Biography
Meet Orvis St. John, a multi-talented creative professional who has honed his craft in various industries. As a freelance photographer and creative director, Orvis has an impressive portfolio that showcases his exceptional skills in digital photography, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, Copywriting for Advertising. But his expertise doesn't just end there.
Orvis’ creative journey began as a fashion model for various fashion brands and magazines in Milan, Italy and Paris, France. He then pursued his passion for cooking and attended the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu Academy in Paris, France. After his graduation, Orvis worked his way up the culinary ladder from line cook to executive chef in different restaurants across Melbourne, Jacksonville, and Los Angeles. His experience in the culinary world taught him valuable skills in project management, managing teams, and multitasking.
With a thirst for new challenges, Orvis shifted his focus to the advertising industry enrolling in the Miami Ad School where he focused on Copywriting and Photography. He won the Prestigious Fudge Award (Best of Show) of his graduating class. After graduation he worked as a freelance copywriter for Grey World Wide. During his tenure, he won several awards, including the New York Festivals Finalist Award and the Short List Award for best new 8 1/1 Outdoor Advertising Awards.
Despite his success in advertising, Orvis found himself drawn back to his creative roots and ventured into freelance photography. His fashion editorials have been published in various indie magazines and even featured in Photo Vogue, a division of Vogue Italia. He was also chosen in the first Canon CPN Editors Choice competition selected by Aidan Sullivan of Getty Images. Not content with just being a photographer, Orvis also became a freelance photography instructor at The Hamburg Photo Academy Paris, where he shares his knowledge and passion for photography to all skill levels of photographers.
Aside from his creative pursuits, Orvis also finds joy in teaching English, swimming, running, skateboarding, surfing, reading, and watching movies.
With his diverse experience in multiple creative fields, Orvis' skill set is sure to add value to any team or project.
Artist Statement
Orvis rejects the idea of being merely a copyist and emphasizes experimentation as the core of his creative process. A period of isolation during the pandemic fueled a focus on photo collage and architectural manipulation, leading to series like "City Girls" and "Building Portraits." The artist's work is influenced by a background in surfing and skateboarding, reflecting a fluid and unconstrained approach. A modeling career, inspired by iconic photographers like Steven Meisel and Annie Leibovitz, further shaped their artistic vision. The goal is to create captivating imagery through color, composition, and experimentation, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.