Meet Audrey Baunez | Creative Lead – Photographer & Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Audrey Baunez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Audrey, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
From an early age I’ve been fascinated by images, movies and story telling. A passion that kept growing with time. I started making little videos and taking photos as a teen, I experimented with different topics, tried to reproduce perfume ads, film shots, the main goal was always to tell a story, whatever the media was, I wanted my audience to feel something.
The exhilarating feeling I discovered when creating was unbeatable, so I kept creating as much as I could.
It became very clear to me quickly: I will work in a creative field, there is no other option!
Through the years, thanks to Art, I have been able to meet wonderful people, and creating with like minded passionate people is one of the most rewarding fulfilling feeling!
I have now been creating for more than 20 years, my projects are more meaningful, have more depth but the feeling in my soul is still the same when I create now as it was when I was 15 making short films in my backyard.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It took me a while to get where I am today. Sweat and tears for sure! But worth it! I always knew I wanted to work as a creator of some sort. I first study graphic design, then went to film school in Paris.
Those were my best years! I met amazing like minded creative people with whom I kept creating every time we could!
We made cool short films, and some not so great ones.
I worked on set for a few years then decided to move to Canada, hoping to get into the film industry there.
It didn’t go the way I hopped it would, it was complication after complication, including visa and massive cultural shock.
I ended up working in the wedding industry as a videographer and editor to be able to stay in the country. I did that for a few years, focusing all my free time on other creative projects.
After a while, I found another job: product shot photographer for a shoe designer.
What started as a very simple and honestly not so exciting job, turned into something very fun and fulfilling!
From the start I kept pushing to do more creative projects, to do bigger and better. I owned my team’s trust in proving what I was capable of, and slowly but surely, my position evolved and I am now the Creative Lead of Photography & Videography there.
My work experiences have taught me a lot, I’ve had emotionally abusive co-workers, homophobic colleagues, had to deal with narcissists, toxic masculinity and so on, but with all the bumps I went through, I also learned that with tenacity, ambition and patience, you get closer and closer to what you desire.
What I am the most proud of now, is to be in a position of influence. I get to be part of the ones who decide which stories we’re going to tell. It is important for me to use my privilege to create space for those who are under represented.
I strongly believe that what matters is the message you want to bring across, even if it’s in trying to sell shoes, you can make a difference in the world if you decide to use your influence the right way.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favourite spots in Vancouver BC: The Seawall, walk by the water, enjoy the mountain view!
Spanish Bank for a long walk on the beach
Stanley Park for a walk through the forest
Have all the sushis you can, Vancouver is known for its sushi restaurants!
Gastown is the “old” looking neighbourhood, red bricks, steam clock and paved streets.
If you want to venture further, go to Lynn Canyon Suspension bridge and enjoy the waterfalls, river and forest.
Deep Cove, for an easy hike with amazing view and great donuts!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Queer Community! As a gay woman, it is a constant fight to have a voice in a world where we’re under represented and marginalized.
All the people I got to meet and work with from the LGBTQIA+ community have always been kind, generous, encouraging, supportive and up lifting.
I don’t know one person from this community who hasn’t faced discrimination and hate at some point.
We all have that common wound.
We don’t need to know each other for very long, there is right away respect and kindness, some unspoken gratitude for one another.
That feeling, that’s one that makes me feel safe, seen and trusted, which also helps me feel empowered in my creativity.
My best creative work comes from collaborations with fellow queer people.

Instagram: audrey.bow

Image Credits
Photo one (in bathtub): Model & makeup artist: Xander Chen Horizontal black and white portrait on the beach: Model: Sophia Hirt Black and white portrait man with fabric: Owen Unruh