Jean-Marie Franceschi

“I like to believe there is this ‘human’ thing we cannot define and which connects people together.”

Intercru: Where are you from? Where do you live and work now?

Jean-Marie: I was born in Marseille, in the south of France, and that’s where I grew up. I’ve also lived in Germany for 6 years before coming back to France and eventually settling down in Paris where I live now.

What kind of emotions do you look for in your photos?

I think the emotion that connects the most with me are all the emotions we keep behind the shield. Even the most energetic, happy people of the world carry some kind of luggage that makes them feel insecure at times. I like it when people take the risk not to look so cool and strong in front of my lens. Their vulnerability is like a gift they give to me along with their trust.

For you, what makes the perfect portrait?

The emotional part plays a big role. The composition also; I love when body parts and the postures participate into creating a 3D-like figure with a strong sense of intimacy in my portraits. The last ingredient is the unplanned one. This little thing, this “in-between” moment that is impossible to plan ahead and reproduce if you miss the shot.

What do you do to find inspiration for your photography?

I find my inspiration in the works of the masters but also in the mood conveyed by music and nature. Sometimes my own feelings give me some inspiration too.

Why do people in general love seeing pictures of other people so much?

I like to believe there is this “human” thing we cannot define and which connects people together. I know I’m not saying anything new here but for years now, everything is going so fast, we get dozens of notifications from various devices every hour, we are no longer able to make decisions or to plan things live. A lot of us feel the need to slow down, to be in the moment.

Freezing a moment with someone in a photograph can thus be a really refreshing experience. Like sharing a nice meal with loved ones, or (really) listening to a nice piece of music. Besides that I think in every portrait you can see a self-portrait of the photographer somehow. When you think of it like that, I think it adds another layer of interest towards this art.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

The best advice I’ve ever received was basically to quit the pursuit of technical prowess. As my school curriculum was more geared towards engineering and science, it took me a while to figure it out.