Interview: Photographer Peter Bach (PEVIBA Foto) (Denmark)

Can you tell us a little about you?

My name is Peter Bach. I am a photographer with my own company and studio just outside Copenhagen in Denmark. I do almost everything in photography but with a focus on images of families, children, portraits, pregnant women and models.

How and when did you get into photography?

I started as a photographer back in 2012 after doing exclusively TFP work for a few years. The focus was initially on model photography with a focus on portraits and fashion. I read a lot of theory about lighting, poses and how to guide the models during a shoot. I continue to use TFP shoots to test and develop the entire palette of photography. The legislation soon proved to be important. In particular copyright law, which may differ from country to country.

What does photography mean to you?

Back in the late 90s, when the digital age for photography started, I bought my first digital camera. It really became the start of photography as a hobby of mine. Up through the 00s, I spent more and more time on photography. After a trip with other photographers, where for the first time there was a model, I became very interested in photographing people. In particular portraits became my great interest, which I’ve preserved up to the present day. I like a lot of the social interactions, that come with photography as well as editing, where my "nerd" gene for technique and details is satisfied.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.

I make tight cuts, so people come in focus. The most important thing is the eyes (almost) no matter what type of image I make. To emphasize the human expression, I often use high contrast and sharpness. I add light and shadows to the image as well in the editing.

Where do you get inspiration from?

The ideas come from everywhere. Typically, the social media, photographer and model sites. It can also be from everyday situations or from movies.

Especially at model shoots, models may have a great influence with creativity and ideas.

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

I usually know what I want in a picture. I make a mood board with inspirational pictures, that I can show the model during the shoot. If the model wants to make other pictures as well, and if we have the time for it, I also have a large collection of inspirational pictures, that we use during the shoot.

Studio, on location or both?

I do photography in both studio and at locations. It depends on what kind of pictures I’m going to take. For certain types of images, light and shadow are important, and studio is therefor often preferable. Conversely, it is more challenging to go outdoors as the light often change during the shoot, and I avoid the sometimes clinical expression that can be in studio images.

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?

I do both paid work and TFP. I do TFP to maintain my portfolio and to have the opportunity to test equipment, lighting, editing methods, etc. which is not possible with paying customers.

What has been your most memorable session and why?

There are many good things to keep in mind. Perhaps the greatest experience was the first time I photographed a professional model. It was at a workshop where, among other things, I had the opportunity to photograph a model who had been on the cover of Playboy in three different countries. Here I really experienced the difference between photographing a professional model and new, upcoming models, who I had photographed at the time.

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?

I started with Olympus, switched to Sony and through the last 10 years I have been using Nikon. Currently I am using Nikon D850 with my previous D800 as backup. The most commonly used lens is clearly an AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f / 2.8E ED VR. However, I often use AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f / 1.4G and AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f / 2.8G IF-ED for portrait photography.

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

I think there are many things, that are important, when starting out as a new photographer these days. Your work must - of course - be top notch, as you compete with the pictures that everyone can take with their mobile phones. Make photography an experience that’ll be remembered by the images. Be honest about your skills. Bad publicity does not go away easily. BUT, if you want it - do not give up, but "just do it", as a well-known slogan says.

What do you think of our new magazine?

MODELLENLAND Magazine is for inspiration for photographers, models, make-up artists and more. The most important thing, however, is that it is a magazine that gives us, who do not have the opportunity to be published and promoted on a daily basis except locally, the opportunity to show our skills worldwide.

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