“I’ve learned that beauty doesn’t require amazing outfits, breathtaking locations or tons of makeup. Beauty can lie in simple things, even in what some could see as flaws, such as bags under the eyes, messy hair, shy looks or scratches on the skin.”

Young photographer Andrea Rose´s images speaks volumes. Starting off as a model herself she got inspired by the artists use of light and by their ability to convey emotions through their photos. The emotion she now conveys with her work are intense, like a bond to the model´s soul showing their pure beauty.

Andrea, could you tell us a little about yourself and how you started photography?

I’m 26 years old and I’ve been taking photos for almost a year. Before I moved behind the camera, I was a model myself. I was photographed by a lot of great photographers and I was fascinated by the results. I was inspired by their use of light and by their ability to convey emotions through their photos. The more I was photographed, the more inspired I became and the more I wanted to shoot my own pictures. So, I started to shoot self-portraits.

I’ve been very fortunate in that I’ve been able to work with and learn from professional and talented photographers.

In your portrait shoots the eyes of the models really do feel like “a window to the soul” – is that something that you want to convey?

Absolutely yes. I’ve done shoots with professional models and actors who are trained in displaying a wide variety of emotions, but I’ve also done shoots with friends and strangers who’ve never posed in front of a camera before. I particularly love this authenticity and sincerity that radiate from their look, from their posture… I love capturing this sensitivity, this shy sweetness that can’t be hidden.

What is your individual definition of beauty?

For me, beauty is above all synonym with harmony and simplicity. For example, I love to work on the color combination. This is something I study carefully before a shooting, choosing the perfect outfits and background to create the desired effect. With regards to the models, I’m not attracted by “standard beauty” and the usual aesthetic canons of society. I mostly look for “ordinary” women or men who are able to display their emotions in all their simplicity and complexity. I cannot hide that I have a fascination for red hair, pale skin and blue eyes. Maybe because, having these characteristics myself, I see myself through them? Maybe because I have a sense of belonging to this minority? I don’t really know, maybe both!

“I’m not attracted by “standard beauty” and the usual aesthetic canons of society. I mostly look for “ordinary” women or men who are able to display their emotions in all their simplicity and complexity.”

Your experiences of being a redhead?

A lot of redhead women I photographed told me that it has been hard for them to live with their hair color. They where teased and bullied at school. For me, it has always been a strength. Since I was a child, I’ve always received compliments, from strangers on the streets, people in coffee shops or restaurant asking to take a picture of me with their phone, etc. Being a redhead also offered me a lot of great opportunities as a model.

What do you like most about yourself? And what about others?

Physically, I would definitely say my MC1R gene! Even if I’m not entirely serious there, I do think that we, redheads, are so lucky to have such a distinctive hair color and a skin so white, even if we’ll never be able to get a tan during the summer. So I invite all the redheads who want to dye their hair or spend hours in a tanning bed to be proud of their beautiful mane and porcelain skin.

“I invite all the redheads who want to dye their hair or spend hours in a tanning bed to be proud of their beautiful mane and porcelain skin.”

Where do you get your passion for your work?

I’m very impulsive. When I see a beautiful face, whether in the street or on instagram or anywhere, even if that person is not a model at all, I never lose an occasion to ask them if I can photograph them.

It is as if I immediately know that a face would be an amazing picture. So I get really excited and start thinking on how I could best highlight this beauty in a photograph.

Which other photographer/s do you admire?

Well, obviously I admire the work of my boyfriend, Alessio Albi who inspires me a lot!
Also a lot of other photographers with whom I shot as a model, like Vivienne Mok, Monia Merlo, Marta Bevacqua, Hannes Caspar, Miss Aniela, Alex Stoddard and many others.

“I love capturing this sensitivity, this shy sweetness that can’t be hidden.”

Who do you really like spending time with?

I love spending time with new people from other countries and cultures with whom I can share and learn. Photography allows me to have these enriching experiences and that makes me really happy.

The best life lesson so far…

I always laugh when people compliment me for a picture of Cristiano, a friend of mine and amazing model, that I took during a boat trip during which I was been seasick the entire time. I had 3 minutes to take his photo under a terrible light. I used the only towel I had as a background, we were both crouching, trying to stay out of the sun and in very uncomfortable positions. Despite all of that this was one of my best pictures!

Through my experiences as a model and now, as a photographer, I’ve learned that beauty doesn’t require amazing outfits, breathtaking locations or tons of makeup. Beauty can lie in simple things, even in what some could see as flaws, such as bags under the eyes, messy hair, shy looks or scratches on the skin.