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When it comes to capturing the true essence of a person, few photographers do it as beautifully as Jonny Edward. His portrait work is more than just technically perfect — it’s filled with heart, personality, and authenticity. Jonny has a remarkable ability to put his subjects at ease, allowing their natural confidence and individuality to shine through the lens. Every image feels honest, timeless, and deeply human. We’re excited to spotlight Jonny’s inspiring portrait work and share a glimpse into his creative process.
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Jonny Edward, although many visual artists know me as @jonnycreative. I’m a visual artist primarily focused on photography, art director, and creative educator based in Denver, Colorado, but I work, create, and educate globally. I have a spectacular studio here in Denver, and I work predominantly in studio environments, although I love outdoor and location work.
I picked up a camera for the first time in my adult life somewhere around a decade ago and have been a professional to some degree for about seven years or so. In truth, I believe that being a photographer and supporting fellow photographic artists is why I am here on this earth. For me, the medium has given me peace, a place, and purpose, and I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I can imagine delving a lot deeper into cinematography, but that’s a conversation for another day!
Academically, I studied Biochemistry and Engineering for my undergraduate degree, and I consistently performed well in school, which I attribute to my keen, photographic-like memory more than anything else. I feel like I’ve lived a thousand lives on the professional front, having worked as a tree trimmer, roofer, EMT, digital marketing specialist, brand consultant, personal trainer, strength coach, massage therapist, venue security guard, cook, promoter, bartender, salesperson, investigator, and so much more. My life has been a chaotic, beautiful, tragic, and triumphant pursuit of meaning and significance.
In addition to photography and people, my great loves include art in all its forms, as well as travel, nature, adventure, and philosophy. It’s far too easy for me to focus on the latter too much and spiral into an existential vacuum!
Beyond all of this, I am fascinated and transfixed by the human experience and by each individual’s unique journey. That fascination and passion are the root of all that I do from behind the camera as I strive to see, hear, embrace, uplift, and celebrate whoever is in front of my lens.
How did you get into photography?
Oof. That’s a complicated and layered question, to say the least. For me, photography wasn’t so much a discovery as it was a rediscovery and reconnection to myself, my true self.
When I was a young boy, my family moved frequently for various reasons, including legal, financial, and personal reasons. The consequence of that nomadic lifestyle was that I was always leaving things behind and had very little security and stability. At some point, I was gifted a Polaroid camera. That camera became an archival lifeline, allowing me to capture and hold onto the people, animals, places, and things that were important to me but were so painfully transient.
As I grew up, it was instilled in me that art was more of a folly and hobby than anything else, and things like athletics and academics, as well as physical and athletic prowess, were much more important.
Although I always felt like an artist and was magnetically drawn to art and creative expression, that sense of identity and passion faded away, bit by bit, into the recesses of my mind and being. At some point, those aspects and elements were buried so deeply that I felt completely detached from them, and attempting to connect on any level created a significant amount of internal dissonance.
Fast-forward to a decade ago, and I was in one of the lowest and darkest places of my life, struggling with addiction, depression, and all-consuming anxiety. My partner lovingly suggested that I purchase a camera, as I would often talk about my love for photography as a means to cope, heal, and connect with myself in a significant way.
That camera, a Pentax K-3, saved my life, in all seriousness. I can say with pained certainty that I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t found my way back to art and photography.
I vividly recall leaving my apartment for the first time in weeks, debilitated by anxiety, and holding the camera up to my face and in front of my heart as a tangible piece of armor. That armor allowed me to foray into the world that I had retreated and lost touch with over a tumultuous course of time. That specific evening, I walked across the street to City Park in Denver, drawn toward the water’s edge by a breathtaking, crimson-red sunset that still gives me goosebumps to this day. The lake was still like glass, and I started photographing the scene. The sky bounced off the water beautifully, perfectly, like a painting off a mirror. I remember sitting in the grass, looking at the photos and the sunset itself, and suddenly bursting out in tears and laughter —a great catharsis that I desperately needed. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I felt alive, hopeful, and like I wasn’t drowning. That moment changed me on a cellular level, on all levels, as a man, artist, and human being.
The rest, as they say, is history…
What’s your style?
Ha! I’m asked this a lot, and I spend far too much time considering the answer. In truth, I don’t necessarily have a defined style. For a long time, I considered myself a fashion photographer, though that didn’t quite fit or feel right. Then, a portrait photographer. Then, a visual storyteller. The list goes on and on and on. I prefer not to define myself by a style, niche, or genre, as it seems overly restrictive and altogether unnecessary. If I had to answer, I’d probably say that my style is eclectic, with strong influences from the great masters of photography, cinema, painting, and sculpture. Hopefully, if I am known for anything stylistically, it is a body of work that is mesmerizing, powerful, and evocative; work that makes the viewer feel.
What are your go-tos gear-wise?
Whatever is at hand! I am more oriented toward vision, process, approach, ingenuity, and expression than gear; however, the nerdy part of me does obsess a bit!
These days. I primarily work within the Sony ecosystem, utilizing the A7IV, A7RIV, and A7SIII. Lens-wise, I use native and third-party glass, but most of my current daily kit comes from VILTROX.
Regarding lighting, I’ll opt for Nanlite for constants and Flashpoint for strobes, both of which are paired with a broad spectrum of light modifiers and shapers.
Ultimately, it’s not about the gear, but how an artist uses, integrates, and leverages that gear to achieve their creative end. I’d much rather focus on the art itself versus the tools of the trade, so to speak.
Why is it important to you to share your knowledge of lighting and posing with others?
Since I was very young, I’ve always enjoyed teaching, mentoring, and supporting others. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t feel driven to and fulfilled by helping through sharing my knowledge, experience, and unique perspective.
I strive to embody the change I want to see in the world, and a significant part of that involves a strong foundation of community and togetherness. That foundation is built from blocks of kindness, compassion, love, gratitude, and service.
I never thought I would love anything as much as being behind the camera, but mentoring, guiding, and educating fellow visual artists is a close second!
Additionally, it’s our responsibility to freely share what we know and support others along the way. I loathe gatekeeping and believe in the concept of open-source knowledge. It’s vitally important to give back and pay it forward.
There’s also something magical about teaching, as it reinforces one’s knowledge, process, and approach. By helping others, we also help ourselves, and that’s a beautiful and powerful reciprocity.
Lastly, and quite simply, I genuinely enjoy teaching and mentoring, and it makes me feel good!
Why are the tangible prints important to your clients?
Prints are essential, especially in today’s predominantly digitized world, as they represent a tangible manifestation of art away from the 0s, 1s, and algorithms. Prints are important to my clients not only because of their beauty and archival value but also because they serve as a physical, tactile vessel for energy and memory.
Beyond my clients, prints are important to me because they make me feel like an actual artist. It’s so easy to get lost in sensors, lenses, processing software, social media, and everything else that comprises a digital workflow. It feels wonderful, empowering, and liberating to hold a piece of art I created in my hands. It’s validation that I am a creator and creative in the truest and most visceral sense.
What piece of advice would you give yourself when you were starting?
I’d advise my younger artistic self to avoid the pitfall of comparison and focus solely on creating work and art that is unique, authentic, and personally significant. Being an artist, developing a style, and building a business as a creative is not a race or test; it’s a lifelong journey.
Moreover, I’d lovingly encourage my younger self to embrace fear and failure as the pillars of expression and evolution. Dreams realized are indebted to both failure and fear, and we get nowhere fast without embracing both elements.
I’d tell my younger self to stop and breathe more often, to enjoy the process of creating as much as possible. Lastly, I’d reiterate that magic is real, dreams do come true, and no goal or aspiration is too lofty. Live, love, and create with unbridled passion and abandon because this is all going to end: Memento Mori.
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