My World

The reality of pursuing photography in a new foreign country that you have no friends, no connections and nobody to really talk to is hard. I moved to Paris France a year ago, it was the most exciting and thrilling thing I had ever done in my life. I had and still have the dream of my work becoming something big, something people can love or hate, something that can move people in any way possible.

Paris is one of the cities to be when you want to pursue photography as your career. Now as much as Paris has all the things you need to “make it” as an establish photographer it has also A LOT of walls for you to break through or clam over (which ever way you wish to make your entrance). Not to mention coming from a smaller city where photography wasn’t as big, the competition is a lot greater and better here (no offense to my fellow photographers back home). So you have to make sure you can sell yourself well. Photography is your business if you can’t market yourself then you will have problems.

Here is how my experience was when I lived there.

• When thinking about moving to a country such as France make sure you know the language or some what know it or at least be good at languages so its easy for you to pick up. (Something I lacked in)
• Be prepared to be doing a lot of paper work if you are not a French citizen or part of the European Union. France is known for its crazy paper work but its even worse for out siders. (It’s not as easy as you think moving to another part of the world)
• Once you’re going through the proses of getting your living/working papers in order you will have time to build your new portfolio because even though your old portfolio got you in the door you need a new one to keep you in the room. So do your research and contact every agency in town and ask to meet with them.
• Start going to parties, mingle with people. This wont be as hard because a lot of people in the entertainment/fashion industry speak english and a lot of them are just like you or were once just like you and can usually help you out.
• While everything sounds pretty simple so far and somewhat the same as it was for you back home to start in photography you have to remember, while you are doing all these things you aren’t working! So all your savings are flowing like water from a tap and it wont stop till your paper work is in order and that will take a good 4-7 months (shorter time if you start meeting people and they share loop holes or have connections)
• Make sure you make a budget as soon as you can when you come to Paris you will need it and you must  live by it if you wish to survive. At some point you will realize you need a part time job (good luck with that).

When I was back home in Toronto Canada I was oblivious when it came to “making it” as a photographer. Sure you hear it from many people. Friends and acquaintances saying it isn’t always about the talent and the photographs you produce its about  ”WHO YOU KNOW”.  Moving to Paris makes you realize that those people were right. Connections are the key to successes. It’s true, it matters who you know and who ever says otherwise is lying.

So if you are an outgoing person and friendly and can mingle and connect with people pretty easily you will

a) have a good and easy time making friends/connections

or

b) find it hard to be in a new environment that even though people are friendly they don’t really have an interest in making new friends since they are happy with the friends they have now.

I have noticed that Parisians stick together and also have a lot of friends that they have known since they were babies. You will think its the same everywhere you go and I agree it is but here it’s extreme. From what I’ve notice and from what others have shared with me Parisians aren’t that interested in making new friends. Don’t worry though, there are a lot of great English, Canadian and US pubs and restaurants here that you will meet people just like you. You will make friends in time don’t be discouraged.

A lot of my friends back home were asking me how Paris treating me while I was there and how much did I enjoy it? In all honesty as beautiful as Paris was. I missed  home. Who wouldn’t right? Paris does have it’s beauty and inspiration but it didn’t have all the people that you have grown with as an individual and also as a photographer.

At the end of the day my dream of becoming a photographer was slowly coming to life. It will take awhile before anything comes together. Everything takes time and for those that are inpatient like myself will have a hard time believing anything good will come out of it. Don’t let it get to you and make sure you don’t forget why you moved to Paris for. As long as that dream is still strong you can do it.

Here are some photographs I’ve done while I lived in Paris. Enjoy

A few months ago, while in Albania, I was trying to keep myself occupied (when you are a girl in a country such as Albania there isn’t much you can do). Anyhow, I was trying to shoot but there were no modelling agencies in the city or in the whole country for that matter. I tried the whole going downtown and asking random girls that I found pretty and interesting enough to want to shoot but  most of them didn’t give me the time of day. They would walk right past me and the ones that did stop and gave me a chance to talk would let me talk for a few minutes before telling me “they aren’t gay”. When I first heard that I was shocked and speechless (those that know me know I am not one to be quiet and have nothing to say) but this came out of the blue and I wasn’t expecting it at all. I was left dumbfounded and just in awe of what just had happened. I didn’t let it discourage me though. I still kept at it and I heard that saying a few more times and I would tell them “I’m not gay, I am happily married, I’m a Canadian photographer visiting family and just want to photograph people”. Nothing worked. So I just bowed my head down in shame and took myself back home. Since no one would let me shoot them I had a lot of time on my hands.

I had nothing better to do so I decided to make a few videos. These videos aren’t amazing by any means but I had fun and they were my first ever attempt to make something different. Since I had a huge problem with finding models I stuck to shooting myself hahaha

Hope you enjoy them.

Music: Deftones – Change / Music: The Cinematic Orchestra – To Build A Home

Change

Build A Home