By Adriana Ermter
Photography by Kennedy Pollard
“Humans are unendingly curious subjects to photograph,” enthuses Ryan Emberley. He would know. As one of Canada’s top celebrity photographers, Emberley has been snapping stars at late-night VIP events and on red carpets around the world, from the Cannes Film Festival in France and Fashion Weeks in Paris, London, New York, and Milan, to the amfAR Gala in Venice for over a decade. “I’m a photojournalist, so I find people fascinating.”
This fascination in his subject matter is reciprocated. So much so that Four Seasons Hotel Toronto invited Emberley to specially curate a selection of his candid portraits of Hollywood’s elite, including Bruce Willis, Grace Jones, Chris Evans, and Helen Mirren to be showcased in the luxury hotel’s annual photo exhibit during the Toronto International Film Festival. A monochromatic collection, Emberley’s “Festival After Dark” features his favorite celebrity moments and was on display in the hotel’s East Lobby in September. “I’m known for finding candid moments that translate into meaning,” says Emberley of the body of his work. “My subject matter is celebrities who tend to be at high-end events, so capturing them can be challenging, but I don’t force the action. I’m not a paparazzi. I’m not trying to catch them in a bad moment. I want my pictures to be beautiful and interesting.” Take the shot he took of Andy Garcia smoking a cigar at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year. “How could I not?” Emberley says. “When I asked him if I could take his picture, he gave me a knowing nod. He’s so cool. The picture turned out great and he gave me the approval to use it.” Other instances, like photographing any of the Kardashian clan, may seem more obvious or even contrived, but Emberley says otherwise. “They know what they’re doing. The whole family is so easy-going. They’re A-plus and always deliver. I love working with them.”
The feeling is mutual. As a serious career photographer who seeks the beauty in portraiture, Emberley has earned a reputation as being friendly, professional, and humble. “If I’m ever an artist, it’s by accident,” he laughs. “I just read body language and I can sense a moment before it happens and then, I’m there with my camera and it happens.”