Interview #5-6: Kumru @Elite, Luana @Premier

Last Sunday I had a shooting with these two great models, Kumru and Luana. Hope you like these little interviews. Enjoy!

Kumru (Elite)

Hi Kumru, welcome! How old are you and where are you from?

I’m 20 and I’m from Istanbul, Turkey. It’s an awesome place!

How long have you been modeling and how did you get into it?

I’ve been modeling for 4 years now.      I started as a freelance model in Turkey, a friend of mine was an hairdresser and she wanted someone to try hairstyling on. Then I sent some pictures around and Elite liked them so I was signed with them.

What do you do when you’re not modeling?

I’m a fashion designer, hairdresser and make-up artist at the same time, I love all these things. My mum is a hairdresser and my sister is a make-up artist, so doing it all comes natural to me.

What was your favorite game/cartoon when you were a kid?

Tom & Jerry!

Ah, that cartoon seems to be a classic in model’s world! And what’s your favorite food? What can’t you stand instead?

I really like Pilav rice, it’a particular kind of Turkish rice. And chicken! But I don’t like mushrooms at all.

If you could have a superpower for a day, what would it be and why?

I’d like to travel around the world in a second. I have an annoying problem with my Visa at the moment and I can’t really travel for jobs, so yeah that would be great! J

What does inspire you? 

Love, in all its expressions.

Thanks a lot for your time, Kumru. Say “Goodbye!” in your original language!

Güle güle!

 

Luana (Premier)

Hi Luana, thanks for your time. How old are you and where are you from?

I’m 18 years old from Brazil.

How did you get into modeling? 

Two years ago, when I was 16, there was a contest in my country and I won it. It’s when it all started.

What do you like the most about your job?

I really enjoy travelling around the world and getting to know other cultures and people.

What was your favourite game/cartoon when you were a kid? 

Spongebob, absolutely!

What’s your favourite food? What you can’t stand instead?

I really like Strogonoff, it’s a Brazilian recipe with chicken, onion and tomatoes mainly.                      I don’t like red meat.

What are your ambitions?

I’d like to work in television as an actress.

Oh, that’s interesting. If you could have a superpower for a day, what would it be and why?

I’d like to read people’s mind. People are so complicated nowadays, it would make my life way easier!

What does inspire you? 

Well, obviously being a model inspires me a lot. Besides that, little things inspire me,  one is my mum’s love.

Say “Goodbye!” in your original language!

Tchao, adeus!

Interview #5: Morwenna Lytton Cobbold @Premier

Hi Morwenna, thanks for this interview, working with you was a real blast and I wanted to discover more about you, you seem such an interesting person. Moreover, you’ve worked with some of the greatest photographers out there (Mario Testino, Tim Walker, Rankin, Ellen von Unwerth, Steven Meisel etc) so I feel honoured for having this chance, too. Let’s start with the simple questions: how old are you and were are you from?

I’m 22, I’m half English (from Hertfordshire) half American and I live in London.

How did you get into modelling? 

I got into modelling thanks to a family friend, Jenny Dyson, who worked at Teen Vogue at that time; she put me on the back page of the magazine in a 2006 issue. A model agency spotted that and asked me to be represented by them.

What do you do when you’re not modelling?

I usually take pictures, I’ve a photography degree. I take portraits with my medium format camera. I’m also moving out of house at the moment, which is taking pretty much all my time! My boyfriend must be at the new apartment now with the carpenters!

What do you like the most about your job?

I think what I like the most is meeting new people and working with different personalities every day experiencing their perception of the industry. But also travelling of course, even just in London when I’m sent to a casting in a part of the city I’ve never been before and going for lunch in a little café that I wouldn’t find otherwise and things like that. I really enjoy even the small simple things.

What are your ambitions?

That’s a funny question because I’m not very ambitious, I just prefer enjoying and seeing what happens without forcing it too much.

Well that’s quite impressive for a person who’s been working with some great people out there! About that, which photographer did you like the most working with and why?

Every shoot you do is quite fun to be honest but when I shoot with Ellen von Unwerth was particularly fun because she had me dressed up like a goth standing outside a church in Paris smoking a cigarette and then all these French people starting shouting “What are you doing? This is sacrilegious!” and we ended up running around this church. She’s a fun person, I’ve also seen her quite a few times in parties. On the other side, one of the hardest shooting for me was one for Elle Singapore: I was in a field in Oxford with snow shooting for Spring/Summer so it was pretty painful, but pictures are nice!

Extra question for you: my favourite photographers are Tim Walker and Paolo Roversi. Have you met them and worked with them? How was it like?

I’ve worked with Tim Walker for an Aquascutum campaign. He’s quite a private person, not very outgoing but still sweet and great to work with. It was very cool, we had to sit on benches as if it was a school photo but with girls and boys kissing. It was very fun, there was one of the models who got paranoid saying “My girlfriend is not going to be happy about this” and some models were like “I don’t want to kiss this guy!” but Tim was great handling the situation: he was kind but also very determined, he told us what to do and took control of the situation.

I haven’t worked with Paolo Roversi (yet!) but I met him at the opening of his exhibition here in London and I really wanted to talk to him. He was really nice and quite fun too, we also had a photo taken!

What was your favourite game/cartoon when you were a kid? 

My favourite game was a board game, Masterpiece, where players participate in auctions for famous paintings. Cartoon-wise, it was Dexter! Wasn’t it called Dexter? The little scientist with the annoying blonde sister?

What’s your favourite food? What you can’t stand instead?

My favourite food is my mum’s vegetarian lasagne just because no one can make it. My boyfriend has tried but it did not taste nice, he failed at that! My less favourite food is celery, I can’t stand it.

If you could have a superpower for a day, what would it be and why?

I would like to be able to time travel to the past, I’m really fascinated with history. My family has literally been living in the same house for 500 years so I’d like to be able to go back in time, it’s pretty mad! That would be fun.

What does inspire you? 

Photographer-wise, I’m inspired by Julia Margaret Cameron, she’s a Victorian photographer. I’m very into Pre-Raphaelites and old Victorian look whether or not it’s in photography, fashion or film.

Thanks a lot for your time, Morwenna. Say “Goodbye!” in your original language!

Goodbye!

Interview #4: Clea @Storm Models

1. Hi Clea, thanks for letting me interview you, it was SO good working with you today. So, how old are you and where are you from?

I’m eighteen and I’m from London, I was born here.

2. How did you get into modelling? 

I was scouted three years ago, when I was fifteen, by Storm when I was in a Primark.

3. Oh really? And what do you do when you are not modelling?

I’m still at school so I’m currently studying, but I also like to do gymnastics. And I hang out with friends, of course.

4. What do you like the most about your job?

I like the clothes! And I like all the different people I meet, they are all so different. I just have a lot of fun doing it.

5. What was your favourite game/cartoon when you were a kid? 

Such a hard one! I liked any Disney film actually, especially Bambie.

6. Bambie, really? It made me cry so hard every time I watched it 😦 Anyway, what’s your favourite food? What you can’t stand instead?

I LOVE Italian food, pizza and pasta and things like that! I can’t stand spicy food, like Mexican food, anything spicy just makes me AAAH!

7. What are your ambitions?

I really want to travel modelling-wise and hopefully get some good jobs. Then, I want to go to University, I really want to go to Nottingham University, I’ve applied there and it’s my first choice, so hopefully I’ll get the grades.

8. Good luck with that then! If you could have a superpower for a day, what would it be and why?

To read people’s minds? Definitely! But I don’t know, that would be really fun for a day, then I’d be  like “Ok, don’t want to hear these things anymore!”

9. What does inspire you? 

About my job, Kate Moss is really inspiring to me, due to her background and everything. She’s a short model, like me, but she’s very successful. In general, a lot of people inspire me, I could not choose just one.

10. Thanks a lot for your time, Clea. Say “Goodbye!” in your original language!

Bye!

Interview #3: Natasha @Storm Models

Image1. Hi Natasha! So, how old are you and where are you from?

I’m twenty and I’m from Russia.

2. How did you get into modelling?

Thanks to a model agency in my city, Kaliningrad!

3. What do you do when you are not modelling?

Studying, hanging out with friends and staying with family! I study about Tourism.

4. What do you like the most about your job?

It’s nice because you know a lot of interesting people and you have the opportunity of travelling a lot, so it’s not boring at all.

5. What was your favourite game/cartoon when you were a kid?

Tom & Gerry!

6. That’s a classic! What’s your favourite food? What you can’t stand instead?

I really like fruit. And meat! I don’t like potatoes.

7. What are your ambitions?

Honestly, I don’t know, I still don’t have plans for the future!

8. If you could have a superpower for a day, what would it be and why?

I’d definitely read people’s mind. It would be so interesting knowing what they think about you!

9. What does inspire you?

My mum.

10. Oh, that’s sweet. Say “Goodbye!” in your original language!

до свидания (do svidaniya)

Interview #2: Hanako @Premier Models

1. Hi Hanako! Thanks for letting me interview you, you seem a very interesting person. So, how old are you and where are you from?

I’m seventeen and I’m from London. My mum is Japanese and my father is half Irish, half English.

2. How did you get into modelling?

I was scouted at a festival when I was fifteen but before that I had been doing some freelance modelling, so I’ve been modelling since the age of fourteen.

3. What do you do when you are not modelling?

I’m a high school student, I’m in my last year and I’m studying Philosophy, Photography and Drama. Apart from that, I hang out with friends!

4. That’s so interesting. What do you like the most about your job?

You take on different personas and I really enjoy the acting part of it. Moreover, you get to create something with other people even if just for an hour or a day. It’s very fun for me, especially when people I work with are nice.

5. 100% agree on everything you said. What was your favourite game/cartoon when you were a kid?

I used to like Pokemon. Apart from that, I used to like a cartoon with three girls, they were spies and they were really cool! They had these cat-suits… I can’t remember the name of that!

6. I think it was named “Totally Spies!”. Tell me a random fact about yourself.

I have hyper-bendable fingers and arms, they do really crazy stuff! And I can also twist my arms all way around. Want to see? (showing me)

7. Oh, that’s creepy! What’s your favourite food? What you can’t stand instead?

Actually, my favourite food changes everyday. But I really like Beef Wellington and Potatoes Dauphinoise. Oh, I also like really good Sushi. Talking about what I can’t stand, I literally like everything apart from celery… I mean, I can eat it, but I don’t really like it.

8. What are your ambitions?

I want to act, want to be an actress. Let’s see how it goes!

9. If you could have a superpower for a day, what would it be and why?

I’d Disapparate, like Harry Potter! I’d like to go from one place to another in a second… I’d go to Barbados, South America, New Zealand and Fiji. That would be amazing!

10. I’d love that, too. How do you see yourself in 5 years?

Hope to have a boyfriend! And I hope I’ll really pursue acting, I hope to be very into that.

11. What does inspire you?

I think that a good photograph is really powerful. And people, intelligent people are very inspiring, humble intelligence and creative people in general are really inspiring to me.

12. So true. Well, this is the end of our interview. Say “Goodbye!” in your original language!

さよなら。(Sayonara!)

Interview #1: Lexi @Select Models

Little preamble –

I’m starting a little project inside every shooting I’ll do: I’ll interview the models I work with. It’s interesting for me because I would like to knock down that wall of indifference/distance that it’s usual between photographer and model.

That said, I have the pleasure to inaugurate this project with Lexi from Select Models Management, let’s consider this as a warm-up.

Enjoy!

Hi Lexi! Thanks for your time, I’m very pleased you are the first model to be part of this project. So, tell me a little about you. How old are you and where are you from?

Hi Laura! I’m 18 and I’m from Belarus.

Quite far from London! How did you get into modelling?

My mother helped me. When I was 13, I used to play with boys and I wasn’t feminine at all, so my mother decided to send me to modelling school so that I could learn the proper skills.

A real tomboy, that’s interesting! And what do you do when you are not modelling?

I love playing sports and dancing, but modelling gives me the greatest pleasure.

What do you like the most about your job?

I love the catwalk, it’s my life, I feel a sense of commitment to it and for me it’s all.

You must be proud! What was your favourite game when you were a kid?

I loved fighting with boys, I was very combative!

Tell me a random fact about yourself.

I can honestly say I never thought that modeling would be an important part of my life.

What’s your favourite food? What you can’t stand instead?

I love food but do not allow myself to eat everything… I love sweets, probably like everyone else, but now I do not eat it at all. And I don’t like hot milk!

Ooh, I can’t stand hot milk, too! What are your ambitions?

My goal is to be a very good model and always make something new for modelling, I already did my video presentation where I dance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzVYXGhu3i4&feature=youtu.be) I think it’s new, fresh and original and I hope it will help me..we’ll see! 🙂

If you could have a superpower for a day, what would it be and why?

Honestly, I prefer to live as I do and take what I am given!

What does inspire you?

My family and my work.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I do not like to think about the future, I enjoy living the present.

So wise! So, this is the end of our interview. Say “Goodbye!” in your original language!

До свидания! 🙂

Workshops e tutorials: il piacere di insegnare

Workshop Crew

Hey guys,

inizio il primo post “ufficiale” di questo nuovo blog ringraziando tutti quelli che hanno scaricato il primo tutorial gratuito che ho postato qui qualche giorno fa e che mi hanno dato dei feedback positivi a riguardo.. Ne arriveranno altri nelle prossime settimane: i più brevi (di circa 30 minuti) rimarranno sempre gratuiti, mentre metterò in vendita quelli con una postproduzione più lunga e complessa.

Come avrete notato ho iniziato, insieme alla splendida Valentina Pezzo, un ciclo di Fashion Photography Workshops qui in Italia: dopo quello tenutosi a Milano il 15 Ottobre, ne stiamo organizzando un altro per il 15 Gennaio a Palermo, prima che io parta definitivamente per Londra a Febbraio.

Sto scoprendo a poco a poco quanto mi piaccia insegnare, tramite workshops o tutorials. La possibilità di dare un contributo alla formazione di altri fotografi wannabe, che fanno ora lo stesso mio percorso di qualche tempo fa, mi dà davvero molta soddisfazione. Dare loro ispirazione, carica e consigli nei riguardi delle loro speranze e dei loro dubbi, motiva allo stesso tempo anche me che parlo. Scoprirmi “insegnante” in questi contesti è piuttosto strano per me che fino a poco tempo fa ero solo una “alunna”: avendo preso per la prima volta in mano una reflex appena 4 anni fa, il mio percorso in questo mondo è abbastanza breve, eppure intenso. Mostre in patria e all’estero, workshop frequentati e tenuti, revisioni di portfolio internazionali, pubblicazioni su magazines e webzines. Un vortice di esperienze mi ha travolto e mi ha fatto capire di non voler far altro nella vita.

Da qui, il piacere di insegnare: trasmettere un po’ di quello che sono agli studenti del workshop, con le mie esperienze e la mia visione soggettiva. Lo stesso vale per Valentina che ha un background per certi versi simile al mio (calabrese di origini) e allo stesso tempo totalmente diverso, visto che lei vive da sempre in Svizzera. Poter dare vita a questi workshop insieme a lei è stato incredibile anche per questo: vivendo in una terra in cui la Fashion Photography è -quasi- inesistente, almeno per come la intendiamo noi, il potermi confrontare con lei è stato splendido e da questo connubio di esperienze è nato il workshop di Milano, che ha lasciato noi insegnanti e gli studenti molto soddisfatti, al punto che alcuni di loro si sono iscritti alla seconda edizione a Palermo per poter seguire la lezione un’altra volta.

I nostri workshop si basano sulla simulazione del processo di creazione di un editoriale, step by step: concept iniziale-fase di scatto in location esterna-selezione-postproduzione-proposta a webzines/magazines. Ogni passaggio è fondamentale per ottenere il risultato finale e nulla va trascurato: una delle cose che abbiamo ripetuto più spesso ai nostri studenti è proprio la cura che devono riservare ai dettagli, perché quelli fanno la differenza. La presenza di un team di creativi (modella, hairstylist, makeup artist e stylist) ha permesso agli studenti di confrontarsi con queste figure del mondo della fashion photography che hanno spiegato, ognuno secondo il proprio punto di vista, il rapporto con il fotografo e con il resto del team nella realizzazione di uno shooting, nonchè l’importanza di essere guidati nel loro lavoro e l’utilità di supporti come moodboards e storyboards; abbiamo anche visionato a fondo i loro portfolio e dato tips&tricks a riguardo. Il workshop è quindi consigliato a qualunque aspirante fashion photographer che voglia capire meglio i meccanismi della fashion industry, come entrarci e rimanerci intensificando i contatti a livello internazionale.

Gli editoriali sono oggi il mezzo con cui i fotografi di moda ottengono più visibilità in assoluto poichè vengono pubblicati su magazines e webzines che spopolano sul web: nei nostri workshop, io e Valentina spieghiamo appunto come arrivare alla pubblicazione e, conseguentemente, alla visibilità, da cui poi discendono tante cose, tra cui i lavori in campo pubblicitario. Sono anche,a mio parere, il mezzo più completo per esprimere la propria creatività in questo genere di fotografia e mostrare la propria identità di fotografo: creare un concept da zero e discuterlo con il team per poi metterlo in pratica è un po’ come dar vita a una nuova creatura. Il genere pubblicitario, invece, è di solito diverso e più restrittivo in questo senso.

Io e Valentina siamo rimaste sorprese dall’ottimo lavoro fatto dagli studenti del workshop di Milano: hanno prodotto degli editoriali davvero validi! Da insegnanti, abbiamo noi stesse imparato molto da loro e sicuramente lo metteremo in pratica nel workshop di Palermo.

Photo by Gaetano Pavano

Photo by Josephine Peneff

Photo by Giulia Parlato

Photo by Caterina Gualtieri

Photo by Vincenzo Capasso

Sono felice di dire che nel team di questo prossimo workshop del 15 gennaio avremo il piacere di lavorare con una talentuosissima stylist tedesca che scenderà dalla Germania appositamente per questa occasione. Non potremmo essere più eccitate all’idea!

Ricordo quindi che ci sono ancora dei posti disponibili per il workshop di Palermo (15/01/2012) e che per maggiori informazioni potete leggere QUI e contattarci all’indirizzo workshoplauravalentina@gmail.com

Voglio concludere il post con alcuni testimonials scritti dagli studenti di Milano riguardo la loro esperienza al nostro workshop:

La mia esperienza al workshop di Laura e Valentina è stata senza dubbio positiva.
Per me che sono affascinato della fotografia di moda è stata l’occasione di vivere in prima persona la realizzazione di un editoriale fotografico, dall’idea iniziale alla selezione delle foto da pubblicare.
Il tutto arricchito dai preziosi consigli e insegnamenti delle due bravissime tutor che si sono rivelate pienamente all’altezza del loro ruolo. E’ stato entusiasmante poter lavorare insieme ad un team di altissimo livello.
La revisione del mio portfolio, che ha concluso la giornata, mi ha dato la possibilità di comprendere i miei errori per migliorare la qualità dei miei scatti nei servizi fotografici che realizzerò in futuro.
E’ sicuramente un’esperienza che spero di poter ripetere se ce ne sarà l’occasione e che ha rivoluzionato il mio modo di fare fotografia. LO CONSIGLIO A TUTTI
Gaetano Pavano
Ho scelto di partecipare a questo workshop perchè, oltre a provare un particolare interesse verso la fotografia di moda, ero ben consapevole della bravura di Laura e Valentina. Non ho esitato un secondo, mi sono iscritta subito! Infatti è stata una bellissima giornata, ho potuto lavorare per la prima volta con professionisti nel settore, persone gentilissime e disponibili. I risultati sono stati ottimi, grazie ai consigli delle due insegnanti e anche grazie alla compagnia, molto piacevole, degli altri studenti partecipanti! Personalmente, mi sono divertita molto e ho imparato moltissime cose che prima non conoscevo, è stata un esperienza davvero utile.
Federica Provini
Voi due mi avete insegnato una cosa molto piccola, ma importante.. vedere che voi due, più o meno mie coetanee, siete riuscite ad arrivare dove siete, e siete solo all’inizio, mi ha rincuorata e ispirata. E’ una piccolezza, ma affrontare questa esperienza con delle persone che ti ispirano e che stimi, fa molto!
A parte le piccole cose singole sopradescritte, direi che questo da questo workshop ne sono uscita generalmente più ispirata, coinvolta, attenta, pronta e curiosa, ecco.
Carlotta Monzani