PHOTOGRAPHER
ANGELIKA ANNEN
Can you remember when you first held a camera?
Unfortunately not. But I remember my teen bedroom covered all over with my photographs from friends, journeys, and other impressions.
What is a childhood image burnt into your mind?
The sun shining through the window and brighten up the yellow carpet in our corridor of our beautiful home. Me and my sisters loved to dream and play there in the sun.
Can you tell me an iconic photographer whose work you got very fascinated by? — What did you feel when looking at their images?
I'm addicted into the work of Viviane Sassen. Her art shows a beautiful, colorful and very emotional world. I like to lose myself in her work—there is always something to discover. Her work is incredibly creative.
Do you think the “male gaze" is a myth?
No.
What was your first fashion shoot?
:) A very early project of mine including my sisters – Esther, the future fashion designer, created the dress. Silvia acted as a model and the shoot took place in a cornfield.
What do you love most about the Fashion Industry?
The fashion itself. More and more, I focus on fair produced fashion – and that's the only fashion I want to work with in the future.
What do you most hate about Fashion Industry?
In the fashion industry there is an excess which leads to people and also materials behind the work losing their value and significance. And animal suffering!
If you would start out now what would you be doing, how would you go about
// who would you work with and where would you be aiming?
I would try to start directly where I am now—working with local designers, fair produced or second hand fashion, and independent projects relating to the importance of our behavior within the fashion industry.
Statistics show that only 1 in 10 of the big money jobs i.e. womenswear, beauty and perfume campaigns are shot by women. Is there just no qualified female fashion photographers out there?
Definitely there are (!) a lot of qualified female fashion photographers. The change of thinking is not yet accomplished — actually, we're far away from that. As long as girls and boys are brought up differently we will not be able to create an equal society or working environment.
One says it takes 10’000 hours to become a master of a craft, how long in hours/days/years did it take you to make a living?
After four years of education, I started with my own jobs besides many assisting jobs.
Becoming a master of a craft—I assume there won't be an end of learning and practicing.
Who is your female fashion image maker icon and who is your the one to watch?
I like the work by Deborah Turbeville.
The one to watch — Viviane Sassen.
Who is your female fashion designer icon and who is your the one to watch?
I have no one special in mind.
What makes you feel comfortable on set?
Team spirit—all members focussing on one subject, giving all their energy, love and passion.
How important is your team?
With the perfect team the results may become so much more intense and inspiring. Therefore, the right team is essential!
What do you say about the charge that all fashion photography is predominantly sexist?
There is a reason why you're asking this question. But there is non-sexist fashion photography. And there is a big need for more non-sexist output at all.
There is a big surge of feminism at the moment - do you think that will affect Fashion Photography?
Necessarily! I'm very thankful for that surge of feminism.
When I look at your work, I really love your shoot Morphose. What is your favorite?
Thank you:) ... at the moment my favorite is KIND OF GREEN.
What was your relation to fashion prior to working in this industry? Has it changed?
I had a curious and very open relation to fashion before. Now, fashion is even more important for me, but I'm more skeptical and spend more attention to it.
What qualities do you value in an agent or booker?
It's like team spirit—if you work with the right agent or booker it can make your work flow much easier and better. But if there is no one like that, you better work on your own.
What is the most valuable piece of advice you were ever given and what advice would you have wished for earlier on in your career?
Don't think about “what's not possible”—think about “what is possible”.
“Whatever you do, if you're able to do it with love and passion, there will be a lot of value in it.”
What is your next big project or goal for your career?
A view years ago I had to rethink my situation as a photographer. Since then, I focus more on what is important for me in photography, and what statement do I want to make with my photography.
Is there anything in particular you'd like to accomplish?
More free projects—and being able to live on them someday.
