We had the good fortune of connecting with Jordy Clarke and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jordy, how do you think about risk?
There is always a certain amount of risk when you go into business for yourself because everything comes back on you. When I quit my day job to pursue freelance photography full time, the main concern was ‘Am I going to make enough to survive in one of the most expensive cities in North America?’ Leaving a regular paycheque was scary, but the idea of not trying to follow my dreams and feeling regret was scarier. Luckily my partner is a full time artist and they were very supportive of me and encouraged me to take the leap. I made enough to live, and a couple of years later, we opened a joint studio here in Toronto. The thought was, the younger I try to do this the better, because if it fails I still have time to try again. Taking on additional bills was risky, and I had to learn to hustle harder to make it work. I work and think much differently now than I did when I first quit my day job. My studio will be celebrating 6 years open this April, I’m glad I took the leap and learned the necessary skills to have the life I do now.
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m mainly a commercial and editorial photographer who shoots bands and brands. I like working with other creatives to create a shared vision to tell different stories in a bold fashion. I come from a background of shooting concerts, and nowadays I shoot mainly press and key art for musicians. It’s been quite a journey getting to shoot the stuff I want to and having clients send me my own photos for reference. I noticed a big change in my work and bookings when I started shooting personal work often and trying new things while shooting. I think every creative should be making personal work on a regular basis because you can’t rely on clients to build the portfolio you want, you need to be able to show them what you want to do and what you’re good at. I think a rewarding creative career comes from experimenting and pushing yourself!
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Toronto is an amazing city due to how multicultural it is! In the summer I love to hang out at the off leash dog beach, the water is clean enough that you can swim in Lake Ontario. Then you have to try a Moochi donut from Isabellas’ Boutique, a Japanese spot in the beaches. Greektown is a must. there are these really cool paintings on the ground of different gods and goddesses from Greek Mythology, grab moussaka from Mezzes then walk Danforth Avenue going West to try one of the great pubs in the area, I’m keen on an arcade bar called Zed80 where there is all you can play for $5. Little India is great at night, it’s always bustling and you can grab spiced corn on the cob while you walk around and window shop. I’d also stop into Parkdale for Trini Doubles, vintage shopping, and check out the Shameful Tiki bar. Wednesdays the Art Gallery of Ontario is free, so that’s a great day to check out downtown, near Chinatown, our bohemian neighbourhood Kensington Market (on Sundays in the summer they block off the road and do pedestrian Sundays!) and Little Italy. All have great shopping and eats. If you’re into weird stuff, you definitely have to visit the Skull Store, the world’s largest oddity shop!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I owe most of the information I know to my mentor David Hou, my portfolio to my long time collaborator Erin Sweeney, the confidence to keep going to my husband Cosmo Cam, and my sister Nikki Clarke who let me take photos of her when no one else would.
Website: www.jordyclarke.com
Instagram: @jordyclarkephoto
Facebook: @jordyclarkephoto