Brent Reaney is a Canadian portrait photographer whose work reveals authentic expressions, emotions and gestures often kept private. To achieve this subtle complexity, he uses a psychological portrait-making process involving intense conversation paired with reflection and visualization by the subject. Having lived and worked on four continents helps Brent quickly build rapport with a wide range of subjects, and he has published, exhibited and sold photographic work in North America, as well as internationally. His studio portrait project, Philly Style, was exhibited at the Philadelphia Photo Arts Center this past spring.

In the exhibited image, Ruslan, Emirj and Brent are friends brought together by an artist community in Philadelphia. The comfortable, quiet interaction between all participants, including (and perhaps especially) Muszka the cat, helps draw in the viewer. Brent is now an MFA candidate in the University of Houston’s photo and digital media program but regularly returns to work in Philadelphia.