FAULT: How did you start out as a photographer?

Antonia: I started shooting just for fun. After graduating in “Fashion and Design” It wasn’t so clear to me what I wanted to do in life . I just knew that art would be a part of it.
One day I was contacted by an advertising agency asking me to work as a fashion stylist for a photo shoot. It was my first experience on set. I went into this great big studio and looked around with the eyes of a child who has just arrived at Disneyland. I remember hearing one of Amy Winehouse’s songs in the background and it was at that moment that I fell in love. The lights, the models, the photographers … I fell madly in love with that world when I began to observe the photographers preparing the set, explaining the MOOD to models and organizing lights – just like a painter prepares his canvas to start a framework. “Strike a pose” and go! It begins! From that day on I began to study photography as an autodidact. The love for fashion did the rest.
 
How would you describe your work?

My work is a game. A beautiful game that allows me to grow and experiment with new things every day. Each set is a challenge … The thing I like most is always put to the test, creating new colorimetries , studying new photography techniques. When I press the shutter release button I’m pure electricity: everything else fades away.

 

 
Where does your inspiration come from?

I don’t have a particular source of inspiration for my shots. I am inspired by those who I choose to capture and what they give me. I love beauty in all its forms and I always try to draw inspiration from her. Of course there are several photographers whom I admire, like Irving Penn, Richard Avedon and Steven Meisel. The latter is my favorite. I love his many facets – his photos are always original! He has the extraordinary ability to always choose the right girl who knows how to interpret every shot he take. He’s definitely the photographer that I relate to the most. We also had a common career start as illustrators and did not have any thoughts to move into photography to begin with. Curious!
 
David Bailey once told us that he always “shot the girl first…if the girl looks good then the dress looks good too”. Similarly, your work seems to be grounded in realism, with the model and/or personality in shot the most important aspect of your imagery. Do you agree?

Strongly agree! The model is crucial for optimal performance of the work. I have a very well-defined canon of beauty; my models have more or less the same facial features (lips, doe eyes, slender body) and each one has a special feature. It’s the ability of the photographer to discover it and make it unique. That’s it! A wonderful dress worn by the wrong model loses all its charm.

 

 
There’s usually an element of fun in a lot of your work (male models with no trousers etc) – it’s almost like a personal joke between you and whoever is looking at your imagery. How important is it for a photographer to form that connection with people? Or can great photographer work on a purely objective level?

It ‘s very important for the photographer to establish a connection with the viewers. I really like to play on set. In my opinion, a great photographer can’t work purely on an objective and sterile level. I always try to make sure that my photos are focused on my personality, my vision of photography, art and fashion. I try to give a fresh sign to my shots, characterizing ironic details or sometimes something irreverent to avoid the risk of boring myself and those who view my work. It’s important that people recognize your own pictures. – it means you’re doing a good job!

 

Photography is such a competitive industry – is it ever hard for you to stay motivated?

I consider myself a pretty positive person, even if sometimes it’s really hard to always be motivated . Chasing one’s own dreams leads inevitably to many disappointments and many failures but you must not stop. My area is saturated with so many other talented photographers. There really is a lot of competition and it is not easy to jump this wall and emerge but it is very important to believe in one’s own abilities and, above all, to invest in oneself by working on a style that represents your own personality . It’s crucial to be able to transmit that to the public so that they recognize what you are trying to say with your work.

 

 
Do you consider yourself to be primarily a ‘fashion photographer’ or just a ‘photographer’? What else do you enjoy shooting other than fashion?

Fashion occupies a large part of my productions. It has been my strong point from the beginning. I’ve always been attracted by glossy magazines, from all those photographs that represent supermodels in wonderful poses. I’m enchanted by looking at shots of great photographers of the past and I’m always trying to capture the relevant details that tell their story.
 
What are you currently working on?

I’m currently studying new photographic techniques for various projects in the pipeline that I’m working on with a number of important professional collaborations. But I prefer not to reveal anything at the moment! Work in progress!

 

 
Anything you are particularly looking forward to in the near future?

Definitely travel. I feel the uncontrollable need to share my work in many different situations and to be able to have the opportunity to compare with other industry professionals.
 
What is your FAULT?

Perfectionism. The fact that I always want to achieve perfection in every shot. That side of my character influences my life so much, and the lives of those who work at my side , but I’m striving to blunt that sensation a bit. You have to know when it’s time to stop. I’m slowly starting to realize that we are all human beings and that we must seek perfection in our “imperfection”.

For more, visit: www.facebook.com/antoniafioreph