Alexandre Rouleau: Roaming, Connecting, and Beautiful Storytelling
- PhotoED Magazine
- Oct 1, 2025
- 6 min read
An interview with photoED Magazine
Driven by adventure, Alexandre Rouleau’s cinematic travel photos and videos connect his biggest personal passions — exploring new places and meeting people from different cultures.
Originally from Rimouski, Quebec, Alexandre now splits his time between the mountain town of Revelstoke, British Columbia, and the creative hub of Bali when he’s not travelling elsewhere.
photoED Magazine spoke to Alexandre Rouleau about his work.
photoED: How did you get started in photography? And what keeps you motivated and inspired to keep at it?
Alexandre:
I was probably 12 years old when I started playing around with cameras, photographing car shows on film, and shooting short films with my friends on mini DV tapes. I began digital photography and filmmaking seriously after leaving home at 19 to travel.
For a few years I travelled aboard a converted school bus, documenting my adventures with tons of photos and a few vlog episodes until a road accident ended that journey abruptly. Following that, I took a 10-year break from photography to explore other art forms and passion projects. About three years ago now, I flipped my life upside down one more time when I circled back to realize there was no other way than through photography to best share my visions.
Travelling to new places definitely keeps me motivated and inspired but I think more importantly, it’s about constant learning and trying new things. If I feel stuck and uninspired, I’ll reach out and go shoot with another photographer I have not met yet: It’s always interesting to see someone else’s approach, or try some new equipment or lighting techniques, just to get out of my comfort zone.
photoED: What do you love most about creating stories through photography?
Alexandre:
I love being able to capture fractions of time that transmit a genuine emotion on someone’s face. I enjoy sharing the vibe of a room through colour, or how I felt in a moment through the angle I took. There is a lot that can be understood through an image that would be a lot harder for me to do with words.
photoED: There are some beautiful places in the world that are being “loved to death” due to over tourism. How do you balance your goals as a creator, crafting enticing images with being sensitive to the various cultures and landscapes you visit?
Alexandre:
I try to avoid tourist areas as much as possible, but if I do visit them I look to photograph the locals and their daily life, which does sometimes get drowned by a sea of tourists who are there for the wrong reasons and show no respect to the people welcoming them on their land.
Take Bali for example, a controversial place at the moment in terms of tourism. The government is to blame for letting so many developers destroy beautiful locations, but a lot of what is happening is also due to influencers and the party scene. Bali originally charmed people through stunning landscapes and kind people, but since massive beach clubs and “Instagramable” places are posted online repeatedly, people now come for these reasons. I’m sure 90% of the people visiting Bali these days will not even notice any of it, they will stay in Canggu, complain about traffic, get wasted, and go back home.
Through my images, you will not be seeing those beach clubs, you’ll be looking at local life in remote villages, genuine smiles from local people happy to see you and curious about you as much as you are curious about them. If my viewers are attracted to visit Bali through my work, I hope and think they will be able to go for good reasons and with a respectful approach.
photoED: Why Revelstoke? Why Bali?
Alexandre:
I’ve been a snowboarder and mountain biker for most of my life, and the mountains have been my favourite place since I first discovered them at age 18 on a trip to the Rockies. Revelstoke delivers in terms of playground, there is an infinite amount of terrain you can explore, some of the best snow on earth, and the town has a super cool community with lots of opportunities for me.
Bali on the other end just randomly came up to me. After visiting for the first time, even though I did fall in love with the place, it was an opportunity that came up that made me decide to set up a base camp there. I love South East Asia and I do spend a lot of time on that side of the planet, which just happens to be far from Canada.
photoED: Do you have any tips for travel photographers?
Alexandre:
Travel slowly. Roam by yourself and get lost, see where that leads you. Connect with the locals, be kind and respectful, make friends, and take time to understand the deeper layers of the place.
photoED: Whose work has influenced yours?
Alexandre:
The first person I always think of is Emmett Sparling an extremely talented storyteller based in Vancouver. Next to him would be Ashraful Arefin a huge influence when it comes to my street photography. Michael Sidofsky also played a huge part inspiring me as well as Luke Stackpoole.
photoED: What makes a good photograph?
Alexandre:
Light. I think a good photograph delivers a story and makes you feel something. A good photograph doesn’t have to be technically perfect if the story is told and an emotion is transmitted to the viewer.
photoED: How has working in photography influenced you personally?
Alexandre:
Photography has pushed me outside of my comfort zone many times, chasing risks and committing to a creative life. It has taught me how to connect on a deeper level; every shoot and every trip is a reason to meet people and hear their stories, and this makes you see your own life from so many different perspectives.
photoED: What does your dream project entail? Where do you hope photography will take you in the future?
Alexandre:
I have been working on small, solo projects for the most part but I am really looking forward to working on larger projects with a crew. I’m talking about 4 to 5 photographer and filmmaker friends going on a trip together to shoot a specific project. Everywhere I go, I try to connect with local creatives and whoever I run into if the timing is right. I love travelling solo, but the occasional group trip with a bunch of talented creatives does sound good!
Mostly, I want photography to keep taking me to places I never imagined visiting.
photoED: Do you have any tips for emerging photographers?
Alexandre:
Don’t waste your time chasing the same places and recreating the same photos you’ve seen over and over on the Internet. Find a new angle, pay attention to details around you, and find your own way of telling a story.
Learn from as many people as possible and make your own presets, try as many things as possible and see what works and what doesn’t.
Don’t wait for perfection to put your work out there; it will never be perfect. But feedback will help you grow.
GEAR UP
What camera and equipment do you use most now? What’s your favourite lens? Tell us about your experience using Tamron lenses.
Alexandre:
I currently shoot with a SONY A7IV for most of my still photographs and I also have an A7S3 for video stuff, which serves me as a second body when needed.
Now that I have a Tamron 35–150mm f/2–2.8 though, I rarely need to go with the dual body setup. This lens is just crazy great and it has become a fast favourite. I still use my 24–70mm a lot, but if I have to choose only one lens to go on a trip it will in most cases be the 35–150mm. It’s the perfect focal range for my type of photography.
I’ve always loved the Tamron lenses, they really deliver when it comes to making travel-friendly lenses. I also own the 150–500mm, and I don’t know of any other telephoto lens with such a wide focal range that is smaller or lighter than this one.
It’s not just that the Tamron lenses are sharp with a creamy bokeh that I love; they are consistently the best bang for the buck compared to other brands.
See more of Alexandre’s work - HERE.
Check out Alexandre Rouleau's fave Tamron lens - HERE!
