Stefano Raphael is a Brazilian Fashion Photographer based out of Mexico City but flies to NYC, Miami, Cancun, Brazil for shoots and campaigns. He started as a model and ended up as a photographer! He has been practicing Fashion Photography since 2007. He shoots for Vogue, Harper’s and Cosmopolitan besides other fashion magazines. Meet Stefano Raphael the model photographer- from Hobby to Passion, its now his job!
My tryst with Photography started when I was a professional model. I had never thought to become a photographer although I always liked to take photos. Then one day I was helping a friend to make new Polaroids and I clicked some ‘fashion’ photos for him (I had a semi pro camera then). This was in Milan. His composite card from Milan shoot was all about the photos that I took. This was my moment of awakening. I started to study photography all by myself. This was in 2007 and today, here I am, making my way in the Fashion industry, step by step.
Fashion for me is where people can show another side of the coin, with their power, attitude and imagination yet not losing the essence.
A good picture is not a chance click –Most times it’s the vision behind. The team that works and the ideas that are thought of. It requires its share of homework. I have many pictures I haven’t clicked yet, some good ideas like an underwater shoot etc but they are in the pipeline as of now.
A good face is a face with power in the eyes, colour doesn’t matter, the eyes have to communicate something. It’s what I think as a photographer. Maybe you are thinking, “what about the beauty, mouth, nose…?” for me, beauty is relative. What is beautiful for me may not be for you! Eyes are the first communication we set with anyone.
When I click, I fly away! It’s a different world to have a model, my team, set-up, I love it all. I love to hear the sound of the shutter, it feels so good!
When I shoot a fashion campaign, my mind doesn’t stop thinking, because I have a mood board to follow, but I also like to do something different with the same proposal. Of course respecting what the client wants is very important but experimenting a little more is always exciting.
It is never about the camera, the camera isn’t everything, if the photographer doesn’t have the EYE, nothing works. Everyone is a photographer today with their cell phones and cameras (it is very common) but most of them can’t make a real photo. I mean a composition of lights, colors, frame, shadow etc. And the fact that it is not just about clicking, there’s a whole bunch of team that works on every project. The Staff behind the photographers who make sure everything is in place for the shoot. I wanna say thanks to my Staff in Brazil (Rio de Janeiro), Mexico City and Cancun, YOU GUYS ROCK!!!
A model might be glamorous to look at in the photo but he or she works hard to look what you see. There’s a professional behind that façade. For the new comers, in the industry I would advise them to be their own self always! Profesional, respectful, polite etc, in fact everybody needs to be like this, not only models!
The world of fashion photography is complicated. One has to be patient to enter. It’s very busy!
I take inspiration from my own life, from movies (I like to watch a lot of movies) and the Universe, it sends me some real good ideas too.
My best shot is hard to choose because every shot has a special moment. I think, in this moment, my best shot will be the next.
To juggle between family time and my work is ok for me because my wife is a model. She understands and is rather pushing me uphill. When I have to travel for a longer period it is a bit hard to leave her alone, but it is a part of the show.
I admire people who fight to achieve their dreams and never give up.
He can be reached at stefanoclicks@gmail.com or you may visit his website http://www.stefanoraphael.com/
