VANCOUVERITES: 5 Minutes With Gene Doe Creatives Christina Ladwig & Hanna Tveite

by Jenny Bachynski | Christina Ladwig and Hanna Tveite are the creative directors and photographers behind Gene Doe, a creative agency specializing in fashion media. Based out of Vancouver, the talented duo have collaborated on many editorial shoots, ad campaigns, and films. It’s easy to be drawn to their photography for its cinematic quality (it gets me in the same way that a good film does); the style is minimalist and striking, something that I feel is often absent in fashion media. I was keen to hear their perspective and learn how they balance their talents to create a cohesive business. Say hello…

How did Gene Doe come to be? Simply, we both wanted to make work that we wanted to see. Although we didn’t know it when we first met, we shared a sensibility that was quite different than the prevailing one in the city at the time. Once we realized we both felt that way, it just felt like a natural progression.

The name Gene Doe…how did that come about? We really wanted to create a personality. We wanted an identity, but one that was somewhat ambiguous. We didn’t want to limit ourselves by choosing a name that defined us in a specific way. We also knew that our identity would be closely linked to the names we worked with, so a reference to the nameless “Doe” seemed fitting. Everything about it felt right.

Do you feel that you both have similar photographic styles, and how does that play out when you are working together? We have a very similar vision, but naturally assume different roles. Our individual strengths are well balanced. What one of us doesn’t see, the other does.

While you are shooting, are you purposefully aware of what you are trying to capture, or is it more of an organic experience? Everything we do, we do with a tremendous amount of purpose. Our focus going into any shoot is on expressing a particular tone. But in achieving that, collaboration is an extremely important element of our process. The different creative influences of the model, the make-up artist and stylist are something that we fully embrace. We don’t always know how we’re going to get there, but we always know where we’re going.

What has been your favorite experience you have had since you started Gene Doe? Probably the short film we did with Jordan Chu, for her jewelry line, The Woodland. We had incredible creative chemistry. It was, by far, our most ambitious project. It was also the most collaborative project we’ve done.

Gene Doe is primarily a business that is dedicated to fashion media. How would you describe your style if you could only use one word? Understated.

How has living in Vancouver influenced you as artists and photographers? The aesthetic that appeals to us is one that isn’t at all prevalent in Vancouver. The absence of that provided space for us to find our identity.

What is one thing you wish you would have known before starting your own business? Nothing, really. Learning is the best part.

What is your favorite small business in Vancouver (besides your own)? There are a lot of great small businesses in this city, but if we’d have to pick one, it would definitely be Old Faithful. They have a really strong identity, they’re super friendly and they support local business. We also love their aesthetic.

If you could do a portrait session with anyone, who would it be? Bob Dylan.

To learn more about Gene Doe visit www.genedoeproject.com and www.genedoe.tumblr.com.

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Jenny Bachynski was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta. In her teenage years she packed up her bags and headed to Vancouver to pursue further education in fashion design. In 2009 she started her own small business Jenny Andrews Recycled Leather Goods, as well as her blog Jenny Loves. After starting her blog, Jenny discovered that one of her greatest joys was stumbling upon beautiful and interesting things, and sharing them with anyone who would listen.

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