Feature Interview - Imagination Land: Teresa Queirós

My next interview is with my sister from another mister Teresa, when i interviewed her I found her passions are so similar to mine, I feel like i know her even though i've never met her!! I hope you enjoy her work and her spirit as much as I do :)



1. Fill me in on your background, where are you from and how did you get in to photography?


I'm from Portugal. I started photographing for fun, mostly. I would take pictures of a friend, she would take pictures of me - nothing serious. I only started taking it more seriously a couple of years ago. It's been a fun journey.



2. Who has influenced you the most in terms of photography?

Other photographers, of course. I can't say that there's one in specific, but I think that when you keep browsing through others people's work you'll get influenced by the ones you like the most. It's like you're taking bits, here and there, the bits you like, and eventually it will show in your own work.



3. What is your favourite style of photography (Self portraiture? Fashion? Documentary)?

Portraits! I like the middle term between emotion and fashion - when you have the beauty of a fashion portrait implied in an emotional one.


4. What is your process when taking photo's, from getting ideas to editing?

It depends, really. For instance, sometimes I see a really beautiful place and I have the whole visual - I know which model I want, the outfit, the story behind it, everything. Other times you just wing it, you're not sure of what you want but you make it happen,. Sometimes the results are even better than you expect. It's always worth it.


5. What are your tools of the trade?

I use a Canon 400D and I've recently bought a 50mm 1.8 lens to go with it (what a difference!), but mostly I use my Zenit-11.


6. Where do you hope to go with your photography?

I don't know. I guess I'd like to be paid for it ahaha maybe doing editorials or shooting for some brand or designer.

All the while being able to keep doing my personal work and experimenting. Yes, that would be nice. :)




7. Why do you think people are drawn to fashion photography?

Maybe because it allows you to create such beautiful and powerful images. It's like a parallel world where you can see everything picture perfect - pretty girls, pretty clothes, pretty make-up, pretty sets...



8. What draws you to a particular model? What do you look for in a model?

I usually don't go for the average pretty girl. I like it when they have something unique to them, weird, even. It's not very easy to find these girls though. Also,they should be able to convey their emotions easily, so that when I'm directing them, I can get exactly what I want. That's why I like to work with actresses. There are exceptions, though, for instance: I have this model who always seems to carry this heavy look in her eyes, and I love that. It's like she's always telling her story, her past, it's very genuine and it comes through in the picture - and that's priceless.


9. What are some of your favourate things :)?

I have so many favorite things! ahaha This is going to be insane... ok so... I love lace and sheer fabric (when light shines through it), I love tea, I love flowers (baby breaths and dandelions, specially), I love vintage (seriously, they just did things better in the old days), I love kaleidoscopes, I love candy (any type, really), I love sweet scents and children perfume, I love fruit, I love nights in watching movies, I love carrousels, I love puzzles and enigmas (in people as well, unfortunately), I love music, I love theater (and acting), I love books, I love flower patterns and pastel colors, I love to walk during twilight (it's just the best time of day to do it, really, it's magical), I love long conversations... I love the little things in life.


10. What is your best tip to taking a striking photo?

Ah! That I don't know. Maybe it would have to do with the colors, cause that's usually what catches my eye the most. I have no idea! ahaha Sorry.


11. Your photos seem to incorporate your surroundings and the elements, is this a big part of your style?

I love to shoot on location, I love pretty places in the middle of the nature. I don't know if it's a big part of my style or not, because that may change with time, but, yes, I do love nature and I love shooting surrounded by it.


12. What is your favourite photo taken by another photographer? (Link and describe why)

There are so many. Seriously! It would be impossible to choose!



13. What is your favourite photo you have taken? (Link and describe why)

I don't know that either, it keeps changing. I guess your latest work is usually what you like the most, and that's only natural since you keep getting better.

However, I remember I was really pleased with this picture when I saw it -



I couldn't believe how pretty it turned out, with all of the flares and the bokeh (no photoshop).

14. What are some of your favourite films, books and musicians?

Musicians: Patrick Watson, Andrew Bird, Anja Garbarek, Bon Iver, Lhasa de Sela, Nina Kinert, Panda Bear, Psapp, Inara George, Radical Face, The Antlers, Tom Waits (and many others).

Movies: "Lars and the Real Girl", "Never let me Go", "Water", "Down by Law", "Trust", "Blue Valentine", "Me Without You", "Wings of Desire", "Paris, Texas", "Trust" and, because they have absolutely stunning photography, "Valerie and her Week of Wonders" and "Atonement".

Books: I can't really say I have many favorites. I have "The Stranger" by Albert Camus, on the top of the list. I also liked reading the complete plays of Sarah Kane, and "The Scent of your Breath" by Melissa P.


15. What has been your biggest achievement so far with your photography?

My Margarita's series are going to be published as an editorial on an online magazine.



16. Do you think it’s hard to be original in photography? How do you keep your ideas original and fresh?

I do think it is hard to be original, but it has never been my goal. I photograph because I love it, not to be the best or to be the most original, it's about the passion. Besides, everyone is unique in their own way, I think.


17. Which photographer do you think I should interview next and why?

Matt Hill! Because we are good friends and I think he is pretty awesome and really talented.


18. Do you often change a lot of the original photo in Photoshop?

It depends. If I'm shooting film, I barely edit the pictures (for the most part, at least), but if I'm shooting digital I just have to. Digital pictures just seem so uninteresting with they're faithful colors and lack of texture. I tend to edit my digital pictures to make them look a bit like film - I try, at least. Film is so much better...


19. Do you think you have an original style that is you own?

Hum, I don't think so. I think my style is similar to many photographers out there, but it's like I said... I'm not striving to be original, so... I'm ok with it.


20. Do you prefer studio or location?

Location.


21. Give us the skinny, what's the next big project you've got coming up?

I don't have any big project when it comes to photography, unfortunatelly. I do have a new play coming up, though. I start rehearsing next monday, Does that count? :)


22. Which actor would play you in the film of your life?

Rachel Weisz, please! :)


23. What did you want to grow up to be when you were a kid?

I wanted to be a singer, for a long time. It's funny really, how much we change. I've never dreamed of becoming an actress and that's what I'm doing right now. Life happens, I guess.




Thank you so much Teresa :)

Please see more of her fabulous work here

xxx