YANN FAUCHER

I have been following Yann Faucher’s work for a long time and I can finally express my admiration in an interview. Read this little chat with love and feast your eyes on the beautiful pictures!

Could we start with some background information about you? Where you grow up, where you based, how did you get interested in photography?
I grew up and was born in France, Brittany. I am now based in France (Paris and Brittany) after living in the UK for 13 years. I started getting interested in photography in my teen years but really started getting involved at the end of my uni years. It was a slow progression as I am not from an artistic family background, not really allowed to dream of an artistic path, even though my parents always took the time to take us to some museums.

Did you always know photography was your ultimate go-to outlet of expression?
I wouldn’t say photography is my ultimate go-to outlet way of expression. Life is a quite long journey, I think it’s important to embrace what would feel for you the most natural, at a time, way of expression. It’s one path, but not the only one.

There are many ways to learn photography. In school, on your own, learning from a master, and I
think it’s also very useful to look at a lot of photos you like, so you’re unintentionally trying to push your knowledge in that direction. How did you become a photographer, and do you recommend your path to others?
I studied sciences, so I always had interests in technical challenges, sometimes I have to restrain myself not pushing my nerdy personality into the process of making images. I want it to feel raw, not overly complicated, keep it simple is the key element for me. I have learnt photography mostly by myself but with the helps of some very dedicated friends photographers in the first place. I started a bit with digital photography but switched quickly to analog. I have no recommendations, there are so many ways to achieve a goal, trust your guts and take it steps by steps.

What advantages made you choose analogue photography over digital?
I chose analogue photography for a reason of timing in the creative process. It’s a slow way of making images, it allows you to take your time and wait before getting the image revealed. You are also less tempted to change the course of reality or make adjustments in real time. It allows more mistakes and create a more “objective” and “honest” image in my own opinion. Having a real material in your hands rather than a memory card it’s more charming to my eyes.

The best advice I’ve been given in the past about photography is to try to convey an impression with the photo. What advice would you give to others, what do you think makes a good photo?
What makes a good photo is mostly a picture that please you in first instance, in my own opinion. No one should take into considerations what other people would think over your work. For me, It has to be personal, it has to reflect who you are. Give yourself some time, make mistakes and learn from them.

Your portfolio is quite model oriented. What are some of the things you still like to capture out of people? Do you use your camera often in your private life, when you travel?
There are a lot (part of) landscapes and still life images in my other images. I don’t share to much of those images, there are more illustrations and complete my portfolio or mood of the moment. I rarely use my cameras in my private life, I do it though when I travel.

What is the best thing to being a photographer?
I do like very much sharing my time with the people I take the picture of, it’s essential for me, getting to know new individuals, listening new stories and learning. It’s often quite personal and I would say “intimate”. That’s mostly why I am a photographer, for the social aspect of it.

Other than a good face and body, what makes a model good?
Hard question, really…. obviously face and body matter, but I do think it’s also from how curious you are when approaching a new model, how much you want to discover and scratch the coatings on the surface.

Scrolling through your Instagram, I had the feeling I was looking at a diary. It’s full of experiences, moments you’ve caught, whether they’re happy or a bit more serious. It’s like a diary of youth. If you had to sum up in a few sentences what your work is about – or what you would like it to be about – how would you describe it?
My work is definitely a part of me, a part of who I am…. it does reflect moments, souvenirs and feelings from the past… and possibly moments to come. I would simply describe it as simple and personal experiences.

You have previously published a book. Are you working on a new book or do you have any other big plans for the future?
I am working on another book, I started few years back. I am collecting images and portraits of people. I have now quite a lot of images and quite a huge archive that I haven’t shared anywhere online or on prints. Not big plans apart from publishing books and taking more pictures.

What do you do when you got time for yourself?
I run and swim, read but less than I used to. Spend some time with family and friends. Simple.

Please finish the sentences:
Take me to… your favorite place
My fragrance is… warm sand
My favorite part of body is… so many, can’t choos