LM CHABOT: “ONE DOES NOT GO WITHOUT THE OTHER”

BY BRIAR DEACON

JOLIANNE L’ALLIER MATTEAU AND ALEXANDRE CHABOT (a.k.a. LM Chabot) are a Montreal-based commercial creative photography duo. They refer to themselves as “a fusion in all aspects. One does not go without the other.”

The pair met 10 years ago when Jolianne attended a photography class that Alexandre was teaching. In the last decade, their professional and personal relationships have blossomed, giving way to successful photography careers, a loving relationship, and recently, their first child.

Growing within a partnership has allowed their styles to evolve into something truly distinct. Their love for each other and their work drives them, and is responsible for their unique brand of photography. Professionally, they have each found what roles and actions work best for them. Jolianne handles communication and directing the models, while Alexandre shoots and focuses on details of framing and lighting.

Both hold a lifelong passion for art and photography, and a desire to express themselves creatively. Alexandre, the son of a painter, dreamed of becoming a photographer from age 15. Jolianne always imagined “living from [her] art” and loving her work. Inspired by Alexandre’s freelance career and her photography classes, Julianne found photography was the perfect way to pursue this dream.

The pair are deeply influenced by their surroundings, both in their home city of Montreal and across the world on their global adventures. Rather than citing specific photographers as influences on their work, they are inspired by familiar, everyday situations and spaces. A movie, an art trend, or even a colour combination can spark ideas for new projects. According to Alexandre, “Our ideas often come from an absurd, yet unremarkable, life situation that we push further with a playful pop of flavour.”

True Colors, shot with a Nikon D810, involved collaboration with what the couple dubs their “Dream Team.”

This core group of friends and coworkers includes Alexandre and Jolianne, hair and makeup artist Valeria Amirova, and stylist Mélodie Wronski. LM Chabot take care to include the other members of the team from the very beginning of the project and have brainstorming sessions to make sure that everyone is fully involved in the creative process. The duo like to see “every image as a build-up,” starting from a main idea or concept and having each team member add their own input, resulting in a “strong and surprising image.”

This inclusion of other voices also extends to the models that LM Chabot work with. In this shoot, with four similar looking red-haired models, they encouraged the models to play and strike creative, theatrical poses with their props (random accessories chosen for their shape or colour), rather than traditional fashion poses.

The pair’s willingness to be influenced and aided in development as artists by their friends, colleagues, and the world they walk through every day has allowed them to build a reputation as creative photographers to watch out for. They are side by side in all aspects of their lives. As Jolianne explains, “I think it’s awesome to be able to execute personal and professional projects with the same person and still be excited about it after all these years.” Alexandre believes their partnership is “now [their] trademark, and [they] can’t go back.”

Hair + Make up : Valeria Amirova Styliste : Mélodie Wronski Retouche : Victoria Lord Modèles : Kate (Folio) Cat (Folio) Marie-Christine (Montage) Marie-Claire (Montage)

www.lmchabot.com