art




s/s 2022

Through the subcultural lens of Bre Johnson


Fashion photographer Bre Johnson talks about living as an artist in Brooklyn and tackling creative blocks.

 By Daija Green | Posted on July 24, 2022



M

eet Bre Johnson, the notable fashion photographer you need to know. Bre's artistic journey began on a typical morning subway ride when an unintended encounter occurred with actor and model Bobbi Salvor Manuez. This occurrence changed how she viewed her artistry for the better, and since then, she's tackled her artistic ambitions with full-on intention.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, Bre captures the essence of her community - authentically depicting under-represented faces at heart. Her work speaks to the intersections of the cultural circles around her. As Bre chats with Trutuyou, we look through her sub-cultural and spirited lens as she shares that movement and realness are the driving forces of her work. With her photography published in NY Magazine, Teen Vogue, Ebony Magazine, and more- it's beyond question that her work speaks for itself and everyone connected to it.

Continue reading to learn about the momentous subway ride that ignited Bre's artistic journey, her thoughts on living as an artist in Brooklyn, and tackling creative blocks.





BRE JOHNSON X TRUTUYOU


Trutuyou: Who is Bre and what do you do? 


Bre:

I’m a visual artist based in Brooklyn, NY who specializes in fashion photography. I photograph a unique casting of under-represented faces with character, realness, and movement. Over the past years, I have chased my dreams with reckless abandon and have been able to build a business and life that I am very proud of.




Trutuyou : What was the first photo that sparked your love for photography?

Bre:

Let’s see, I don’t really have any one photo that sparked my love for photography, but I can say that one morning on the subway, I ran into the genre-bending actor, model, and artist Bobbi Salvör Menuez. Bobbi is great! Following appearances in the HBO hit Euphoria and The Deuce, Bobbi started hosting special dinners for the queer cooking collective Spiral Theory Test Kitchen. After our fun convo on the subway that morning, I was commissioned to photograph Bobbi’s production of the Kitchen’s dinner presentation. I was thrilled when my work found a home in the December 2019 issue of New York Magazine/The Cut and I must say that that night, I decided I would pursue my career in photography working with artists and photo editors.



Model Bria Bryant captured by Bre Johnson





Living in Brooklyn 


Trutuyou: That subway moment is powerful! It is moments like these that confirm that we're on the right path - and you are definitely in the right place as well. New York seems like the perfect place to be for an artist like yourself. What is your favorite thing about working as a photographer in Brooklyn?

Bre:
I’d have to say the photo community is my favorite thing about working as a photographer in Brooklyn. Being part of the community has helped me grow tremendously as a photographer and the people I’ve met have changed my life in ways I’d never expected.






Trutuyou: You describe your photography using the word movement. Talk about this movement. What notions or stories are important for you to depict in your art?


Bre: 

As a fashion photographer, movement is key in my work, it brings a sense of spontaneity to the images, and I love working with individuals that move freely and evoke emotion when possible.






Trutuyou: I think viewers enjoy your work's spontaneity and realness. It's refreshing and full of life. What do you want viewers to feel when they come across your work?


Bre:

When viewing my work, I would want the viewer to naturally feel whatever emotions that may come up for them, but my hope would be for them to feel inspired and to be seen in my work.





Trutuyou: What is one of your personal favorite shoots?


Bre:

My most recent photoshoot I did is my personal favorite. I organized a team of creatives that had the best energy on set, and that energy showed through all the images! I learned that session to work with people with high energy and a small team, and I'm looking forward to applying these values to my next photo shoot.





Trutuyou: I find that most creatives are multi-disciplinary. Are there any other mediums besides photography that you engage with to represent your passions as an artist? 


Bre:

I create and engage with video and cinematography at times. I find working with video fascinating and enjoy the process of creating and forming ideas before picking up the video camera. Video/cinematography allows me to play with lighting, emotions, and motion storytelling. It's a medium I want to continue to read on and explore as time goes on.





Trutuyou: Do you ever go through creative blocks? If so, how do you get through them?

Bre:

Absolutely, I do! I believe creative blocks come with being a creative person. To overcome these blocks, however, I give myself rest from all outlets, such as social media and tv. I revisit my Pinterest board of all my ideas I have stored and begin to get back into the swing of things. Usually, this method pushes me forward and I get back on track with pursuing my ideas and actions.




Self-portrait of Bre 


Trutuyou: Art has a beautiful way of helping us navigate life. In what ways has photography done this for you?


Bre:

Pursuing photography has taught me that I can do anything that my mind and heart desire and that no one can stop me or my vision for myself in this industry. It also has taught me that not every opportunity is a great one and that I can be selective in every decision I make along this journey.






Trutuyou: In your own words, what does it mean to live true to self?


Bre:

Living true to self to me means I listen and honor my beliefs and ideas before I allow any outside opinions to validate my thoughts and experiences. It also means to me, to never try and be someone I'm not and to operate in spaces that honor this.



Thank you Bre! ︎


︎_bre_johnson
 Brejohnson.co





Text & interview by


︎ Daija Green
Founder




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