As kids, we we’re conditioned to believe that things are always nicer than they seem. Parents shielded us from the realities of the world and media helped it appear to be just peachy keen – in an effort to protect us and make us feel safe. I find that same thing in fashion photography sometimes, the glamour is pumped up – or the models are propped and styled to appear super sweet and innocent. As much as it can be a treat to look at, its rooted in a fantasy that takes us away from dealing with our own realities – which isn’t always such a bad thing. But, in short, its just not real. Just as this feeling/idea of fashion photography fluff crept up on me, I came across an 18 year old French fashion photographer and blogger named Fanny Latour-Lambert – her work absolutely blew my mind.
See, I’m a sucker for a well art directed image – from set styling to the mood of photograph to the character of the model and ultimately, how well the clothes come across. And usually, I love these dreamy, soft-focused images that make me feel like I’m in this far away place. But Latour-Lambert takes that dreamlike photography and spins it on its head. Using models and settings with grit and gusto, there is immediately a story that is created through the beautiful, youthful subjects behaving badly or exposing pain through their expression and body language into the camera. Some of Fanny’s shots are uncanny, witty and utterly unexpected – something that can keep viewers on their toes. She possesses this strong, moody vision that is uniquely her own. I’m very much looking forward to seeing her work grow and evolve. I’d love to see her shoot some campaigns for brands like Carven, too. What an amazing collaboration that would be.
Check out more of Fanny’s work on her blog and portfolio in the resources section. I’d love to hear your thoughts on Fanny’s work in the comments section below.
Resources:
Fanny Latour-Lambert: Blog
Fanny Latour-Lambert: Portfolio