Exclusive: Wendy D's portraits from the 2018 Leo Awards
Wendy D is one of the most intuitive photographers working in Vancouver today. Her ability to quickly forge a genuine rapport with her subjects and highlight their personalities in stunning shots has made her a favourite of individuals working in the YVR screen scene (including, incidentally, YVR Screen Scene; Wendy D shot our header image – featuring Chelah Horsdal in conversation with Sabrina Furminger – at the Leo Awards in 2017).
Wendy D has photographed the Leo Awards several times over the years, but the third and final night of the 2018 edition – held in a swanky ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Vancouver – marked the first where she set up a studio to photograph the movers, shakers, and rabble-rousers of the homegrown film and television industry as they stepped off the red carpet.
Says Wendy D: "Everyone works so hard all year, and on Leos' night they get to dress up and shine! Images from the red carpet are always fabulous but I've always thought it should be more. I was inspired by Mark Seliger who, for Vanity Fair, creates incredible portraits during such events as the Oscars & ESPYs. I thought, 'Why can't we do that at the Leos?' This year Walter [Daroshin] agreed and I was overwhelmed with how popular the portraits were." Wendy D is grateful to Mark Cannon and Shawn Major, who assisted her ("Without them, there's no way I could have photographed the amount of people I did. They rock!").
Behold Wendy D's efforts below – and follow Wendy D Photography on Instagram and Twitter.
Pictured above: Peter Kelamis
