Advertising, fashion and portrait photographer, from Saint-Tropez (South of France), Yannick creates purely artistic series sold as art prints. Interview with a passionate photographer !
RC. How did photography become your profession or passion?
When I was a teenager, I swiped my father's camera to take photograph of my girlfriends, and later flipping through magazines as PHOTO, with the famous feminine fashion photographies, which were quite sexy in the 90s, I thought I wanted to be a photographer.
When I was 20, I joined an advertising studio and learned the profession. Until today, 80 percent of my photos are created in a studio, and that's a place I like, I master. Memories of my training years !
Marie, Nelly, Marine, Alexia, Johanna, Margot, Chloé, Jena-lee, Kaly Testa, Wendy, Caroline & Jessica, Houly, Bijoux pour Terre d'été, Caroline, Doriane, Coralie, Lauranne, Campagne Jus de fruit Madrague, Loraine, Magalie, Campagne Domaine de la Rouillère.
RC. How do your creative ideas come up ?
First, I've always been inspired by Newton and Demarchelier, who remain for me a reference in photography, a subtle composition between art and fashion, lifestyle and nude…
When I create, I start talking with the model or the client if my work is commissioned about their ideas and then I reinterpret mine. I refuse to do a job that doesn't look like me, even when I take a photo of a bottle of wine. I have to enjoy the photo, getting something sexy, it is the same with the model. Dialogue is for me the most important element in the creation process.
Artistically speaking, I can get up one morning, open a photo book or look at my web browser and find some ideas, assemble them together to try to create something that belongs to me.
I'm very visual, I like to look and imagine. An image, a movie, a girl in the street and my brain starts creating something, related to my current emotional state.
When it is commissioned, you need to understand the project of the client, her/his expectations and then the same process works. The purpose of an image must always be the same : give off an emotion !
RC. Do you remember a particular project ?
I'm thinking of last year, for a 2-day fashion shot project, in a small mountain village in the Maritime Alps, with 5 models and one makeup artist.
Hard day of shooting, everyone was weary, but in a very pleasant atmosphere, so I shot beautiful photos full of energy and giggles.
That's really what I'm looking for !
RC. What's your favorite equipment ?
I mostly work with Canon, for practical reasons, I have a large range of lens and it's easier like that. But Canon's policy is quite confusing, and I'm getting away from it…
I enjoy Fuji, their cameras are nice and make you want to take photos. I use one as a note book, I really do like Fuji color treatment.
I also have an old story with Pentax, which I do like too. The cameras are really good quality and produce very nice files.
I admit that I'm also looking at Sony.... maybe one day ...
RC. What technical tip could you share with us?
I've never been a photography geek. One camera, some flashes... these are tools, the most important thing is to know how to use them and to be able to convert what you have in mind, to give off an emotion.
I work mainly with Canon, but also with Pentax and Fuji... according to my desires, my needs…
I repeat what I learn : " Technique assists emotion !"And that's the best advice I can share with you. Learn, work, take photos, a lot of photos and be a creator of emotions !
RC. Do you have coming plans ?
Yes, I have a lot of plans, it dépends on the end of the confinement. I also have to shot models I don't know yet. I haven't any planned exhibitions, but a book in preparation for years, I should work a little.....
