Raphael Pomès
“Photographers have always told me stay true to yourself and find inspiration somewhere else so you can do it your own way”
Intercru: Where are you from? Where do you live and work now?
Raphael: I’m from a paradise island named Madagascar! I live and work today near Paris.
How did you get started in photography?
It was a total accident!
I always used to take everything with my phone when I was younger. I liked to hang out in the Parisian streets and take photos of everything. One day a friend of mine went on holidays and forgot his camera. It was a Canon... I don’t remember exactly which one but it was a great one. So he told me to take it while he was on holidays.
Then I began to shoot my friends and I loved it! I started to post and some people asked me to shoo. I bought my own Canon and started to do shoots in my spare time.
What’s the hardest part about photography?
Personally, I really think it’s to stay creative. Because even if, for example, we have our style (tones, outfits, mood, etc.) we have to work to not fall in a lazy mood by doing the same things.
When I find good inspiration, I want to explore that and eventually come to master that technique or skill. Then you have the choice: to keep using that mood and doing something you’ve mastered (but you’ll stop learning and discovering) or you go on finding new things. That is what’s challenging! It’s hard finding something new that matches with your style!
Where do you find creative inspiration?
Everything vintage! I’m very fond of old esthetics. Old TV shows, old magazines, old movies, old paintings…everything retro!
One year ago, I discovered the “Aesthetic Movement” which is a great mix between vintage vibes and contemporary execution. This year I’m trying to find something around the Victorian era and mix it with aesthetics vibes... that project is to be continued…
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about photography?
Find inspiration everywhere else except photography. Let me explain...
Today we have access to everything. We see people doing so many different things and we might think, “Damn this is great! I have to try something like that.” But in reality, it might be something which is very different from the work you usually do. Then you realize that it could be something you like but not something you like to do or that you are not qualified to.
So, photographers have always told me stay true to yourself and find inspiration somewhere else so you can do it your own way.
Who are your favorite accounts on Instagram right now?
Definitely Brooke Olimpieri’s account @filthymouthcreative!! I have followed her since I’ve been on Instagram. She is incredible and I love everything she does.
You can see that she loves what she does and makes it seems so easy when you see her backstage.
What would your dream photoshoot be like? Any particular location, brand, model, etc?
OMG I have one shoot I’m dreaming of.
It would be in a desert, like American deserts out west. It would be at sunset with a car like the “Red Shark” Chevrolet Caprice in the movie Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas. Something badass!
The models I work with are already my dream models! I have to say it or I’m dead haha. But if I can choose a dream model for this shoot it would be Jordyn Johnson or Jessie Moore wearing the brand The Lovers and Drifters Club… I’m dreaming of it right now.
Raphael Pomès is a Paris-based photographer with a love of all things vintage. To see more of his photography, you can check his work on Instagram @raphaparis.
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