I met Teresa years ago in Berlin at the Hive European Conference for Bloggers. I can’t remember how we met, but I remember we ended up having an epic conversation long after the conference ended.
We’ve stayed in touch ever since, and have also collaborated on web design projects together. Her work is amazing and she is the go-to person I recommend for a branded photo shoot in Berlin.
Tell us a little about you. How did you get your start? How long have you been in business? Describe your style of photography.
I studied literature and theatre in Vienna and Bologna, long before I thought that my beloved hobby of photography could ever be a way to make a living. Only after finishing my degree did I notice that the actual day-to-day of these jobs made me unhappy.
I had already been earning some pocket money with photography during my studies, so the decision to go full-time with it was quite organic.
That was 2008, and I’ve been a full-time photographer ever since.
As for my style, I’m interested in people, and I think that shows in my photos. I like to create a sense of ease and collaboration with the person in front of the camera, and help them to relax, and shine.
Aesthetically, I like composition – I’m not much of a “shoot-from-the-hip”-person. I’ll deviate from this If I feel something else fits my subject or the situation better, but in general I like straight lines, and deliberate framing.
If time and location allow it, I’m aiming for my photos to also transport a sense of place or a mood.
What is your approach to a brand shoot?
First off, I like to learn about my clients, and what they’re looking for in their photos. Creating a vision together is the first step towards a good shoot, either in a conversation on the phone, or maybe by creating a Pinterest board together.
For the shoot itself, I love to shoot either outdoors or on location (e.g. my client’s office or headquarters), rather than a studio. I’m quite an informal and open person, and my clients are often surprised that the shoot isn’t nearly as straining or serious as they had imagined, but actually quite fun!
Ideally, the shoot should feel relaxed and empowering – this way, there’s a strong likelihood that the photos will feel like this, too.
What type of clients do you like to work with? Any specific industries or sectors you focus on?
I’ve most often worked with clients in creative industries: actors, musicians, artists, art collectors, craftspeople, writers. I enjoy working with creative people, but in my experience, coaches, yoga teachers and CEOs can also be very creative types…so I really enjoy working with a wide range of people from different backgrounds.
What are 1-3 tips you’d give to people preparing for a brand shoot when they’re working on their website launch?
Prepare, but don’t plan the exact image you’d like to achieve. Recreating an image that you have in your mind never works, and will likely lead to frustration.
Find a photographer you vibe with, and make it a collaboration. Instead of specific instructions, tell them how you want to come across in your images.
“I would like to show that I’m a serious and thoughtful person” gives me much more to work with than “I’d like a picture of me holding a pen and looking out of the window”.
Also: have fun with it!
When is your busy season?
May to October
How far in advance do you need to be booked?
This depends on the scope of the project.
If I need to get on a plane and shoot a team of twelve I’ll naturally need to know earlier. For shooting a solopreneur in Berlin, I might still have a spot a week in advance.
Most clients will book me about 4-6 weeks earlier in the busy season.
Do you travel? How far are you willing to go?
I travel a lot for work, and there’s no real restriction to how far I would travel.
It’s mostly a question of proportionality – much as I’d like to, I won’t be able to fly to New York for a small portrait commission!
Big cities are generally easier, since I can often group shoots together, if I have enough lead time.
In general: just ask!
What’s the best way for potential clients to get in touch?
Best thing in general is to write an email with as much information as possible, and then I’ll be able to send an offer and we can schedule a call.
Website | Instagram