Bio
About Gwen
I first picked up a professional camera almost 10 years ago when confronted with daily life in the townships of South Africa. Having never been to Africa before or seen poverty firsthand, I was compelled to write about my experience and the incredible resilience and generosity of those I encountered. I quickly came to realize that words alone could not convey all that I wanted to express and I turned to my camera for help. This experience sparked my ongoing interest in travel and adventure photography.
Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to return to and live in Africa, travel to and live in Western Europe, and explore parts of Central and South America. I’m always on the hunt for my next adventure.
When I’m not photographing, you can find me making shrimp dumplings or spicy ramen, curating my soul playlist, scouting new finds at flea markets, or any mix of hiking, rock climbing, camping, and scuba diving.
Awards
Furious Pixel Trophy
@ Pixels of Fury, Hosted by AIGA and Shutterstock
Pixels of Fury is a live design competition in which contestants have 20 minutes to design an inspirational poster on a topic of their choice. After coming in first against two contestants in the first round, I competed against the winner of the second round where we were again given 20 minutes to design a poster. During the second round we switched topics and worked to design our competitor’s concept in a new way. The full video can be found here.
AIGA Best of the Student Design Community: New Voices, Unique Visions
@ Endicott College, Hosted by AIGA
New Voices, Unique Visions is a student design competition aimed at showcasing the best student designers from renown colleges and universities in New England.
Exhibits
Life Through My Lens: A Glimpse
@ Gallery 360, Northeastern University
Artist Statement: “In order to document my travels while studying at Northeastern, I kept a camera by my side to capture fleeting moments I observed. Over time, photography grew in importance to me, inspiring the creation of a collaborative photography website, The Photography League. Here is a glimpse into a few such moments and a chance to look at the world through my lens.”
- We had the pleasure of working with Gwen when she took our engagement photos. From the very start of the project, she was professional, enthusiastic and fun. She had wonderful ideas about unique places to take the photos, and great poses to work with. During the shoot, Gwen had an impeccable eye for lighting and backdrop. We’re extremely pleased with the outcome and will cherish these photos forever.
Chloe & Alex
- Hiring Gwen was one of the best decisions I made for my wedding day. The whole day went by in such a happy blur and I’ll be able to relive those special moments she captured for the rest of my life. She made tactful and gentle suggestions to make shots better and had an eye for the little details. I am so grateful for the candid photos she snapped in between the posed shots. Thank you, Gwen!
Alex & Juliana
- We contracted Gwen to take our engagement photos. She was extremely professional throughout the shoot and was willing to have fun with us, suggesting creative ideas. Her suggestion to include pictures on Acorn Street in Boston resulted in some unexpected and striking shots. We are very happy with our pictures and had a great time with her.
Liz & Alex
- I contracted Gwen Kidera to take a series of family photographs. I knew it was going to be a challenge with thirteen people, including five children, two under the age of two. Gwen was very professional and great with the kids. She photographed as many different groupings as we wanted and was very accommodating as we came up with different ideas. The photos turned out great and everyone was pleased. I would recommend her highly.
Chris
- Gwen photographed my wedding with the assistance of a second shooter. Her energy and enthusiasm as well as her commitment to getting that great shot were so very appreciated. She was flexible and accommodating to our unique requests including adding our beloved dog into photos and location and wardrobe changes. Gwen has a great eye for that special moment and our photographs are beautiful. She was very efficient at getting our photographs to us and I would highly recommend her to anyone!
Jennifer
- Gwen covered my birthday party, documenting the night in pictures. She was extremely professional through the entire process, as well as friendly and easy to work with. We were extremely happy with the results and I would highly recommend her work.
Tracy