Through Keanu’s Lens: Capturing Confidence and Creativity
From a young age, Keanu Dos Santos, a native of Elizabeth, New Jersey, was drawn to the world of pop culture. In 2018, he picked up his first camera and was immediately captivated by photography and the world of creativity. During the pandemic, Keanu started bringing his photography ideas to life with the help of his friends, something he credits to “those photogenic people in my life, where if they need someone to take pictures, they usually come to me.” What started as a casual hobby, shooting in the park, quickly turned into his career as a photographer.
“I was captivated by magazine covers and the editorial-esque of the pictures and how it’s so captivating to the eye.”
Outside of regular studio space, Keanu finds his inspiration in nature, allowing his creativity to flow. His best work emerges when he’s experimenting with different surroundings and approaches.
Jacob Webster is one of the individuals Keanu always goes to for a fresh perspective. He resonates with Jacob’s creative process and admired the work that goes into each piece. Keanu challenges himself to shoot once a month to be consistent with his work and creativity.
When approaching a project, Keanu starts by scrolling through Pinterest. “ I love Pinterest! I go there and look for what I envision. You can find any type of muse, any type of aesthetic there.” While often flows naturally during shoots, Keanu emphasizes the importance of collaborating with his models to ensure that the vision is aligned. In its simplest form, he can agree that collaboration, communication, and a solid playbook are key to delivering a flawless project. “Respect also plays an important part in the work and the process,” says Keanu.
Throughout his journey, Keanu has embraced the waves of opportunity and failure equally, reminding himself in the end of what actually matters.
“I just want to bring joy to people and impact their confidence. When my work comes out, I have a sense of gratitude, no matter what the case may be, and I hope everybody feels that gratitude too.”
Want to see more of Keanu’s work? Check him out on Instagram at @sainttkeanu, explore his content on his creator page, or view his portfolio at keanu14santos.wixsite.com/kdsimages.