Interview: Photographer Nathan Alliard (France)

Can you tell us a little about you?

Hi, I’m 27, was born in France and I've been settled in Paris as a Fashion and Lingerie

Photographer for the past years, I've also been living in Milan and London for a time.

How and when did you get into photography?

I was around 14 I think when I got taken. My big brother is a director and photographer and I

discovered the incredible world of photography with him. Around 16 I went to the Richard

Avedon exhibition at the Musée du Jeu de Paume and was amazed by the great portraits the American West Series and then by 18 I was leaving my native Normandy for Paris to work for an agency, and I've never put down my camera since.

What does photography mean to you?

It has been my life and my main mean of expression, my way of trying to show people their own beauty or the beauty I have the chance to see in the world around me. It has been an incredible way to meet people, to discover places. Life is full of little extasies, moments when light and life aligns and it’s quite the journey to follow, search and capture those.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

I would say out of time, a bit, I'm neither really classical, neither particularly innovative, I try to get a natural and sincere view on the subjects of my pictures. I rarely display bright colors and mainly go with a dark atmosphere where shadow lies behind beauty.

Where do you get inspiration from?

I get my inspiration from a lot of things, History, Art, Mythologies, Fiction, but I'd say it’s the people I meet, either models or friends that are making the difference, that end up taking the interests and projects to another levels.

Do you think in advance what you want in the picture ?

Yes, I do prepare my projects when I'm shooting jobs, when my clients need to be able to expect and have an idea of what we are doing or gonna do. In my personal projects, I can begin the shoot with an idea, but it generally really depends on the people I'm gonna work with and the directions the shoot is going to take.

Studio, on location or both?

Both. As long as there is a beautiful or the means to creating one. But in any case, I’d try to find the best to do with the natural light.

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

I'm a paid professional

What has been your most memorable session and why?

There as been some several really cool shoots, from a midnight shoot in the galerie Vivienne in Paris to an unprepared shoot in a renaissance castle in the middle of nowhere. But two years ago, I've been working with the most part of my dream team on the first campaign I shot for the lingerie brand Paloma Casile, using big back drops outdoors and fabrics flying. It was really an amazing moment and the photos are as well, thanks to them

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?

I've always been shooting both, also some phase one and hasselblads. And my dream choice would be a chamber with a digital back. But I'm mainly shooting Nikon, and the 50 is my favorite lens, at some point I use to own 7, I "only" have three today.

What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business?

Take your time, question yourself and shoot as many f****g pictures as you can. We learn by doing.

What do you think of our new magazine?

It's good to find a nice, good tasted and free platform for young creatives to discover each other.

www.nathanalliard.com

@nathanalliard