Sonia Sieff´s sense of beauty is rare to find. She has a singular taste for art, probably inherited from her father, Jeanloup Sieff, the admired photographer –coetaneous and friend of other creative talents such as Avedon, Newton or Ritts– who left his imprint on a whole generation with prolific work in the fields of fashion, landscapes, advertising and portraits. Involved in fashion photography, Sonia has collaborated with different magazines such as L’Uomo Vogue, Le Monde, Vanity Fair, or Harper’s Bazaar, and has also developed her personal work trying to keep her unique vision escaping from the alienation of the industry.
Les Françaises is one of these personal projects: a series of 155 shots of portraits and nudes where she captures the fleeting beauty of different women –who are also close friends–. A collection of nudes ranging from alluring actresses to ‘it girls’, where she reflects their vulnerability, strength, warmth and a refined sensuality, elegant and dignified, beautifully spotted on different European scenes like the roofs of the Opéra in Paris or the terrace of Cité Radieuse. Based in the French capital, we talk to Sonia about her artistic interests, the influence of his father, her opinion on the feminist movement, and the new projects she is working on, like the screenplay of her first movie.
Sonia, since photography is in you DNA, have you always wanted to be a photographer? When and why did you start shooting?
I started shooting when I was 17. My dad offered me a camera as a birthday present, and I was impassioned with photography right away.
Can you share with us any unforgettable lesson you’ve learnt from your father?
To listen to yourself and never follow someone else’s point of view.
You’re an artist, a photographer and a filmmaker. Is there any other creative discipline you’d like to explore?
Creative maybe not, but I love sailing…
Do you have any leitmotif? Any life statement or philosophy you apply in your work every time you start a new project?
It has to bring me joy and happiness; the balance has definitely to be on the right side.
The women you shot for Les Françaises seem very real. In your opinion, what makes them so special?
I believe they are the kind of women you could fall in love with.
Is the connection with them so strong because they are your friends? Was it difficult to capture their personalities?
No, it was easy as they were confident and our relationship was real.
Beautiful landscapes of Europe are also part of the story you wanted to tell in this series.
All the pictures were shot in France. We went to their houses, apartments, country houses and travelled all over France, from Normandy to the Mediterranean coast.
Harper´s Bazaar recently published an editorial you shot featuring Dior’s most feminist collection until now, the debut of Maria Grazia Chiuri. What do you think about this social movement supported by the fashion industry? What do you think about this vindication for women subjects?
I think now is the time for women to be finally men’s equal. It’s 2017, and we deserve the same salary for doing the same jobs; and our rights –such as abortion, violence against women, sexism– should be "acquis".
You´ve also worked for Vancleef & Arpels, Racil, Tod´s, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Bulgari, Louis Vuitton, etc. How is your approach towards advertising?
Personal projects such as creating a book or a film are supported by jobs where you earn money. I am glad they help me archiving my personal work.
It is inevitable not to talk about social media. What do you think about it? Do you use them as another way to exposure your work?
Yes, they are becoming big and essential in this ‘fast food’ world. How do you show the work no one sees or hasn’t the time to see if it’s not through Instagram? I think it’s fine as long as you don't spend your life behind your phone.
