You are naturally more careful in a temple than in a studio, but above all, I felt so lucky to have access to these places.
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I’ve always wanted to live in Japan for a few years; I am half-Japanese, so it was important for me to know my roots. The people I met there, too. Speaking Japanese, discovering Japan differently, working in Japanese, it was a challenge I wanted to take on as well.
I have worked much more in Japan than in Europe, and I feel like there are more jobs in Tokyo; it’s very dynamic. On the other hand, I prefer French photographers, for their eye, I think.
In Tokyo, working conditions are very comfortable, very structured. We do castings with a Japanese manager who accompanies us, which creates a reassuring framework.
Already, as a model, I am somewhat between two categories: not totally Japanese, not totally Western. Sometimes it’s an advantage, but it’s also a disadvantage. Otherwise, adapting 100% to the culture as a French person takes time; there are inevitably some misunderstandings, but I don’t feel like it poses a huge problem because most people are kind.
I laughed so much; it had been a long time since I had spoken only with French people, so I found that pleasant. I was really happy to have accepted the project, a sense of pride when we finished. In the car, I was exhausted, but our discussions were too interesting for me to sleep.
Most likely the shoot I’ve preferred since I started!
I found it fun to mix fashion with these environments. You are necessarily more careful in a temple than in a studio, but mostly I thought it was a chance to be able to access these places and take such beautiful photos.
I had been following Allan for a few years already on Instagram, appreciating his work, so working with him was an honor and a surprise. I appreciated being directed by him and getting to know the person behind the camera.
He is capable of giving me the necessary directions to get the perfect shot; I just have to listen and trust him, so it’s simple.
I try to have fun too. Photos that are too simple, too "catalogue," are necessary sometimes, but that’s not what is most exciting.
Alta/Nova was a creative project, with a strong universe, that spoke to me immediately. I couldn’t say no. So yes, in the future, I would like to be able to do only this kind of project.
I like it when fashion is beautiful and fun, and I think we achieved both.
Yes, it was different from an e-commerce studio photo day; I was freer and I found that interesting.
I hate it when we’re not laughing; on a shoot, you will always see me moving, dancing, and having fun. And we had a great time all together.
However, when I need to be serious, I am serious and I concentrate on the photos we are taking.
In general, I like doing my job very seriously, but I prefer it when it’s in good spirits.
I don’t have a particular ritual; before, I always used to listen to Thank God by Travis Scott before starting a shoot to motivate myself.
I would really like to continue evolving, shooting with lots of people with different visions, continuing to pose for brands I like or for projects that I am passionate about. I would like to try plenty of other things, but today I am concentrating on modeling, and I have all the time to try other disciplines in a few years.
In a year or two, I would like to work in other Asian countries, discover new settings, other cultures, before coming back to work in Europe and live a bit closer to my loved ones. And one day, why not work in the United States? Apparently, it’s nice.
