“For me beauty is strongly linked to femininity and sensuality.” – photographer Norbert Schüller, LeFu Photography
Norbert, where are you based and what brought you to photography business? I am living in Germany, in a small town near Cologne and Dusseldorf. Since I was a teenager I had fun taking pictures and I became a media designer. In 2004 I started with digital photography, mostly landscapes and panoramas. In 2009 I decided to enter a new challenging discipline: model photography. I pretty much enjoy the creative, interactive process with the person “on the other side of the camera” and my team.
How would you describe your style? Well, not easy to answer, but here is my philosophy: I try to worship female beauty with my photographic work. I try to achieve working with models on an eye-to-eye level. She is not just “the model”. She is an individual being and I am curious, open-minded. My intention is to create pictures that everybody in my team, especially my model, is happy with and proud of. Today, next month and in a couple of years, as well.
What fascinates and motivates you most in fashion photography? Meeting and exchanging with creative minds. Visiting inspiring places. Developing the ability to improvise on set. Creating somehow something new, that was not existing before.
Where do your ideas to shoot come from? Who or what inspires you?Ideas and inspiration comes from all kinds of media, personal experiences, creative exchange and last, but not least from the circumstances and conditions on set.
What are your goals in general? What are your biggest achievements? There still is a lot to learn, so I want to keep developing. Ongoing improvement, happiness with my work and life. Publications, creative jobs and projects. And one day shooting for Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated. 😉 A couple of years ago I was seriously ill and photography was my therapy to overcome this. Working as a photographer really sharpened my senses and made me succeed over my fears and barriers.
Norbert, what are the biggest challenges do you experience in photography field? Taking a picture is super easy today, but that does not automatically increase the quality of the photo. It is pretty hard to be accepted and respected for the intense and expensive work as a photographer. Adequate payments and illegal use of pictures are very serious problems nowadays.
What are some tips/advice you would give to yourself if you started photography all over again? Stay calm, focused and positive. Reflect your work as precise as possible. Study the work of others. Be courageous and accept new challenges, even if they are frightening.
What was your most memorable project your work on so far? Last year I had a shooting: model from Romania, shooting in Spain, outfits from the UK and a photographer from Germany. I love projects like this. Working in foreign countries is always a huge challenge to me. Especially when I do not speak the language of the people. But I enjoy meeting people in new places very much. It keeps me fit, flexible, curious. I want more of that.
To your opinion, what role image editing programs play in today’s photography? What are advantages and disadvantages of using it? Every picture we get to see through media is edited (not to say manipulated) somehow. That’s a fact people often forget. For me it is normal and acceptable to use tools to fulfill my vision or to recreate the moment like I experienced or remember it. The only disadvantage I see is, when somebody tries to present his picture or film as the “one and only” truth.
Tell us a secret, what does it take to get that one killer shot of the day? Haha, make sure your model does not get too cold or hungry. =)
What does beauty mean to you as a photographer? What kind of models do you prefer to work with? For me beauty is strongly linked to femininity and sensuality. Without these aspects my work would not exist. It is essential. Any model that inspires me is very welcome. He or she has to be willing to trust me and open up for a common creative process. I have countless unfulfilled photographical ideas.
Where can fashion professionals see your works?
Website: http:///www.futografie.de
Facebook: http://facebook.com/LeFuPhoto
Tumblr: http://thelefu.tumblr.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/lefuphoto
Behance: http://www.behance.net/LeFu
500px: http://500px.com/LeFu
Litmind: http://www.litmind.com/lefuphoto/
Describe yourself in three words please.Crazy, passionate, unknown.
What is your life motto? “Everything you want is on the other side of fear.”
Thank you, Norbert.
Published May, 2015 Sheeba Magazine: BUY NOW
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