Jonny Edward

I am so grateful! ✨ Hey, friends. I wanted to express my heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of love, support, kindness, encouragement, and positive energy regarding the launch of my education platform, community, and app, Jonny Creative Academy. Honestly, finally bringing this all to life and light is a dream come true, and we’re at almost 50 members in the community! That was my goal for the end of the month: we’re already there after a couple of days, and a big part of that phenomenal success is thanks to all of you! Oh yeah, I created a collection of self-portraits after going live for the first time in the Academy earlier: decided to share a few frames too. Love and appreciate y’all so damn much! Let’s fuckin’ go! Art is life; life is art. 🩶

Jonny → Creative → Academy → Launch It. Is. Finally. Here. My education platform! Hey, friends! Today is a momentous day, and this is a special post. After years of dreaming and talking about it, I finally brought the idea to fruition: a platform, community, and app dedicated to the art and science of creative portraiture. A space and place for fellow photographers to hone their skills, refine their creativity, elevate their artistry, and cultivate wholehearted confidence in their process and voice. All while connecting in a supportive, inclusive community of like-minded, impassioned photographers. This app and community have been a long time coming, and it’s exhilarating, but also slightly horrifying, to finally bring it to life and light. For too long, I allowed fear, anxiety, and self-doubt to hold me back from this moment, but life is too damn short not to pursue our passions with abandon and manifest our innermost aspirations. I know that there are an infinite number of classes, courses, platforms, subscriptions, and the like: some incredible, most okay, and many pretty damn abysmal... What I can say is that I pour my heart and soul into everything I do, and this endeavor is no exception. I truly believe the Academy is an offering unlike any other, and it will only keep getting better from here. This set with the dapper gent, @savionrhyan is the perfect launchpad, as it’s the first segment we created for the platform. We delve deep into connection, lighting, styling, set design, and creative expression, covering both production and editing/retouching. I sincerely hope you’ll take some time to explore the platform’s offerings and consider me a pivotal part of your creative journey. If you want to learn more, comment ACADEMY or message me directly for details and an IG-exclusive offer! I wouldn’t be here without you. I love and appreciate y’all beyond words! We’re in this together! Let’s f*ckin’ go! Sharing is caring, please share & reshare! Art is life; life is art. Production - Collaborator | @portraitsbyrm Backdrops | @gravitybackdrops Gear | @sonyalpha - @adorama Lighting | @nanliteusa - @nanlite_official @movement.so

Kim | Persona -> swipe for an exploration of moody expression-> This collection is an amalgamation of portraits created during two wonderful workshops at my Atelier here in Denver. It was truly a joy working with @alluremeaway not only because they have an incredible look but also because they have an amazing energy to match. We didn’t have much time to create together, as my main priority and energetic prerogative is, as it should be, always to teach, mentor, guide, and support first and foremost. However, during the time that we had, we managed to produce phenomenal portraits that spanned a range of emotions and iterations of self, from quiet and introspective to bold and assertive, editorial to cinematic, and quite a bit in between. Though the characters vary, I feel a sense of continuity in the collective story: one of connection, expression, and presence. 🩶 The lighting here is a mix of natural, constant, and strobe, and speaks to the truth that, ultimately, light is light. It’s how you see, shape, and modify the light that matters; vision, creativity, intention, and ingenuity are far more important than gear or source. You can create a profound portrait with a single window, or with a dozen high-powered strobes of the most expensive variety. ✨ Oh yeah, color theory is pretty damn important too! 🎨 Beyond technical considerations, what always matters most is heartfelt connection and an unwavering dedication to truly seeing, embracing, and celebrating the individuals who step in front of our cameras and into the frames of our scenes and stories. Connection is the catalyst for a portrait to transcend from a photograph to art: an expression of essence and humanity. Anywho, ramblings aside, enjoy the collection and show Kim some creative love! PS | all of these were shot with focal lengths ranging from 14mm to 35mm; no typical, traditional portrait lenses were used or harmed during production. 😄 I am grateful. I love y’all. Never stop creating! Art is life; life is art. @adorama - @flashpointlighting @printique_by_adorama - @sonyalpha @nanliteusa - @nanlite_official - @gravitybackdrops

Susan | Poise -> swipe for a helluva lot of elegance, expression, and artful strength -> @silvermodelsusan is one of my favorite humans. Period. Seriously, Susan is such a radiant bad-ass with a fierce aesthetic and a personality rooted in legit, old-school punk rebellion and the kindhearted cool you simply cannot fake. It’s always a joy creating with her, and we never fail to produce magic when we work together. No Photoshop, no AI, just raw, authentic portraits of a boss-level baddie! Love you, Susan! Thanks for being you, for seeing me, and for being a force of light, love, authenticity, and singular style in this world… 🩶 We created this captivating collection during a workshop I co-hosted, produced, and taught at my amazing Atelier with my dear friend, the truly incredible David Shoukry, aka @epwphoto ✨David, the next round is at your spectacular space across the pond! Maybe later this year? Never stop creating! Art is life; life is art. Lighting | @nanliteusa - @nanlite_official Backdrop | @backdropsgallery Gear | @sonyalpha - @sigmaphoto Processing | @captureone - @reallyniceimages

Eric | Authentic Recently, during a rental at my studio, the opportunity presented itself to photograph a good friend and talented, kindhearted colleague, @upsidebrownphotography Eric rented the Atelier for a creative meetup he organized, and I really admire and appreciate that he consistently strives to bring creatives together and foster connectivity among artists of different mediums. At one point, we had a really lovely corner setup built out, and the colors were not only wonderfully classical but also paired extremely well with Eric’s sweater and skin tone, so I asked if he’d sit for a few portraits, and he graciously accepted. Though we didn’t shoot for long, we created a captivating collection; it was heartening to watch and feel angst and discomfort ease into embrace and poise. We kept things simple, elegant, and wholly focused on Eric as a man, individual, and artist. I love photographing fellow artists and reinforcing the truth that we are worthy, deserving, beautiful, and enough, just as we are. For me, portraits aren’t about transformation but assertion of self and celebration. This is what Eric shared about the experience: “Wow! Thanks so much for a great experience! As I mentioned, as a dancer and with the modeling I’ve done, the focus has always been on line, form, and gesture. This headshot session was about identity. It was about me. I’m not sure how to articulate it, but it felt uncomfortably revealing. But at the same time really great. I appreciate the opportunity to get in front of the camera like that. Who knows, maybe I’ll have to do some self-portraits now.” Knowing that the portraits not only felt revealing and authentic but also serve as conduits for him to connect with himself through his art and self-portraits makes me happy and grateful beyond words. If you’d like to explore creating portraits with presence and a bespoke session that sees and celebrates you for who you are, the artist, the rebel, the atypical, exactly as you are, please reach out: let’s tell your story and create magic. Never stop creating! Art is life; life is art. @gravitybackdrops @nanliteusa @sonyalpha

Tilly | Vision Yesterday, I had the pleasure of hosting and assisting an incredible fellow photographer, @crystalrojascreative at my studio, and supporting her vision for a few sets centered around creative portraiture. Graciously, she invited me to pick up my camera as well, and the energy was so wonderful that I simply could not say no... Thank you for creating magic in the space and inviting me to join the fun, Crystal! One of the lovely humans we worked with was @just_a_momma_ who has a wonderfully timeless aesthetic and stellar energy to match. The interplay between her skin, hair, and the flowing pink salt dress was truly captivating, and that tonal harmony was beautifully offset and complemented by the spectacular, new, turquoise/aqua collection of backdrops from my dear friend and brilliant colleague, @backdropsgallery The set, styling, and scene were vibrating with fine-art vibes, and Crystal wanted to run with that, so we opted for a moody, directional, shadow-rich lighting approach that was ultimately an ode to the great masters of painted portraiture, using a few lights and modifiers from @nanliteusa - @nanlite_official I think we all gasped a little when the lighting was layered and set, as it felt as though Tilly had come to life! Processing-wise, I opted to keep things simple and elegant: I processed the files in @captureone using a film emulation from @reallyniceimages and stepped into PS momentarily to finalize color grading using an action by the Legendary @lillianliuphotography who has an amazing collection with @only.thecurious While I adore this collection, what I love more is the time spent with kind, heartfelt, genuine individuals. My favorite moments came when the shoot had ended, and Crystal and I sat out front of the studio chatting about life, art, community, and more... For me, art has always been more than mere expression; it has been a powerful conduit to and a catalyst for genuine human connection. Crystal, thank you for being you: radiant, artful, passionate, and compassionate; a light in this dimly lit world. Tilly, thanks for being a bad-ass muse! Never stop creating! Art is life; life is art

Polina | Elegance → swipe for a captivating exploration of expression + BTS → No lengthy caption necessary: I love this collection. I love making art with incredible humans. I am so damn grateful. I love y’all. Never stop creating! Art is life; life is art. Human | @polinariyaa_ Production/Styling | @portraitsbyrm Backdrops | @zoombackdrops Lighting | @nanliteusa - @nanlite_official Gear | @sonyalpha - @smallrig.global - @viltrox.official Processing | @captureone - @reallyniceimages (styles)

Sarah | Iconic  I created this wonderfully timeless, emotive set of portraits during my last workshop tour in Mexico, while at the lovely @thestudio503 ✨ @saarahllarena was an absolute joy to work and create with: she was not only radiant and elegant, but impressively poised, and she radiated a truly captivating strength.  Honestly, on set while I was shooting, the color harmonies between her skin, wardrobe, and the backdrops were mesmerizing, and the whole set felt anchored around tonality. However, when I started editing and experimented with a monochrome rendering, I felt an immediate resonance and a rush of emotion. As lovely as these are in color, they feel so much more compelling and visually significant to me in black and white.  Interestingly, though I felt extremely drawn to the monochrome vibe, I struggled at first as I was wrestling with which would be better received here on IG and across socials... I took note of what I was feeling. I was both shocked and humbled by how controlled I still find myself by the constraints and considerations of sharing and reception, even after all these years cultivating my style, refining my artistic voice, and nurturing love for myself and my art.  Recently, I’ve been increasingly focused on my well-being and have been delving wholeheartedly into presence and mindfulness. Rather than admonishing myself for second-guessing my instincts and creative inclinations, I observed the thoughts, their associations, and, ultimately, their very human origin: our innate desire for acceptance and the need and want to be seen and loved as we are. I took a breath and reminded myself that art is an expression of self, so if I want to be seen, I must share what I truly love and feel connected to, acceptance or rejection be damned. Liberating!  Every day, every project, every set, I learn a bit more and grow a bit more. The journey never ends, and that’s so damn spectacular. I am grateful.  Production | @revelaws Translator(s) | @novikovafoto - @joelawrence_art Backdrops | @backdropoflife Gear | @sonyalpha Lighting | @nanlite_official - @alexissantillan.15 Processing | @captureone - @larajadephotography BNW Styles

YAEL | CDMX → swipe for sculptural exploration of self → During my last workshop tour in Mexico, in CDMX, I had an opportunity to connect and create with this incredible man, multi medium artist, and human, @yaelgtz Prior to the workshop, I spent part of a day at the spectacular Museo Soumaya with wonderful friends, where they were hosting a special exhibition of Auguste Rodin, one of my favorite sculptors and artists who had a profound impact on my being and experience long before I picked up a camera. Thank you, Brenda, for taking me: I will never forget those moments and always cherish the memories. Suffice it to say, the exhibit was bewildering beautfiful and incredibly powerful. It had a profound impact on me and directly influenced this set: the intensity, distortion, pain, longing, and ultimately the density and gravity of human experience and inevitability. When I had the chance to photograph Yael in a freeform way, I knew he would embody my vision perfectly, and so he did. Looking at these images, I actually teared up, and my being swelled with emotion. So rarely do I feel like a legitimate artist, let alone one of merit and caliber, but I feel like a true artist through this work, and that’s so significant, powerful, liberating, and inspiring. As artists and creatives, it’s essential that we occasionally fall in love with ourselves and our work, that our hearts and spirits feel aligned... Those moments, however fleeting, fan the flames of passion and bring us back to the wellspring of creation. Honestly, I am at a loss for words beyond heartfelt gratitude. Thank you, Yael, for being such a monumental muse, and to everyone who attended my workshop in CDMX. My love for each of you is infinite. I am producing a one-day lighting-intensive workshop at my spectacular studio on March 28 for those who want to elevate their creative lighting while deeply connecting with their most expressive self. Never stop creating! Art is life; life is art. Production | @revelaws Translator | novikovaphoto Lighting | @nanlite_official - @device.mx Lighting Production | @alexissantillan.15 Gear | @sonyalpha - @viltrox.official Processing | @captureone

Ursula | Transcendence -> swipe for an exploration of ascension -> Out of darkness, we emerge into light… Firstly, my heart goes out to my family, community, and all of those being affected and impacted by the violence, chaos, and unrest in Mexico. Of all the places I’ve traveled in the world, I’ve never felt so welcomed, embraced, supported, and loved. 🇲🇽 ❤️‍🩹 I created this emotive collection of portraits in Puebla during my last workshop tour in Mexico, organized and produced by my sister in art and creativity, @revelaws with support from @nanlite_official via @device.mx and my dear friend @alexissantillan.15 ✨ Ursula has such wonderful energy and range, and we created a few different looks. Still, this elegantly simple, old-world aesthetic really spoke to me as it felt classical and timeless, like something out of an allegorical painting. For the lighting, I knew I wanted a lot of direction, dimension, shadow, and theatricality, so we boomed an optical spot project overhead and augmented that hard, structured light with a whisper of soft fill from a large umbrella behind me, to modulate shadows and maintain some textural detail. Simple, effective, and powerful. While I love the aesthetic and energetics of this set, what I love even more is allowing myself to drift back to those moments and reminisce about the wonderful moments we all spent together in @thestudio503 as a beautiful creative family. Also, a heartfelt thank to two of my favorite humans both who are wonderful artists, for translating: @novikovafoto - @joelawrence_art It’s still so wonderfully surreal and humbling to know that artists in Mexico and around the world know about me and my work, and want to learn from me. It’s an honor of the largest magnitude, and I’m grateful beyond words. We’re in this together. Sending all of my love to all of you. Art is life; life is art. I ♥️ Mexico. Human | @vgu_galeazzi Backdrops | @backdropoflife Agency | @hyggemodelmanagement Gear | @sonyalpha - @viltrox.official Processing | @captureone

Jenna | Vision ✨ → swipe for a striking editorial story → Recently, I was commissioned by Jenna and her Mom (Becca), both wonderful, to create a collection of portraits that blended fine art and fashion in my own style, with a focus on celebrating not only Jenna’s unique beauty but also her energy. essence, and singular individuality. Although Jenna has been modeling for quite a while, a lot of what she does is commercial, and while that type of work is great, it doesn’t allow for much in the way of creative expression and exploration, of course. We spent roughly half a day creating, laughing, and chatting, initially focusing on a specific aesthetic but eventually allowing spontaneity and inspiration to take the reins, leading us down a path of storytelling, presence, and personhood. I am absolutely delighted by what we created, in terms of both the caliber and breadth of the collection, energetically and aesthetically. Jenna & Becca - thank you for the opportunity to create my art and for trusting me to produce a collection aligned with your vision. It was an absolute honor and joy! More amazing projects and clients like this, please! Big shoutout to Rachel for holding it down on the production side and letting me focus on being behind the camera and finding an inspired creative flow. For those interested, I used a combination of constants and strobes, with each setup using 1 to 5 lights, in addition to available natural/interior lighting. If you have questions about specific lighting setups or anything else, please feel free to ask in the comments or via DM. I’m heading to Nashville later today to teach at|for @ourppa @imagingusa , and I couldn’t be more excited! I’ll also be demoing and teaching with @adorama - @printique_by_adorama - @flashpointlighting and @nanliteusa - @nanlite_official on the show floor. If you’re attending, be sure to say “hi!” 🤓 Never stop creating! Art is life; life is art. Human | @jennavyhnalek “Mom” | @beljen1023 Production | @portraitsbyrm Lighting | @nanliteusa - @flashpointlighting Gear | @sonyalpha - @viltroxofficial Processing | @captureone Backdrops | Tagged in post

Hosnah | Magick ✨ → swipe for a mesmerizing expression of individuality →  Firstly, Happy New Year! No resolutions or recaps or anything like that, merely this: may 2026 be kinder than the year before, filled with an abundance of love, art, joy, peace, place, purpose, adventure, connection, community, and creation.  Creatively, I ended the year on a high note, collaborating with one of my fave humans, @hello.hosnah ✨ We’ve been creating together for years, and every time our paths cross, I feel like we produce something more special and significant. Call it a manifestation of evolution, an expression of personal and artistic growth.  This round, I also had the pleasure of creating with two wonderfully talented artists and lovely individuals, @fa_eazy and @neon.katie - when I say the vibe and energy were spectacular, I am not exaggerating!  We centered the project on Hosnah’s bewilderingly beautiful dress, a piece handmade with love by skilled generational artisans in Afghanistan. While I love this collection, the pictures simply do not do the dress justice; it is truly glorious!  When I was searching for inspo and building a mood board, I used phrases like “powerful regal portrait of a woman” and “fine-art portrait of a Queen” among others... What I quickly noticed was that there were nearly no images of women of color, scant photos of varied body types, and damn near 0 diversity or representation. That’s not just tragically disappointing but painfully illustrative of the often one-dimensional nature of art and archetypal constructs. Collectively, we came together to say “fuck that bullshit!” This collection is not only an elegant counterpoint but a powerful precedent of strength, power, beauty, radiance, and regality: one that is expansive, diverse, and inclusive. It speaks to what’s important to me as a man, human, and artist, and the areas I will delve into more deeply and passionately this year.  Hosnah, you are magic manfifest!  Never stop creating!  Art is life; life is art.  Lighting | @nanliteusa - @nanliteglobal Gear | @sonyalpha - @viltroxofficial Processing | @captureone - @borisfx_optics MUA | Red Set: @neon.katie Backdrops | Tagged