Photoshoot + Interview: 'Laura' by Valeria Martins
If you’ve been following Whim for a while, you’re probably a fan of Valeria Martin’s work already
– she’s the photographic eye behind her sister Luciana’s stunning fashion label Lulu Martins. We’re very excited to feature her latest shoot 'Laura', featuring the beautiful designs of Uhjin Nam.
We love the contrast of the lush garden setting with the high-femme, 80s-prom-style gowns the model sports – with tulle and layers galore, this is a set of youthful, contemplative portraits. (And look how the flower backdrop mimics the dress’s design!)
22-year-old Valeria has been absorbed by photography since she was 10 years old, and leapt into the world of fashion shoots when she was just 16. Largely self-taught, she has been featured in Rookie Mag, Material Girl Magazine and Cake Mag, among many others. You can easily spend a whole afternoon browsing her portfolio - her dreamy, thoughtful shoots will pull you into the small worlds she creates through her work.
Keep scrolling for an inspiring interview with the talented photographer!
Q: When did your love of photography first blossom?
A: My love for photography first started when I was about 9-10 years. My father is an amateur photographer and he taught me how to use his analog camera, although it was a slow process and I only photographed two rolls per year because it was expensive, I managed to have some beautiful pictures of my family's intimate moments.
We grew up without a TV at home, so we had to use all our creativity to trespass the books we read that had no pictures in it into amazing worlds in our heads. We also spent lots of time reading my father's National Geographic Collection and dreaming about those far away landscapes, that I think is one of my motives for venturing into far away places.
Q: What inspires your creativity the most and why?
A: I take inspiration from many places, especially cinema, music, and travel. All of these imagery I have in my head, all my travels, books I've read, things I've seen take place later in my work, sometimes consciously, sometimes not.
Q: Please tell us more about the experience you had planning and capturing this beautiful series?
A: In this series I had the opportunity to use Unhjim dresses that she kindly lended me! The photos were not that planned, we wanted something spontaneous so we did light makeup on her and I gathered some accessories I had home, and it sort of bloomed out of nothing. Sometimes I love working with the possibility of surprise and energy flow.
Q: What advice would you offer to emerging photographers?
A: The advice I would give to emerging photographers is to follow their instincts and find their own style. Sometimes It's hard to find it, so you better try different things and experiment a lot.
Q: Lastly, what do you hope the not-too-distant future holds for your photography career; do you have any exciting, upcoming plans you'd like to share with us?
A: I'm about to launch a new online magazine, with a friend that is called Revolt. The project's aim is to showcase women's view about femininity, and to break out from standardized beauty and stigmas.
For more of Valeria’s work, visit her official site, like her photography page on Facebook, and follow her on Instagram.
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Full credits: Photo + Styling: Valeria Martins | Model: Laura - Tess Management | MUA: Luz Cubas | Dresses: Uhjin Nam
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Cecile Blackmore is a writer from Brisbane, Australia. She writes and edits at The Creative Issue and hoards vintage clothing – follow her adventures on Instagram at @saintcecile.