Dream Teams: PEDEN+MUNK Couldn’t Be More Different (And It Works)
PEDEN+MUNK (Taylor Peden and Jen Munk) are a married, directing duo and photographic team based out of New York. Represented by Laird and Good Company, Taylor and Jen weave captivating visual narratives that transcend the ordinary and exude authenticity, through a keen eye for detail and a shared passion for storytelling.
Speaking with LBB’s Ben Conway, they share that they met at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and fell in love before they ever teamed up as creative partners. Then, inspired by their fashion and portraiture lecturer, the American photographer Paul Jasmin, they joined forces on a project recreating scenes from Jean-Luc Godard’s ‘Breathless’ - to great success - and have worked together ever since.
“Taylor’s drive and desire for perfection has always been an inspiration to me,” says Jen. “His way of presenting his work made me quite jealous at first, so when we started working together I knew this was a quality we could harness. Jealousy is the purest form of flattery isn't it?”
Conversely, Taylor was immediately captured by Jen’s unique artistic eye, as well as her dedication to creating polished, professional work. As the years have gone by, he says, Jen’s eye has only become more developed, guiding PEDEN+MUNK as a collective into new, more refined territories. “Watching her direct motion has changed my perception of where we can take PEDEN+MUNK into the future,” he says. “Her ability to learn and grow never ceases to amaze me.”
Despite the fact they “couldn’t be more different”, Jen adds that the duo has adjusted to each other - an aspect that Taylor believes is a reason for their success. While he considers himself more methodical and slow to examine all the details, Jen is much more headstrong and enjoys leaping head-first into a challenge. “I think it's these strengths that help us bob and weave from project to project,” he says. “Jen is great with agencies and creatives because she isn't afraid to speak her mind. I work well with the crew because of my ability to clearly communicate our needs. But many times we find ourselves flip-flopping in these scenarios which keeps things interesting and fun.”
Of course, like in any other creative partnership (or marriage, for that matter), occasional clashes are likely to arise. However, Taylor explains that it’s vital to embrace contrasting opinions and that any disagreements eventually lead to better outcomes and growth. “It enriches our experiences and contributes to a more well-rounded perspective. Over the years, we have honed our working and personal relationships to avoid major conflicts. One thing for sure is that I could not be where I am today without her.”
Although Taylor often jokes he’s always right, Jen says that, as spouses and best friends, they always stand as a united front - even if they disagree. Taylor adds, “Creative disagreements happen all the time. We generally keep emotion out of it… Sometimes one of us has to prove our point by going out on a limb or taking a risk. Sometimes this yields the best results - shots we could never plan for that just happen to work out.”
One of their first joint projects was for a Michelin-starred chef’s cookbook, where the pair were given carte blanche to bring the recipes and stories to life in any way. Photographing dynamic portraits and shots of the food in a local cermacist’s property, they used the unique surfaces and natural environment to visually deconstruct the fine dining experience - all while constructing what would become the pair’s workflow and dynamic. Through this process, they defined how they work together; concepting, collaborating and executing on all aspects of storytelling, and showing the audience the PEDEN+MUNK POV.
Since that project, the couple has had many opportunities to realise dream scenarios, joining forces with their favourite stylists and creative directors to “create magic”, says Taylor. This magic is brought about by assembling the ideal groups of people who will inspire one another - oftentimes requiring risk-taking that Taylor wishes more brands would commit to. Fortunately, the duo can always rely on each other for inspiration, and while they have done solo work, Taylor says it never feels quite the same without their other half. “The biggest benefit is having a partner to bounce ideas off - someone to help when you're in the trenches and need a hand.”
“Taylor and I are personally quite competitive,” adds Jen. “We definitely feed off of that energy when it comes to our creativity. We are equally hardworking and truly never stop.” Giving a recent example of this, she shares how a prominent brand was initially sceptical about some work the pair did to overhaul its look - despite 100% support from the agency involved. Undeterred, Jen and Taylor persevered and backed their vision with insights and compelling storytelling, and gradually won the client over, turning any doubt into enthusiasm and trust. “With this new-found collaboration, we embarked on an extraordinary brand transformation,” she says. “Fast forward to now, we have now done more than six shoots with them in under a year.”
Inspiration for PEDEN+MUNK also comes from a variety of other places - movies, TV shows and their industry peers for starters. But frequently, these influences hit from unsuspecting places, says Taylor, sharing how they’ve been known to derive creative stimuli from everywhere, from an individual shot or scenario to something as seemingly innocuous as the time of day. Also, when not feeding off each other’s artistic energy, they can still keep their source of motivation within the family, as Jen explains.
“Taylor's parents have been an immense source of inspiration for us. Taylor's mother, a creative director at Elizabeth Arden, once hired his father, a talented photographer, to capture a fragrance campaign for her. Witnessing their collaborative dynamic, we can't help but admire the profound respect they hold for each other's creative visions.” She continues, “Their unique partnership stands as a testament to the power of shared passion and mutual admiration in the world of art and innovation.”
Throughout the years of working and learning together, Taylor says that Jen’s “crucial lessons” have shaped him profoundly, highlighting the importance of active listening as one such lesson. “Understanding the depth of knowledge one can gain from truly listening to others has been huge. It’s challenging to silence one's inner voice and focus entirely on someone else, but Jen's guidance has shown me the power of this skill.” He adds that his wife and professional partner has also taught him to relinquish some of his innate apprehension, to take action without waiting for perfection. “Her wisdom and support have made her an exceptional mentor, and I am grateful to have her in my life. She truly is the best!”
Reciprocating her husband’s praises, Jen says that there’s “so much, more than I have time to share here”, but notes the most important lessons she’s learnt from Taylor are that “confidence is everything and kindness is important”.
Reflecting on the success they’ve shared together, working on shoots around the world and growing as a professional team, they’ve got more than their fair share of great moments to choose from as the pinnacle of their partnership. However, they both agree that their most prideful collaboration isn’t, in fact, a film or a photoshoot that they’ve produced together. It’s the family they’ve built together, including their two sons, Ollie and Leo.
