Hi Sophie! First of all, we want to thank you for giving us the chance to interview you and find out more about you and your work! It’s a great pleasure to have such talented people with us!
Thank you for having me! I’m delighted to be able to share my work with you.
The Untitled project that can be seen on your website gives a look into an interesting palette of color and female models posing flawlessly. This invites one to a different type of a natural composition. What did you have in mind? What triggered to start the project?
I’ve worked within fashion and beauty photography for a while now and recently have had a drive to produce more personal work; but starting something from scratch can be quite daunting!
I considered what I am interested in and inspired by, and decided to experiment with stripping everything back; which is when I started photographing with just the model and I. The project is inspired by that itself in essence, alongside identity as a whole.
I wanted to work with people that had an interesting look to photograph and stories to tell; whilst also underpinned by consideration of body image and the work that I am contributing to the media.
The project is shot on a Polaroid Land Camera, from what we can observe. Can you tell us more on how you got into using this type of camera?
Yes, these were captured using a Polaroid Land Camera 330 and Fujifilm FP-100C.
I’ve always enjoyed working with Polaroid film and throughout the years have explored many types.
I enjoy using this film in particular because the images are of a good quality and when working with the right circumstances, can produce true to life images. The image size is also large compared to many of the compact polaroid film types which is always a bonus.
I think I first came across it when using a Polaroid back for a Hasselblad, but I wasn’t happy with only a square of the film being used and wanted to expand this; which is when I bought the 330 and haven’t looked back.
How did you choose your models? Was it something planned? Or did you just go with the flow?
Within this project, I’ve cast my models through social media. My aim was to connect with more people and find a diverse range of people to photograph. I’ve approached people and had people approach me, I’m really pleased that people are connecting with my work and doing this.
I’ve chosen to work with people with interesting looks and an aesthetic that will fit in with my project; whilst also aiming to really showcase a wide range of looks so everyone can be inspired.
Is the project finished? Would you like to add more? In what direction would you want to go with the project?
So far, the imagery I have captured has been taken locally to me and quite a few shoots have been testing ideas or aesthetics. I went into the project with an open mind so it’s taking quite a bit of experimentation to discover what I aim to communicate and how exactly I am doing this. So no, the project is nowhere near finished and I am in the process of planning more shoots to develop it further. I have a few ideas I really want to push, people I want to work with, and then I can clarify what it is I am communicating and then finalise it; with hopefully / potentially, an independent exhibition and a book of some format.
Because you used a Polaroid Land camera, I would like to ask you, if you had the last pack of peeling film for this type of camera, how would you choose to use it? What would you like to capture for the last time?
To be honest the film is becoming so hard to get hold of, or so expensive, that I feel this is the case often! I’m just trying to make the most of it while I can. I will take a Polaroid for every person I photograph for this project, so that whether their digital images make it through to my final selection or not, there will be a Polaroid representation, and therefore hopefully an impressive collection of these at the end.
I also have my fingers crossed that the film will go back into production soon, or another company will remake it; whilst still keeping the amazing quality alive.