Richard Bernardin – Fashion Photography, Visual Signature, Creative Insight, and Legacy | Martin Hyu Ep. 44
My guest today is Richard Bernardin — an award-winning fashion and portrait photographer whose work has graced the pages of Elle Canada, Elle Québec, Dress to Kill, and countless international campaigns. Known for his cinematic lighting and timeless aesthetic, Richard has spent the past decades capturing culture through the lens of identity, emotion, and human connection.
Richard’s journey blends raw artistic instinct with refined creative discipline. His photographs are more than visuals — they’re studies of presence, power, and the stories people tell without words.
In this episode, we dig into how Richard thinks, sees, and creates — the mindset behind his images and the discipline behind his craft. We talk about vision, confidence, vulnerability, and the balance between artistic freedom and commercial demand, and how he continues to evolve without losing the core of his voice.
In this episode, we discuss:
The first moment Richard felt like an artist, not just someone holding a camera
What he used to chase in his work — and why he no longer cares about it
Whether his images reveal more about his subjects… or about himself
What camera he started with, his current go-to gear and why it feels right in his hands
Staying rooted creatively while photography shifts from film to digital to AI
What people misunderstand about confidence in front of a camera
The tension between commercial work and pure artistic expression
Who he would photograph from any era — alive or gone
And much more.
Follow Richard Bernardin here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardbernardin / https://www.instagram.com/richardbernardinfineart
RLVNT Journal: https://www.instagram.com/rlvntjournal
Website: https://www.richardbernardin.com
About Martin Hyu:
Martin Hyu is an entrepreneur, CEO, and founder of Mars Media, a marketing agency specializing in hospitality and helping clients grow through creative strategy, storytelling, and digital communication.
He is also the host of The Martin Hyu Experience, a podcast available in both video and audio formats. The show explores topics such as entrepreneurship, creativity, and the evolving intersection between art, culture, and technology.
Episodes drop weekly and feature guests from all walks of life — from local legends to global thinkers.
Follow Martin online here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/martinhyu
Facebook: http://facebook.com/themartinhyu
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@martinhyu
Snapchat: http://snapchat.com/add/themartinhyu
Website: http://marsmtl.com
Twitter: https://x.com/martinhyu
Podcast: https://www.martinhyu.com