This one came together quickly but what editorial assignment doesn’t?
We were brought on by Trent University to photograph Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio for an editorial feature in their alumni magazine, a fitting subject given that Jennilee is both a Trent alumna and one of the more compelling voices in Canadian literature right now. Her debut novel Reuniting with Strangers— a Toronto Book Awards finalist, Canada Reads longlisted, and one of CBC Books' best fiction titles of 2023— explores the Filipino diaspora in Canada with warmth, wit, and unflinching honesty.
The shoot came together as a last minute pivot after another feature fell through. Jennilee, who comes from a communications background, took the change completely in stride; she was professional, warm, and completely unbothered by the shift in plans. We met at her home near Trinity Bellwoods, which made for an easy evening. One of the quiet pleasures of shooting in Toronto is that some of our best sessions happen within walking distance of our own home!
We worked through her condo and the building's common areas, finding light and texture in the everyday spaces around her. Jennilee was clear about what she wanted from the portraits: she wanted to look authentically herself, or as she said “hella Filipina”. Given that her book is so deeply rooted in the Filipino-Canadian experience, that intention carried through into every frame, especially with the traditionally Filipino clothing she mindfully wore.
Shooting editorial portraits for publications requires a particular kind of attentiveness as you're not just making a nice portrait, you're creating an image that has to work within a larger story. With a subject as charismatic and articulate as Jennilee, that part came naturally.
If you're a publication or institution looking for editorial portrait photography in Toronto, we'd love to connect with you :)
Subscribe to our Quarterly Newsletter
A simple way to share what we’ve been working on— new projects, older images we still love, and the kinds of stories we’re drawn to right now. Sent a few times per year. No spam, ever.