Each city certainly holds different aspects of my life and career. London was important since it was the big buzzing city I escaped to from my small hometown. I was very young and it shaped me, made me stronger and held a wonderful role in the process of finding my voice as a photographer. Berlin was where I had my little family and found the importance of life. Paris is the most beautiful place to meet creative people and make work to be proud of. My journey isn’t done, and soon enough I’ll live somewhere else that suits our current life.

Back when I was a lot younger I studied Fine Arts – so painting, sculpture and design. I started photographing very early but it was naturally influenced by colours and shapes – hence my quite graphic and sculptural approach. I later got very inspired by cinema, which is the most evident impact on my work. I love stories and the idea of a film still, a frozen moment, an urge to find out more about what happens after the photo is taken. Photography feels like a meeting point for all art forms. You can make it very painterly, graphic, cinematic, static, real or fictional. It’s an art form that never limits me.

You know, I get asked about this quite often and I have realized that the only answer is that it just comes naturally. Of course I’ve worked hard for many years, shot crazy amount of images – but I just shoot what I’m drawn to and I use the colours that I like. I’m being very honest and open to myself about what I want. There’s no real ‘technique’, as I shoot both daylight and artificial, and I use both film and digital and work on both location and in studio. I think the key is not to try too hard, and then your own style will follow you no matter where you shoot, what camera you use or what idea is thrown at you.

Oh, all of it! I think I get lots of ideas on how to compose by watching movies or looking at other photographer’s work – which I then turn into my own style. The concept or the general idea of the photo certainly comes from my own life. I mean, it’s no secret that my work is very feminine. I love expressing that soft, sensual, strong and mysterious world of women.

I plan my shoots quite carefully most of the time. Actually, when I do personal work (like The Swimmers or LA story) I plan less. I suppose that’s because I just photograph whatever is in my head and what I naturally love. Regarding editorial or commercial work, I plan very carefully in terms of whom I photograph, where I do it and what the general mood around the shoot should be. And a client of course also leads it. However, it’s important for me to tell a certain story, that each body of work has it’s own world. I use different light techniques depending on the atmosphere I want. I do lots of postproduction if I shoot digitally, but very little if I shoot on film, so it matters and it doesn’t at the same time.

I love it! It’s the most important part of my work. And the reason is probably because this is how photography affects me. I’m drawn to photos that seduce me and make me feel something. I like it when art touches your senses. The best work is the kind that makes you want to dive into the artist’s world entirely. Like when you read a wonderful book and after you read the writer’s entire bibliography. And like a film still. You see a great still and you will rush to the cinema.

It’s just my love for colour and shapes, really. I am very attached to this. I think the way you use colour, light and shape is essential to your style and I think it’s almost impossible for photographers to have the same way of using these tools. It’s so personal what you love and what you’re drawn to.

This is something I have a hard time answering as I’m still figuring this out. It’s an exciting journey through my own head, kind of. It’s certainly nothing political. I think I just love femininity. And since I’m a woman, I can express this from my point of view.

Oh yes, many! It’s going to be a busy autumn.

There are plenty of new things that will come out.