SheFeatures: Desiree Sydow
Name: Desiree Sydow
Camera: Sony Alpha 7 IV
Favourite type of photography: Fine art and street photography
Website: www.desireesydow.com
Instagram: @desireesydow.photography
Location: London, UK
How did you get into photography?
I used to run a fashion blog and vintage clothing shop. I tried to take nice pictures for the shop, modelling the clothes myself, but I realised that the photos looked far from professional, so I booked a photography course in order to take better pictures. In the end, I enjoyed the photography more than running the fashion blog!
Do you have any photographic qualifications or accolades?
I've completed a one-year photography diploma at CityLit, London.
What's the first photograph you remember seeing or shooting?
I don't remember the very first photos I took, but I DO remember the first camera I got - it was a disposable camera gifted by my sister when I was quite young. I didn't realise the cardboard case was part of the camera and tried to remove it - luckily, my sister stopped me before I could break the camera! I also remember taking a lot of ‘fashion’ photographs with my friends when we were teenagers, dressing up in my mum's clothes from the 1950s.
What do you love about photography?
I love that I can make my creative ideas come to life fairly easily (as opposed to other art disciplines, like drawing or painting). I also love the actual process of creating an image on film - it's like magic to me that a bit of light on film can be turned into a physical image on paper.
What do you wish you'd learned about photography earlier?
How to focus properly. I still find it one of the most challenging aspects of photography, particularly because I take self-portraits, so focusing can be tricky!
Where is your favourite place for photography?
I take most of my photos at home in my makeshift ‘studio’ (my living room). Setting up backdrops and lights can be a bit cumbersome because it's not a dedicated studio space, so I'm dreaming of having an actual photography studio one day! In the meantime, I love taking street-photography-style photos outside. I find that when I go for a walk with my camera, I have a whole different way of seeing the world.
Do you have a favourite photographic technique?
It's not strictly a photographic technique, but I love using Dodge and Burn in Photoshop in order to give my images more dimension. I suppose this IS an actual photographic technique when used in the darkroom!
Can you briefly outline your approach to image processing?
I catalogue images in Lightroom and then edit them in Photoshop. I love Photoshop! It's such a powerful tool. I use a tablet to edit so I have more control.
What's your favourite lens?
I seem to always go back to my classic 50mm prime lens, it's the one I use the most.
Read our Guide to Camera Lenses, all those terms explained
Do you have a favourite accessory?
My Peak Design Cuff - it's a great wrist strap that looks good and stops me worrying about accidental drops!
Have you found the perfect camera bag yet?
Not really - I find them always either too small or too big! The search goes on.
Which photographers have influenced or inspired you, and how or why?
I am grateful for Brooke Shaden's photography because after being introduced to her work, I realised that fine art self-portrait photography is a thing, and I'm not totally weird for taking self-portraits! I also love the work of Lidia Vives, a Spanish photographer. In terms of street photography, I think Saul Leiter's images are gorgeous.
Listen to the SheClicks Women in Photography Podcast
with Brooke Shaden
Please recommend 2 or 3 female photographers to follow on Instagram.
Brooke Shaden (@brookeshaden), Kristina Varáksina (@kristinavaraksina), Claire Luxton (@claireluxtonart)
Is there a camera, lens or accessory that you don't have yet but you'd like to buy at some point?
Yes I'm dreaming of owning a Hasselblad one day! My uncle has an old one in his 500+ camera collection and I've been dropping hints for years!
Is there a genre of photography that you love but you haven't tried yet?
I love boudoir photography. I haven't photographed other people in my home studio yet, only myself, but I always liked the idea of taking boudoir-style, glamorous photographs of women, making them feel beautiful.
What's your proudest photographic moment?
Being nominated for the British Photography Awards. But of course, one shouldn't seek external validation from awards. I also feel proud in the moments when I create a picture that I'm truly happy with.
If you could have one superpower that could help you with photography, what would it be?
The perfect focus in every shot!
Your favourite baked goods are?
I cannot resist brownies, especially if there's salted caramel involved.
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I never meant to become a photographer - I actually always wanted to be an artist. However, a chronic injury and ongoing pain in my arms meant that I had to stop drawing, so I picked up a camera instead. I think that background in art is the reason why my photos look quite painterly (or at least that's what I'm often going for).
If I'm not taking photos, I'm filming Youtube videos and writing blog posts about photography, or I'm going to dance classes - my other favourite hobby.
