Raw moments on film with Rowie The Label by Mélanie Mauro
“For a long time I thought I had to control every single aspect of photography and editing before doing exactly what I wanted to do. As long as I couldn’t get the exact tones I was looking for with my digital photography editing I wouldn’t let myself switch to film photography.” visualizes Mélanie Mauro, however the lesson is clear: “The truth is – film is everything I love. The tones that I can’t just get over, the grain that make it timeless and the irregularities that make an image truly come alive. I don’t want my photography to be technically perfect, I want it to be real, authentic, spontaneous, pure, raw and this is what inspired me to pick my first film camera.”
And she continues to recount about her beginnings and what drives her. “Being born and raised in West Africa opened up a huge creative portal for me. Open-minded and sensitive to the surrounding environment, it eventually led me to photography and videography as a profession. Always seeking for authenticity and simplicity, I find my inspirations within the people I meet, the places I travel to and the natural light. My work is mainly driven by nostalgia and freedom, with the will to capture raw, pure and spontaneous moments.”
When collaborating with the Australian brand – Rowie The Label, Mélanie teamed up with model Lara Denova and was looking for a place to shoot in Paris that’d match her identity. “Yes Paris is inspiring, but when your mind dreams of salty hair, ocean and summer breeze, it can be hard to detach yourself from it and overtake your creative blocks. Not to mention the cost – when shooting film, you learn how to slow down and think twice about your composition, the details and the emotion you want to share. Since I switched from digital to film, it’s so important for me to shoot strategically. This is why finding a to place that’d inspire me to tell a story was a priority. While walking through the Parisian streets, I came across this lovely boutique and that was it. This was the place. It was all about the glass roof and the coziness of it. I asked the owner if I could come for an hour or two and shoot, and a few weeks after, here we are.”
Hair and Make-up by Axelle Charlemagne and the shooting took place at the La Maison By Nad Yuht.
Photographer: Mélanie Mauro @hegoakproductions
Model: Lara Denova @laradenova
HMUA: Axelle Charlemagne @axellechrl
Location: La Maison By Nad Yuht @lamaisonnadyut
Brand: Rowie The Label @rowiethelabel
