Check out Coco Jeannine’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Coco Jeannine.

Coco, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I don’t remember when I started taking pictures. It was before smartphones, before I had wireless internet and definitely, before I could operate a motor vehicle. It was maybe around the time, I had my training wheels taken off and I stole my grandma’s old Minolta and begged my mom for film on special occasions. Many photos were taken those days, like a close-up shot of my own thumb. I eventually graduated to a 3MP Kodak Easy-Share and became the bane of my entire 8th-grade-class’ existence. In high school, I took cheesy senior photos of my friends and became the designated photographer for my Drama Club productions. All of this eventually, led to an art-school education and a detour into the advertising agency world where I still remain — pursuing photography on nights and weekends.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I consider myself a portrait photographer, first and foremost. I’ve been a Canon photographer for about 10 years and I have always loved taking pictures of people.

I’m a bit of an introvert and photography has been my way of connecting with people in a real, raw way. I want my subjects to feel beautiful in front of my lens. I want them to see themselves in a way they maybe hadn’t before. I want to capture stories and memories and feelings and the way light hits cheekbones.

These days, my style mimics the rich, filmy look of my very first camera. Glowy golden light and deep greens; stark contrast and soft skin. Beautiful imperfections and hazy sunsets are the best.

I think the message of my work is for the subject to determine, more than anyone else. A look at yourself from an entirely new perspective is sometimes the best therapy.

How can artists connect with other artists?
Just reach out. Connect with someone and let them know they’ve inspired you. Work together as part of a community.

The photography community can be harsh and extremely competitive and I want to foster a more welcoming atmosphere. I’ve been lucky enough to meet some phenomenal artists in the last few years and I think the more we support each other, the better all of our work becomes.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
The best way to see my work is on Instagram, @cocojeannine. People following me there means more to me than it should and I’m truly thankful for anyone who is doing so.

I’m always looking for people who want to be photographed, especially in nature or a cool setting they want to bring me to. If you have a pretty space and don’t mind a lens in your face, that kind of inspiration is worth its weight in gold to me.

Contact Info:

• Website: cocojeannine.com
• Email: cocojeannine@gmail.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/cocojeannine
• Facebook: facebook.com/cocojphotography

Image Credit:
Kyle Meshna

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