Get To Know A Photographer Q&A - @ayah
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1. How long have you been a photographer?
I've been fooling around with cameras since middle school, then went to Uni to study cinema and decided to buy a reflex camera. Then I upgraded for one that would record videos as well cos I figured it would be the next step for me considering what I was studying but realized soon enough that I n e v e r used the video mode and that's when I decided to turn to photography ! I started shooting for SG back in 2012, after 2 years of being a member !
- 2. Why did you choose to pursue a career as a photographer?
So I already kinda answered in the 1st question but at first I was shooting for SG as a hobby, I got invited to my first ever SF in London and loved it sooo much I decided to keep shooting ! I did some day jobs but my body was like "nope, I'll kill you if you keep doing this cashier or office job lol", literally got me physically sick. I kept shooting for SG and turned staff in 2016, I shot more and more as attention from models grew and I eventually got burnt out to a crisp because I couldn't manage to work 40h/week at my office job (my boss was a psychopath too) + shooting on the weekends and editing at night. Decided to take a leap of faith and leave my job 4 years ago to do photography full time and never looked back ! Being my own boss seems to be the only way for me 💗
- 3. Besides photography what are your interests/hobbies?
I tried my hand at learning to play music instruments (drums, violin) but never managed to be serious about it enough which is a shame cos I absolutely LOVE it ! I wish I could be in a band haha, I listen to music all the time ! Other than that nothing special, I love cinema obviously, watch a *lot* of tv shows while editing (just finished The Crown the other day and am catching up on Pose atm, both quality shows !). I love travelling and miss it SO bad, my last big one was Japan 3 years ago and I miss the country every damn day 😫 I was supposed to be in LA for 2 weeks last March but y'know...🤡 I have a bucket list of places I wanna go to on my phone haha ! I'm into shamanism a lot (fun fact : Ayah is short for Ayahuasca), I'm also obsessed with astrology, I even participated to a workshop this year !) I'm always checking everyone's birth charts to get to understand people more, I have astrology apps on my phone, I check my transits etc...It's serious business to me 😂
I looove food and recently started to get into make-up a lot ! I enjoy doing it on a more regular basis and seeing myself get better at it ✨ Other than that shopping, true crime (podcasts and documentaries are my shit), baking...I also started to get into sewing recently thanks to my mother in law, I love it ! I need my own sewing machine, I would be thrilled if I could create beautiful lingerie !
- 4. What are your 5 favorite SG shots?
So I guess we're talking about mine, right ? It's hard to pick but here goes :
@DREW in LOLITA
@NATTYBOHH in LUMIÈRE PARISIENNE
@SOPHOULLA in CHERRY
@KALIVA in CHANT DE L'EAU
@VAUGHN in SERPENTINE
Ok I'll be cheeky and put 2 more and only 2 waaah, I have so many tbf...At least I forced myself to keep it down to MR and FP sets 💀
@EVEOWL in MORNING FIX
And finally @MIDNIGHT in SEDUCTION
Guess you could say I have a thing for backlight teehee....Nothing compares imo, it highlights the bodies so well !
- 5: Which is your favorite lens? Why?
- Even tho I only shoot with my 24-70 for now (it's great and polyvalent), my fav is the 35mm (the SIGMA 1.4 DG HSM ART if you wanna get technical) ! I really can't wait to get my own, I don't possess one yet but I absolutely adore the DOF of it, its creamy yet sharp feeling and also its bokeh ! It's also super handy to shoot gorgeous portraits in narrow spaces and fixed lenses are THE SHIT waaah I want a 35 one so damn bad !
- 6. Whose work has influenced you most?
The absolute MVP and blueprint for SG's current aesthetic, the queen that is @CHERRY of course ! Her work is so moving and delicate...She's a true artist ! Her sets tell a unique story each time, I'm glad I was there to witness her beautiful work here when she was still part of the site !
@AYMI's also one of my very favs, her work is so erotic, intimate and delicate ! Her sets are like love stories and declarations to the models she shoots, I feel venusian vibes coming from them ! So generous and sensual !
@SARIA's work is also incredible, she's been my top inspiration for years now ! She seems so exigent with herself, pushing herself to produce only top quality content and I admire this rigour I must say (she's a cap if I'm not mistaken...Figures haha). Her work is so crisp and clean but with gorgeous DOF and her light and tint/warmth work is ALWAYS on point !
@CAUSTIX, our king ! His ascent to the top of photographers is absolutely incredible, like, bruh, phew. I love his very unique, dark style ! He's created such a personal and recognisable one, you could tell a shot is his straight away ! His angles and the way he manages to take the most flattering shots...Damn I hate this guy lmao ! (Jk, jk, you get what I mean right ?)
Tbf it's again very hard to pick only a few, I get inspired by a lot of photographers and sets here ! We've got quite the team 🥰
- 7. What one superpower would you want and why?
It always comes back to flying for me ! Teleportation would be great too, obviously !
I often dream I'm flying and the feeling is just incredible ! It's in the stomach like butterflies, like when you're on a rollercoaster or the top of a building, it makes me feel so free and it's exhilarating ! I always start by walking and then my steps get bigger like I'm jumping higher and higher until I'm in the sky 💫
- 8. What kind of gear do you use?
My trusty Canon 5d mk 3 and 24-70 ! But that damn @ACSEBO got me interested in Sony now lolol pretty much like every other photog that attended our first zoom meeting ! Sponsor us already Sony, please 😤
- 9. What is the most rewarding part of being a photographer for you?
Top one gotta be when you show the pics to the model and she gets emotional about it, thanks you and says she's never felt so beautiful ! That never gets old and is so humbling ! I always think "damn, I really did something there...". Then there's finding the perfect angle, with perfect light and pose...Being able to create something that I saw in my mind...It's a whole thing ! But yeah, making models feel themselves really is *the* best ! I love bringing confidence to people 💗
10. What kind of tools do you use for post processing?
The ol' Lightroom for light and Photoshop for skin editing !
- 11. What does photography mean to you?
Already kinda answered to this with #9, it's so important for me to show models how beautiful they are, in any shape or size ! Also being able to create nice work, meet new people with different cultures, visit new places, make friends...It's everything to me ! It creates such a special bond and being able to showcase it through my photos is priceless !
- 12. If you could time travel, when/where would you go?
I've never really been one to think about that but I'd say the future ! I'm so curious about it !
- 13. What is the most difficult part of being a photographer for you?
- I'm very hard on myself and put a lot of pressure on my own shoulders so I guess not being able, sometimes, to produce my best work ? Also making a living out of it obvs *sigh*
- 14. What makes the good picture stand out from the average?
- Light, contrast, colors but also a good picture gotta make you stop and feel something, make you want to fully appreciate it, kinda like a painting in a museum, ya feel ? I need to feel like something is happening in the shot, an emotion, a vibe, a story...
- 15. What inspires you?
- Cinema and paintings mostly ! I'm obsessed with light and color too but also am passionate about home decor and design so that's why I always try to find the most beautiful places/scenery to shoot ! If I find a place I like, I instantly get inspired and start creating shots in my mind !
- 16. What is your favorite shot someone else has taken?
- How am I supposed to choose 💀 I don't have a fav tbh, how is it even possible with the multitude of incredible sets this site has to offer ? I'll put one among the many I like but no favs !
@VENOM by @MICHAELMAE in SEA HAG
- 17. Is there an image that sums up you best?
Not that I can think of, sorry !
- 18. Tell us something about yourself that no one would guess?
I'm a weeb ? I've been reading mangas since I was 11, my very first one was One Piece and is still #1 in my kokoro 💗 It's the only manga for which I don't read scans and religiously wait for new volumes ! It's hard but I never did and every new release is like xmas haha. I got behind for 3 years and got coupons from my in laws for xmas so bought the last 12 volumes I hadn't had the opportunity to read yet and spent a week doing so, actual bliss :D On a more serious note idk...I'm pretty introverted and don't give my trust easily, I used to in the past but it backfired.
- 19. What is your favorite shot you have ever taken?
Again, what with the impossible questions 😭 I don't think I have one...I did the selection of @SOPHOULLA's upcoming set today tho and there's some strong contestants in it ! Guess you'll have to wait to find out which ones I'm talking about 😙 (yeeep that is me eluding af 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️)
- 20. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Put yourself out there and grab them opportunities cos nobody's gonna do it for you I guess ? I suffer from an impostor syndrome and don't believe in myself so people usually tell me to push myself and go for whatever it is I want. Hard to do but it usually gets rewarding in the end !
Hope this was interesting for you ! It's a long read, I tend to talk a lot when I get started 😅
