Where are you originally from and what means home to you?

I’m from Berlin, Germany – born and raised and I’m still living here. My father is originally from Turkey but he is also living in Germany for almost 50 years. My mother is a true Berliner as well. Home was never something I connected to a specific location. Currently Berlin is my home but I could live nearly anywhere. All that I deeply care about is having people around who make me feel home. So home has a more people-related meaning to me.

You graduated law school. At what point did photography come into the picture? How did you start and what kept your passion for it to continue?

That’s true. After writing my first exam I had to wait for the results. That was the first time I had no pressure to study and I had 3 months ahead of doing whatever the hell I wanted to. That was when I decided to drag people in front of the camera for the first time. Before, I was only photographing on holidays and on concerts to get free entrance or to meet the artists backstage.
My first shoot was with the actress Jane Chirwa and she took the photos to her acting agency. The agency called me and they wanted to get to know me. Afterwards I had shoots with more and more actors from this and other agencies. Later even more famous German actors contacted me for shoots.
What surprised me the most was getting to know so many amazing people. I have never expected to gain so many close friends. If you want to create authentic and natural portraits you have to work with people very closely. People have to feel comfortable in front of the lens and in my opinion, that’s 60% of my job. During this process there is always something emerging in terms of an emotional connection. I don’t want to miss those moments and that’s what’s keeping me doing portraits.

“I’ve never experienced a situation where IG killed any creative moment. I love Instagram for what it is. I’ve met so many great and inspiring human beings and I get inspired with a touch on that cute and colorful little icon.”

I love your portraits. They are timeless and expressive. Do you feel that moment behind the camera when you captured the perfect moment of someone?

First of all, thank you for these kind words. No unfortunately not, but there is that one moment when I feel that the other person is able to let go. To let go of everything holding them back and showing the pure person he or she is. Some need 30 minutes to completely trust me with what I’m doing. With others it’s clicking at the first telephone call or when we first meet shortly before starting.
Another thing I notice is an outstanding photo. Well of course, that’s still is a matter of taste, but for me sometimes everything comes together in one picture. And yes, that is something I realize immediately.

Many people on your instagram ask what filter you are using – I would like to know what camera are you using?

Both are popular questions. laughs. The answer is quite simple. The “filters” are presets in Lightroom I create from the scratch. I use an old Canon 5D Mark II with a Sigma 50mm F 1.4 (the old version) for 95% of my work and for 99,9% of the portraits. I also have a Leica Q that I use for photo reports.

Talking about instagram – many people especially artists seem to have a love-hate relationship with it as it´s a tool to spread your art but at the same time it´s addicitive and time-consuming and can also kill creative moments. How about your opinion to that?

I’ve never experienced a situation where IG killed any creative moment. I love Instagram for what it is. I’ve met so many great and inspiring human beings and I get inspired with a touch on that cute and colorful little icon. In my opinion it has brought a new and modern spirit to visual art. Imagine we still had to use facebook to promote photos or other forms of visual art (haha just kidding). For me there is no such thing as hating the app.
For sure there is a way to use it totally wrong. But since you got it in your own hands to close the app and put the phone away it’s still a matter of self-control.

“Beauty is everywhere. I can’t describe that. In general I’d say “something/someone that warms your heart”.”

Do you set yourself artistic goals or you just go with the flow and see where the art takes you?

Hm that’s a tricky question. The moment I set myself an artistic goal my mind is bringing me to so many different destinations. laughs. I start with thinking about doing more street photography, then I want to go with minimalism, then I think about doing something with light and shadows in the studio and luckily I get caught up with the next call for portrait shoot. I do post some travel or everyday stuff on Bakersky. But in my mind there is still a lot more going on and there is definitively more to come.

Do you have role models, photographers you admire?

There is always that one portrait photographer I look up first in need of inspiration and that’s Alessio Albi. Another one I look up daily is Joe Greer. But my favorite photographer of all time has to be Christophe Agou.

“Home was never something I connected to a specific location. I could live nearly anywhere. All that I deeply care about is having people around who make me feel home.”

Beauty is…

…everywhere – woooow, haha.
No seriously, I can’t describe that. In general I’d say “something/someone that warms your heart”. In terms of outer beauty it’s a matter of taste again. Take a look at my IG, all the people I photographed are superbeautiful to me.

Your favourite things to do on wintery weekend evenings?

Eating halloumi sandwich and watch Netflix with your loved ones. Followed by some snacks maybe. And more snacks..

What means Christmas time for you?

That X-massy time starts when your first hear “All I want for christmas” by Mariah Carey on the radio (and no, since you switch the channel before “Last Christmas” has a chance to start that doesn’t count). It means the time of more snacks (oh wow) and more family and friends has finally come. So please enjoy that time and put your phone away! Merry Christmas!

Kerem Bakir