Interview: Photographer Pia Lindstrøm (PiaLind Foto) (Denmark)

Can you tell us a little about you?

I work part time as a NICU nurse (premature babies and sick newborns) and also do temp work as a NICU nurse on various hospitals in Norway (when my schedule permits it).

Also I work part time as freelance photographer with my own studio in Værløse/DK. Here I serve mostly private clients with everything from maternity to newborn sessions, boudoir to weddings etc. I also have some commercial clients now and then.

I am somewhat of a nerd, and proud of it.

How and when did you get into photography?

This was sort of a coincidence. I had to move to Holland with my ex husband, and for the move I sold my horse. Because horses where cheap in Holland I figured, if I didn’t do something with the money from the sale, then I’d end up buying a new one. So I whent out, and bought my first DSLR (Canon 400D + Sigma 70-200 lense).

In the beginning I only shot horses and equestrian shows, but in 2011 I slowly started letting people in front of my camera instead of only horses.

That quickly became my obsession – and it quickly escalated from here. I was doing both model sessions just for fun, and supplementing my student income with some hired sessions. When I graduated as nurse, I started my own company and found my studio and went part-time-all-in.

What does photography mean to you?

Passion, creativity and playtime. Oh, and also income and food on the table ;) But the passion/play-part is where I get to do the impossible and create art. I tend to get rather weird ideas that require me to create for instance a dress of grain or autumn leaves. And yes, I did indeed sew grain and glue on real autumn leaves onto a dress for my Queen of All Seasons series.

It also means I get to meet some incredible people and be creative with them. I have worked with amazing models and makeup artists and they bring out the best in me.

My proudest moments have been getting cover features on magazines, I have done this 5 times in total, 4 of them with my muse Kastalia with whom I had the first session when she was only 14 and one with one of my favorite makeup artist whom I “shoved” in front of the camera when she had dyed her hair pink.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

My style is very feminine. Soft, douche tones rather than flashy colors and contrasts.

My preferred genre is Nude Art, but I love shooting everything from newborns to family portraits, maternity sessions to fashion and beauty. But if I had to choose only ONE thing, Nude Art would be it. I love adding my feminine touch to modern time sculptures, which is what I see Nude Art as. I have not submitted any of my nudes to this article and I never post them on my FB/IG sites, but they are all on my website. I strongly feel that the naked body is something you should CHOOSE to see, and not be forced to see when it randomly pops up on your screen.

Where do you get inspiration from?

Honestly there are no specific sites/places I get my inspiration from. It often just “comes” to me, when I see something on TV or drive by a location that puts images in my head. Usually I cannot stop thinking about that idea until I actually do it.

Very politically incorrect, many of my most elaborate and creative ideas have come from a bottle of wine ;)

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

Yes and no. It really depends on the session and why I’m doing it. Is it for a client? Then I have a very strickt idea from my pre-consult with this client.

Is it my hobby-part, then it can also be both. Especially if I have a very specific idea, then that is what I’m working towards with my team. If it’s a model I know and like working with, then sometimes we just go see what happens. In these situations it’s a cocktail of the environment, mood, lighting and spontanious ideas from both me and the team that makes the final images.

Studio, on location or both?

BOTH – for sure. Each for their own type of images/setups.

When shooting Nude Art, I prefer location – I am not really a fan of the classic lowkey shots (although I have done my fair share).

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

Both. Photography is my passion and hobby that I do just for fun but it is also my work. Part of my income is from my business.

What has been your most memorable session and why?

Uh, this is a tough one. I have so many to be honest. But my most treasured sessions are a combination of the very planned and detailed conseptual sessions (where we where submitting to magazines or doing an elaborate setup) but also the very relaxed and random roadtrips to southern Sweden just shooting whatever we felt like in the nature there.

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?

Canon, but that is 100% accidental. That is what the sales-guy sold me in Holland back in the day, and I knew nothing then, so just payed and said thank you. If I had to do it today, I would probarbly go mirrorless, but system change is such a hassle so I’m sticking with my 5D mrk III.

Favorite lense really depends on what I’m shooting. For hobby sessions it’s my 100mm 2,8 for some types and for others it’s the 70-200 4,0.

For my business part, it’s mostly 24-70 2,8 that’s on the camera as it’s so versatile.

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

Find your OWN style. Don’t shoot what you think others like, shoot/edit how YOU like it and own it.

What do you think of our new magazine?

It’s an interesting way to get to know more people in the business especially outside your own country.

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