Meet Yannick Reid | Film Director, DP & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yannick Reid and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yannick, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Personally, for me, I don’t always take the same approach to solving problems. I love the freedom to be able to weigh my options towards solving problems, and choosing the balance of the most effective & most creative solution. A creative career, allowed me greater flexibility to find value in my life by solving different problems and challenges with unique solutions. The diversity that my career allows, keeps me interested, fulfilled, and stimulated continuously, knowing that I don’t have to follow the same process and solve the same problems repeatedly, and there’s room to choose the solutions that fulfil me the most.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I would like to consider myself a creative problem solver, specialising in visual communication. I have spent many years even before my formal training at the Edna Manley College for the Visual and Performing arts, learning how best to communicate an idea clearly. My art pursuit has honed my style of communication, towards visuals – Primarily, Photography, and Cinematography, but I am also formally trained in the area of Graphic Design and illustration.

This unique combination of disciplines allows me to see connections between communication points to the end user, that some people may not see. Some creatives are passionate about the feeling of their work – which is wonderful, but I am concerned about how well the end user understands the message we are trying to portray. My formal training in branding, translates over to my self trained film skills because I can identify and explain what connects with what audience for what reason, and being critical about that.

I also have the ability to execute most of my ideas first hand, but in the spirit of collaboration I love to work with others to diversify the creativity, and my expertise allows me to communicate well with my collaborators in their language.

This was not necessarily an easy journey, because most good advice recommends persons specialise so that it is easy to communicate to potential clients what it is you do, and my diverse skillset often makes that difficult, but thankfully I have been in situations – such as creative directing for Protoje – that have allowed me the opportunity to show the value of my unique skillset.

The value of communication has been a lifelong lesson I have and continue to learn, and I never regret it, we are always communicating, and I believe that a lot of the world’s problems, are stemmed from inabilities to articulate our feelings, while understanding others. For even my journey as a professional I am always learning how better to communicate to my audiences, to my clients and understanding my client’s voice when communicating on their behalf, and that is what I would like person’s to know about me. I strive to bring as much clarity as possible

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’ll imagine Jamaica as it was before the global pandemic, as right now… it looks a bit different due to curfews imposed on our way of life, haha!

The first place I think I would carry a friend, starting them off slowly, is to Chilitos, the local Jamaican-mexican fusion restaurant, that also features a cute bar. To grab a Grilled chicken burrito, as well as some strawberry margaritas!

I would insist on carrying them to my all time favourite restaurant – Pushpa’s, an Indian joint! I have to make them try our butter chicken, a serving of Meth Macci, a spicy fish curry dish, and a mixture of naan types from garlic, onion and cheese.

Jamaica is a party country by nature, so whatever party would be going on that week, we can put on one nice clothes and “touch out inna the streets” as we say to hear the latest dancehall and reggae on loud sound system speakers, while watching coordinated dances and sipping on white rum.

9 Mile beach is one of the best beaches in the island on the north coast over in Negril, with one of the best sunsets. You can’t have a bad time over by Skylark or Rockhouse cafe with their teal waters and good vibes

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In all things, I would like to give credit to my parents, who have always been supportive of my pursuit of my dreams and creative career. Their continued support in my development has allowed me to flourish without the fear of judgement from them, and their sacrifices in life, has allowed me to live in a way that may not have been an option for them at my age.

I also want to give thanks and credit to my colleague Matthew McCarthy, who’s support and friendship has literally put me in the place where my talents have been best appreciated.

and to my most loyal client, and friend Protoje, who has trusted me beyond measure with his brand and vision, and has given me the largest platform for the world to see what I have to offer.

Website: www.yannickreid.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetherapistsol/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yannick-reid-10303b48/

Image Credits
Destinee Condison, Shaquiel Brooks