“During my years in Germany and traveling a lot to Paris I started getting back into film photography and more into fashion, but the eternal grey sky would depress and demotivate me a lot, so that’s actually what made me want to move to Portugal.” recounts Steh Meyer. The young Brazilian photographer, photoshoot producer and creative director draws a lot of inspiration from living near the ocean and her new home Cascais. We chatted to her about seeing the beauty in everything and about what makes her most happy when photographing someone.
Steh, how did you initially get into photography?
I always had an interest in cameras and taking pictures. I have not always had a camera but in school I would borrow them from my classmates and take pictures during the break between classes and at parties etc. Later on, when I was fired from a job and got some money, I got my first professional camera (the good old Nikon d3200) and I would simply take it everywhere with me. By that time, I also had a little point and shoot film camera that I loved and would take everywhere as well. I think all of my friends have at least one picture taken by me! I only started focusing on it professionally a few years ago.
How has your home country Brazil and your current home Portugal inspired your work as a photographer?
“Don’t you think that people are formed by the landscape they grow up in? It forms everything I ever think, or even do, or am” -Joan Didion
I was never a professional photographer in Brazil, but I was always inspired to create there. I am from a coastal city where it’s always summer, never below 23°C. During my years in Germany and traveling a lot to Paris I started getting back into film photography and more into fashion, but the eternal grey sky would depress and demotivate me a lot, so that’s actually what made me want to move to Portugal. It is way more like my home town and I feel way more inspired here, even during winter. I think being near the ocean makes everything better and I want to incorporate this vibe more and more into my work. Cascais has the best vibe I have felt in a long time, I am meeting the most amazing people here and this inspires me a lot.
“When photographing people – what makes me the happiest is when someone messages me after a photoshoot telling me that they felt beautiful through my lenses.”
What is it that you want to express the most with your art?
The way I see beauty in literally everything.
When photographing people – what makes me the happiest is when someone messages me after a photoshoot telling me that they felt beautiful through my lenses. This makes me so grateful for doing what I love and to be able to make someone feel good about themselves. ♡
I love showing a little bit of how I see the world and expressing that through imagery.
Do you approach your shootings in a very „knowing-exactly-what-the-result-should-be“ style or you develop a certain flow during your shootings that lead you to the result?
The former but I am not so strict. I definitely like having it all planned – from the styling to the poses, the mood, the colors… I would have a full pdf document ready with everything the team needs to know before the photoshoot but also, I allow myself and whoever I am working with to have spontaneous ideas when the photoshoot is happening and I like to try new stuff a lot. I would usually leave it to the end of the photoshoot when we already have all the planned images done. But ultimately, I like to have fun and I like it when everyone feels comfortable and enjoys the day!
Do you have role models?
I don’t have one person that I follow strictly as a role model but I definitely draw inspiration from a lot of people. More related to imagery I really admire Sofia Coppola for sure, Carly Dame’s photography as well as her business model and just her life philosophy. Matthew McConaughey’s philosophy on life also inspires me a lot. More on the scientific side I love following Bill Gate’s blog… I used to love reading Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson, obviously Stephen Hawking… (fun fact: I studied physics at Uni :P)
I am now reading about Yvon Chouinard (the owner of the brand Patagonia) and I am loving to learn more about him.
I really like asking people about their life stories and just soak in all their knowledge and experiences, it is one of my favorite things and I feel very inspired by this!
“I really like asking people about their life stories and just soak in all their knowledge and experiences, it is one of my favorite things and I feel very inspired by this!”
A perfect picture needs to…
Make the viewer feel something.
One of your favorite quotes to live by…
I love and live by a lot of quotes but one that I am really loving right now and specially after 2021 it’s this one:
“Life is uncertain, live immediately”
“A perfect picture needs to… Make the viewer feel something.”
Your wishes for 2022?
A long summer, way too much traveling, way too much salt water, laughs with my whole body, to learn how to surf, good friends, walks with dogs and core memory moments.
Many thanks for your time 😊
Thank you so much for having me here, I feel honored it was such a pleasure! ♡
www.stehmeyer.com
www.instagram.com/steh.meyer
