Brandon Allen | Toronto Artist, Photographer & Director
I'm a Toronto artist. My work is about the things we leave behind. The stuff people hold onto, wear out, and eventually let go of, and what all of it says about who we are. It started years ago when I took apart a pile of video game controllers and photographed the guts of them. That series ended up shown around the world, and I've been chasing the same idea ever since, through nests, collections, and whatever I've got on my table at the moment.
I've also spent over 15 years shooting commercial work as a photographer and director. Campaigns, actor and brand portraits, the kind of high-end stuff that lives on thoughtful lighting and a bit of cinematic production. I love it, I'm good at it, and honestly it's what pays for the art.
Before any of this I worked a bunch of jobs that didn't stick. A short run in a steel factory that nearly cost me a finger. A summer faxing old invoices into some defunct accounting system, still not sure anyone ever checked where they went. And a longer stretch as a trampoline coach, somehow the only job on this list where I never got hurt.
Somewhere in all that I learned how to keep going past the point most people stop. It shaped how I work. I don't take the process for granted, and I don't assume there's only one way to do things.
The best work happens when people build it together. Whether I'm making my own pictures, running a commercial campaign, or shooting an actor's branding session, it all comes down to using light and composition to tell a story that feels honest.
Based in Toronto, always up for travel. Available for commissions and collaborations here and worldwide.
New to all this but interested in shooting with me? Check out my FAQ
Thank you!