Interview: Photographer Metco Brams (France)
Tell us something about yourself
My name is Metco Brams, I am a beauty photographer in Paris since 2015, and every day my cat gives me lessons of elegance.
How and when did you get into photography?
I came to photography through my passion for pretty faces and make-up, which is in me since forever. In 2015, I decided to be able to build my own beauty projects, the ones I had in mind for a long time, the ones that hit me with inspiration from time to time, and that I kept quiet. I did it « with a little help from my friends » who where very supportive, and it was a liberating moment of my life.
What does photography mean to you?
Beauty. For me, photography is just a way to make an ephemeral beauty moment stay forever and shared with more people. It is only a device, not a goal.
Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.
Faces, faces ! I like healthy models, positive vibes, expressive faces, because that’s what being alive should mean. I love to play with make-up, hair, jewels and gems. I am told that my work is often elegant and graphic at the same time, so let’s consider this my photography style for now.
Where do you get inspiration from?
I like to get inspiration from the hobby or the character of my model, but I can get inspiration just from its features. I also have inspiration with different kind of materials or fabrics : in that case the concept comes first and I wait for the right face to make it come to life, sometimes much later. I must say, I have great inspiration from collaborations with other artists from a different world : making their creative world come into beauty on a face, and my beauty world embrace the codes of their artistic field, is something very exciting and instructive.
Think you in advance what you want in the picture?
Absolutely. It doesn’t always come out the way I planed it, but a long preparation is then a good basis to find another good idea. A shooting without enough preparation would be very frustrating for me, as I wouldn’t have enough time to explore in advance all options, and to build this little secret world around the main idea.
Studio, on location or both?
Only studio.
Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?
Usually, I don’t consider myself a lot !
What has been your most memorable session and why?
I hope my most memorable session is yet to come ! Let’s say I have strong memories of the very first « draft » sessions, when my models prooved to be very trustful and very patient with me discovering my own material…
Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?
Canon because the instructions are more intuitive to me. I was advised the 70-300mm F4-5.6, and indeed I like it !
What has been the biggest source of inspiration in your work?
I always make a session considering that there will be no postproduction. It makes the team work with high accuracy and it creates big expectations for everyone. Postproduction is very light each time (and sometimes there is none indeed), to respect everybody’s work, and to respect the real face of the model. I love to make reality beautiful, and then to transcribe it faithfully.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?
Think about the other women who will watch your photos, especially the young ones, and don’t make them feel like shit.
What do you think of our new magazine?
I discovered it through nice edito pictures on the social medias and I like the fact that it takes risks with some original and various editos. It allows to discover new artists, because unfortunately in the main magazines, it is usually always the same artists…. Keep on the good work !
Photo : Metco Brams. Model : Perrine, musician & writer. Make-Up&Hair : Griphée.
Photo Metco Brams. - Make-Up Griphée. - Model Daria. - From Edito "Gold Story" in Roar Magazine, April 2006.
Photo Metco Brams. Make-Up Griphée. Model Tiph.
Photo Metco Brams, Make-Up Griphée, Post Prod Aline Bartoli, Model Anastasia, Jewels Apara. From Edito "Jewelry Chic" in Obscurae Magazine vol16
Photo : Metco Brams. Model : Perrine, musician & writer. Make-Up&Hair : Griphée. Album Cover in 2016.
Photo Metco Brams. Make-Up&Hair Griphée. Model : Fél.
Photo Metco Brams. Make-Up Griphée. Model Chloe Bechini. Post Prod Aline Bartoli.
From Edito "Chloé made DIY / Chloé fait du bricolage", MUPmagazine.
Photo: Metco Brams, Make-Up : Griphée, Muah Stufana, Post Prod Elena Misjuk, Model E.B., jewels Misaki. From Edito "Bold Beauty" in Dreamingless Magazine, issue 22 May 2016, the Beauty issue.
Photo Metco Brams. Make-Up Griphée. Model Debby.
Photo Metco Brams. Make-Up Griphée. Model Daria.
Photography : Metco Brams, Artwork : Florian Jourda, Model : Alison Cossenet, Make-Up : Griphée, Post Production : Yelena Popova. From Edito "Radiante" Institute Magazine / February 6, 2017.
Photo : Metco Brams, Make-Up : Griphée, Model : Demi@Mademoiselle Agency, Post Prod : Aline Bartoli, Jewels : Lovingstone Paris. From Editorial "Pinky Demi" for HUF Magazine November 2016.
