary automations to manage communication and expectations with clients. Definitely bring backups of files for recent projects in case someone contacts you for changes or further work.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I first fell in love with photography in high school where I would hideout in the darkroom making prints and developing 35mm photographs of friends. The camera offered me a way in to explore new social environments. While I pursued a career in cultural events – music in particular – I maintained a photography practice. My style developed with a raw documentary edge. Always trying to capture ephemeral moments of joy, I gravitated towards bold colors, motion and contrast.

After working in-house doing social media for a fashion label, I felt encouraged to pursue photography professionally. I moved to New York and embedded myself at the International Center of Photography where I was introduced to an incredible community of photographers.

Fortunate to know some wildly talented people I did projects with musicians like Orville Peck and Arca which appeared on the We Transfer home page, as well as publications like Vogue, Vice, Paper and more. Music is my first love, so shooting musicians both on and off stage is a dream. Having the opportunity to see performances multiple times in a row whether on tour, or at a multi-night residency is a real privilege. Learning the nuance of each performance and getting the opportunity to experiment and play – guessing the artists next move is electrifying.

Expanding outside music and performance is my current pursuit. Underground happenings and communities pique my curiosity. Last year I went hunting for tornadoes and storm chasers along Tornado Alley and in 2021 I spent several days sleeping in a camper van and ripping around on logging roads with a group of activists protecting old growth forests in BC for Vogue. I love that my camera leads me to unexpected places – and people.

Whether it’s a portrait, a commercial shoot, an event or a performance – my goal is to make images that are full of energy and life.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Being able to communicate with people on a dimension that is beyond words. Art has an amazing ability to connect humans and expand the possibilities of understanding without language or words. It’s subject to interpretation, nuance, and we all bring our unique background and histories to it, which is really beautiful.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I have pivoted many times. From event producer, to social media manager, to photographer to artist and back down the line.

I remember early in my career a boomer told me, “It was better to be an expert than a jack of all trades. Expert was the way. Stop pivoting and commit.” I didn’t listen and now I’m a “Swiss Army Knife” as one colleague refers to me. And, honestly, it’s the best. I like to be independent and self sufficient. Having made so many pivots, and had experience in wide ranging fields and roles has made me a better photographer and artist. I am organized chaos – mostly organized though. I have the skills to move forward with a overhead view on what it will take to complete it. It’s nice to live in the clouds, dreaming and being creative – but I feel fortunate I developed these other skills along the way that allow me to be a high functioning head in the clouds type.

It feels good to know that all the turns, and pivots along the way were not for nothing. That it was all building a toolbox that would serve my greater creative purposes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.annieforrest.world
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annieforrest.world/

Image Credits

All images by Annie Forrest