Maryline Rivard

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ARTIST OF THE MONTH – MARYLINE RIVARD

This November we would love to present you the amazing artist Maryline Rivard from Canada. Her creative and unique style makes her probably the queen of self-portraits in our LOOKSLIKEFILM community. Beside her inspiring 52-weeks self portrait challenge she shoots couples, kids and weddings as well. It’s time for us to get to know her story a little better.

Maryline Rivard

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How old are you and where are you from?

I am 32 years old and come from a small town located in the province of Quebec in Canada. I started my career as a teacher in visual arts and drama but in the course of my studies, I learned film photography. I have been a full time professional photographer for about 1 year and a half now.

Maryline Rivard

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Tell us a little bit about your life in the moment?

I live in the countryside in a house surrounded by forest. I don’t like cities, I prefer nature or abandoned places. I devote myself entirely to photography. In my work, I mainly photograph families, weddings, maternities and portraits.

Maryline Rivard

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In my personal practice, I am currently doing the 52 week self-portrait challenge for 36 weeks. I create conceptual and surrealistic images in a timeless atmosphere based on fairy tales. I am the heroine in my story so every self-portrait represents a part of my life such as the emotions that I feel, the people I meet, the songs I listen to, etc.

Maryline Rivard

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How did you end up being a photographer?

I started photography as a model in 2010 which explains my tendency towards self-portraits. Being very passionate, I became an amateur photographer.  Later, thanks to Facebook, I turned professional which allowed me to make myself known in my area. It takes a lot of discipline, perseverance and hard work but I am an ambitious person.

Maryline Rivard

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Where do you see yourself in 20 years?

I believe that one of the most important things in life is to realize one’s dreams and always aiming high, so in 20 years I would like to travel around the world and have an international career.

Maryline Rivard

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What gear are you currently using?

I am currently using a Nikon D750 camera and I have three lenses: 35mm F1.8 G ED, 50mm F1.4D and 85mm F1.8 G. I have a soft spot for the vintage rendering of the D range lenses which is why I recently bought a 24 mm F2.8 D. I only work in natural light and therefore do not use any flash.

Maryline Rivard

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What advice could you give out to a new starting photographer?

The greatest advice I could give to a new photographer is that you should never compare your work to that of others. Each person’s journey is unique and we all have to start somewhere. Photography is a complex field and there are many things to learn; I am still learning every day! You have to be patient and persevere in your practice and especially not be afraid to take risks!

Maryline Rivard

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Did the LLF community changed the way you see or shoot portraits, lifestyle etc.?

When I discovered the LLF community, it changed my way of looking at photography. All these talented photographers have the same taste as me and the same way of looking at photography. I started using VSCO presets and finally got the result I wanted in my editing. For the first time in 5 years, I was satisfied with the final rendering of my photos.

Maryline Rivard

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When I had my first “Choo Choo”, I was filled with pride. I felt recognized by my peers and it gave me a lot of confidence and motivation! I love the LLF community; it has given me a lot assurances in my practice with all the likes and comments on my photos as with the beautiful images that I see every day that inspire me!

Maryline Rivard

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What plans do you have for this year/next year?

In the next year, I will exhibit a selection of my self-portraits at the end of my 52 week self-portrait challenge in April 2018. I am also working on a project to publish a book with the 52 photos. I feel sad that this project is coming to an end but am planning for a possibility of maybe doing a 365-day self-portrait challenge which remains to be seen!


SEE MORE OF HER WORK