We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Renee Newman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Renee below.
Hi Renee, thanks for joining us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I think every working creative has had thoughts float through their mind at one point or another throughout life on the premises of if I didn’t do this what would I be doing? While I definitely have wondered a couple times before what a different lifestyle could bring me, at this point I feel confident and unwavering in my decision to push on in this career path. I wake up every morning and choose this life again and again without a regret or doubt, because I don’t really want to be doing something else. The fulfillment this work and lifestyle bring me is incomparable and not worth the stability and normalcy the 9-5 life alleges to provide. I am very happy as a working artist, the art and documentation of human connection is electric, suffocating, all consuming to me, and it’s a massive privilege to hold and share these talents with the world.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
As far as I was concerned, I was always an artist and took art very seriously, exploring all different sorts of mediums all my life. I had promised myself from a very young age that I would not spend my life sitting at a desk working for someone else.
When I was 14 I attended my first rock show and I started dreaming up this life immediately right then and there. As an early teen right at the launch of Instagram, I was drowning in inspiration and infatuated at the thought of being a part of something bigger than myself. Music was always one of my biggest inspirations and motivating factors. Documenting live music was constantly on the forefront of my brain even before I was able to breakthrough in those spaces.
Right after graduating high school I attended a fast paced photography program/trade school of sorts, all while hustling behind the scenes working full time hours in retail and building a portfolio in the live music scene that I had access to locally and around Boston. It was in those years where I opened my mind and skills to other types of documentation and photography. I have been working on developing my identity as an artist and finding my voice through my work and ever experimenting style ever since.
Documentarian feels like my preferred title these days as I’m definitely dabbling in videography now, and I’ve still yet to settle into a sector of photography (although I don’t really think I have to). I’m incredibly proud of my ability to read and feel energy and translate that into one still image. I do believe “the eye” is something you’re born with and tap into. I feel as though my ability to showcase the pure, real and often caring place I perceive my subjects and compositions from so plainly and loudly is what sets my work and process apart from others and also brings a sense of ease to my subjects who might typically struggle with being perceived.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
When I started exploring more of the fashion world and my fine art voice in photography it became clear quite quickly what I wanted to say with my work. My main and biggest goal with photography is to push the boundaries in terms of beauty in media. No matter which avenue of photography I am creating through I’m here to help shine the spotlighton and help glamorize women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, plus size bodies, skin with acne, differently abled bodies. Art is hiding everywhere in every human, place, city, flaw, it is simply my job, my compulsion to highlight it.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I would definitely have to say this unique form of human connection I’ve been gifted with sharing. The act of holding space together to experiment and create together, to exist in the energy and flow of a group/ activity and allow my instincts to flow through my fingers and eyes to create a priceless, timeless moment captured. it’s an incomparable and often indescribable experience.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.reneenewmanphoto.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rnphoto._?igsh=YXhiaXF5czUwM2Zq
- Other: https://www.reneenewmanphoto.com/
