Berlin-based fashion photographer Celine Paradis is known for her delicate and dreamy storytelling through soft and delightful yet contrast-rich photos. In a recent interview with TITLE, she shared her experience creating the Alternative Realities project in Spain, her second adopted country, and discussed the importance of trusting oneself and pursuing one’s desires without competition.
In the midst of the pandemic, Celine admits to feeling less creative due to the global events happening around us. However, she took time to observe and later found solace in painting, finding it to be a 100% honest and inspiring activity. While she wasn’t as interested in virtual fashion shoots, she kept her creativity flowing by creating new concepts and drawing inspiration from her collection of books and magazines.
As a 24-year-old artist and photographer, Celine was born and raised in a small village close to Frankfurt and attributes her creative inspiration to the magic of nature. Living in Barcelona at 19 and later pursuing a master’s degree in fashion photography, she has been shooting on film with vintage cameras she collected from hometown flea markets since she was 13.
How do you stay on track and creative during the pandemic?
Honestly, there has been a time during lockdown where I was not really creative in the things I am usually expressing myself with. I felt like so much more important stuff was going on in the world that I just stepped back for a moment and observed everything that was happening around us. Later on, when my mind was somehow more balanced I started painting again. Which I really enjoyed as I felt like it was 100% honest. I did not really feel like doing these forced facetime Fashion shoots so I rather kept creating new strong concepts while getting inspired by my collection of books and magazines.
Please introduce yourself briefly and let us know what you usually work on.
I am a 24-year-old photographer and artist. I was born and raised in a small village close to Frankfurt within nature’s magic. I feel like nature formed my creativity in an early stage as we had no limits in our fantasy as children. In my early teenage years, I always had the urge to go abroad so I ended up living in Barcelona at just 19. Later on, life took me to this school where I did my master’s course in fashion photography. I have been shooting on film with vintage cameras collected from my hometown flea markets since I was 13 yo.
Tell us about your ultimate goal in photography. Do you have someone or something specific in mind?
My ultimate goal is to inspire people by showing them the world I see through my eyes. I want my little universe to be forever memorized in photo books.
What was your favorite project to date and why?
I don’t really have any “favorite” projects. In my opinion, everything comes in waves. It’s like with favorite food and songs. There is too much good stuff out there and it depends on my current mood. I feel like every project I did has a little part of me in it and I keep learning and growing the more I create.
Is there anything you would like to add to your piece that you think people might not understand?
No
Are there any artists you look up to?
A never-ending list… To name a few: Helen Frankenthaler, Jürgen Teller, Harley Weir, Alejandro Jodorowsky, and Marina Abramovic.
What is your advice for young photographers trying to stand out in the overflowing creative scene of 2020?
Don’t take yourself too seriously. Life is about enjoying it and growing with it. I honestly believe that the more you stop comparing yourself to others the closer you get to your ultimate core of your essence. I guess that’s what creating is about. Believe in yourself and stay patient.
