SANTIAGO NEYRA

To celebrate Christmas, we also have a new interview with a photographer you know. Meet PNPPL issue 9 contributor, Santiago Neyra! “The Spanish Boys” – Jaime, Alberto & Victor.

Could we start with some background information about you? Where you grow up, where you based, how did you get interested in photography?
I was born and raised in the south of mexico, oaxaca, a small city that drags me to the world of art and handcrafts, its a city full of culture and creativity, since i was little my mother signed me to summer classes of painting or photography, that is how i get involved with it, discovering that world from the eye of my parents.

Did you always know photography was your ultimate go-to outlet of expression?
No, I think I discover few years ago, I think my way of expression is any support of creativity, photography, painting, drawing, even productions… but now a days i feel very connected to photography and specially black & white textures, nostalgia and melancholic.

There is always time and learning for someone to find their own style. That you remember back, was something of a turning point from your photos are started to be “Santiago Neyra” photography”?
I think was the moment when people show me my own pictures, without being tagged, and telling me “it is yours right?” “thats your color right?” those kind of questions that i didnt think i will get it, i started doing photography, professionally talking 8 years ago, so to the point im now it was a long way and not easy. Learning to create what I already do wasn’t easy but I discover my own formula.

I don’t really see smiling pictures on your instagram, your work is more of a serene, slightly melancholic mood. What is the reason for the lack of smiles?
When I started reading this question 3 photos come to my mind, photos of people smiling one of it is my mother, I think for transmitting what I really like we need a more relaxing ambience, when any models come in front of me the first thing is that I start discovering who the other one is, talking is one of my main skills, when you know your subject you get deep into him and im trying to look for the imperfection. Imperfection, models usually have “a side that favors them” or “a pose that works” when I discover what pattern they repeat to me I begin to avoid it in the session and that is when I catch the natural or never
photographed side of them. I like to reflect my opposite side, serene and calm mood, is my ying-yang.

Your images are not only for yourself, but also for clients and fashion brands. What do you like/don’t like about this work? How much do you tolerate having your hands tied with the end result?
I love to meet knew people, like i told you in a few questions back, one of my strong skills is talking and connecting with people, thankfully ive been having a good clients and relation with all the team that surrounds be, but my advice for people that is getting new into the fashion world is to be clever and accept that is a process and don’t try to get everything quickly. Nowadays, lately all of my clients ask me what i know to do, thats a really beautiful feeling, to ask me to do what I already know, but that’s a really hard work that I achieve.

Do you have a favourite era of fashion?
I have two: 50’s the golden age and the 70’s the rebellion to seduction, discovering in these eras talents as Helmut Newton, Arthur Elgort, Richard Avedon, Guy Bourdin…

What is the best thing to being a photographer?
Capture and freeze moments, It will never happen the same again, knowing how to wait and being there to capture the moment you were looking for or that your mind imagined, is a great pleasure when you captured what you had in mind but at the same time let yourself be surprised.

Who have been your biggest influences in your career?
I have two names that comes to my mind when i read the question, the first one is Manuel Alvarez Bravo, In his workshop is where I discovered and had my first approach to photography, it has a documentary, personal and so nostalgic seal that I see it reflected in my everyday photography, the black and white work but above all this work of representing serenity or melancholy, and one closer to our era is Alexander Saladrigas, who I am fortunate to know and consider a colleague. I met him during the pandemic when I created a group of creators who wanted to learn new things and his work is impeccable. The versatility of the characters and the storytelling is what blows my mind.

Do you work alone or with a team?
Normally I work alone, mostly when I need to get a team I know who understands my world and vision.

If you could tell your younger self one piece of advice what would it be?
Be patient, everything is a process.

What do you do when you got time for yourself?
Climbing sport, is one of my passions and a safe place to also be myself, consume my favorite movies on and on, without getting tired of watching it repeatedly.

Please finish the sentences:
Deeply in love with … black and white photography
The best way to sleep is … naked with 6 pillows
My dream is … never stop creating