Back in the 80’s, Jean Blais was  certainly one of our foremost “Urban” photographers.  Often provocative, his sensual images have influenced Blais’s contemporaries, all the while giving a new twist to editorial content in Quebec Fashion magazines.

Altough passionate about woman’s beauty, his career started out shooting industrial photography for government agencies.  His editorial debut was shooting music stars for Quebec Rock in the early 80’s, then he got his first editorials in Interior Design magazines such as Decormag and Décoration Chez-Soi.

Jean Blais opened his first studio in 1985, on Guy street downtown Montreal.  His obvious talent quickly impressed magazine editors and was now shooting editorial work for most canadian Fashion magazines.  Blais was to be seen at all the fashion and showbiz industry events. 

He directs music videos, becomes judge for many model contests and organizes Montreal's first "wharehouse party" events (today called "raves").  In 1987, together with journalist André Ducharme and graphic designer Daniel Charron, he launches a large format magazine called Manoeuvres showcasing their work.  Journalists, illustrators and graphic designers all volunteered to work on the making of this trade magazine .  Within 3 years, 13 issues of Manoeuvres magazines where published and actually got Jean Blais to win many advertising contracts.  Photos taken for Smirnoff vodka (1989) illustrate his daring style and very explicit sensuality wich characterized his work at the time.

Jean Blais fait vite le tour du monde de la publicité et décide de tenter sa chance à New York, où il vivra pendant trois ans, de 1995 à 1998.  Ces années seront marquées par une recherche personnelle intense, qui le mèneront ensuite à Londres, où il se familiarisera avec la photo numérique, avant de rentrer à Montréal en 1999, où il poursuit sa carrière depuis.  il est aujourd’hui un des spécialistes de la photo numérique les plus chevronnés au pays et travail surtout en publicité.

-Gérald Baril, Le Dicomode  publié aux Éditions Fides