She brings colours mixed with rays of sunshine to our lives … filling our minds with beautiful images of natural warmth and has taken us around the world filming and photographing campaigns for Billabong.
You may already know her as we have previously published her video on KiteSista that she made for Billabong but also our latest video posted yesterday which she shot and directed … but we want to know a little more about this amazing photographer so Kitesista is proud to present Diane Sagnier.
KSm: Hi Diane… already at 23 a really talented young photographer you won the Picto Young Fashion Photography prize in 2011 against other really talented photographers.
Now you work in a number of different disciplines in fashion, music and also video. Our introduction does not tell us much about the person so can you help people to understand which kind of artistic and driven woman is behind the name.
Diane: Hello! Yes I am a photographer and “director” for the last 3 years. I started to work after finishing school in 2010. In the begining I started with my love of working with light, the spirit of a person, catching a timeless moment… it is and is what I am still looking for. Fashion was at first an outlet for this but now it’s a big part of my work through editorials, lookbooks and some campaigns such as Billabong 2013 and Comptoir des Cotonniers).
The images of musicians started because of collabarotions with online magazines such as Crumb Magazine and Madmoizelle.com, and my first music video was with Walters Sobcek who convinced me to continue with the videos.
We are never sure where we are going (I hope to infinity and beyond) but in any case I love the journey filled with special encounters.
KSm: Of course we have seen your beautiful video that you made for the Billabong 2013 campaign and we immediately thought “Diane is our next interview!”… Can we assume through this video that the world attached to board sports is a world that you can easily experiment with your talent and for you this must really help to find your inspiration?
Diane: Yes it’s obvious, a brand like Billabong corresponds perfectly with my way of thinking, the team is really awesome and we are always in magical places and girls are magnificent muses of the sea… so how can it not inspire!? because I am a real fan of surfing and board sports in general it helps me to connect to their identity. I’m not a real fan of the “glamour” look, the natural look is more touching and easier to associate with. For inspiration, we open our eyes wide, we look all around us film the things that touch our emotions.
KSm: Are you too a skater, surfer or kitesurfer? …and if not is it something that you would like to try?
Diane: I surfed a bit when I was young in California, in west south of France and during the winter in Marseille but not enough to feel completly comfortable. Same for skateboarding, I started when I was teenager and I had good “foundations” as I was living in the Alps when I was child which is why I am not a bad skier either!
KSm: You said that you took a lot of pleasure in filming your subjects outside for the Billabong video, allowing you to play with the wind, the light and their natural beauty. Do you think the fact you like the brand and the spirit is encompasses helps you or do you manage to get your style to work in all situations and environments?
Diane: When I can directly relate to the subject it is clear that my images will be better! But, I have to adapt to the demand and because of I have a lot of different facets to my taste I always try to find one or two common points to help create the visual style. You can have fun with so many ideas and different styles but if a job does not connect with me at all, then it is probably not for me.
KSm: Have you done any other “action shoots” whether in the world of skate, surf or other board sports? …and is this an direction you would like to evolve.
Diane: I have never done “proper” action shoot… it always seems to happen in the middle of other shoots or on trips (Berlin and New Zealand for example) I was shooting in the skatepark with some skaters guys, fixies and scooters! I have organised a fashion shoot around a skateboarder in action mixed with some models … It is definitely a little more fun but I can not say that I’m an expert on the subject.
KSm: We guess that as an artist you must make your own artistic choices but when you work with a huge brand like Billabong, do you still have this freedom of expression or do you have to follow guidelines which are set for you?
Diane: When it is in response to a brief, we do. It’s like that, you have to adapt. There are little challenges and it’s more interesting when the client is looking for your personal touch. To respond to a brief with your eyes closed is not interesting at all, but when everything is fluente and clear, it works out best for everyone.
KSm: You work in digital but your style is very analogue and vintage… do you think that your style is going to evolve or change over time and with the trends or do you think that it is very much a part of your identity and natural in your artistic approach?
Diane: Playing with colours like this is a beautiful style I love, and it was more beautiful before we started to attach the vintage/instagram label to it. The target is not necessarily to get a vintage effect but just trying to harmonize the colors and of course its going to evolve. Now I always work with my style of colour but with more restraint than 3 years ago… because it’s a little overused at times.
Evolution is also the basis of any progression and in any case and I hope to evolve my style over the years without losing my identity.
KSm: Where do you imagine yourself in 10 years?
Diane: In 10 years? NO IDEA!!!!! (I don’t want to jinx anything!)
KSm: You’re also a musician … can you tell us more about that?
Diane: Yes, I have played guitar since I am was a little girl, I did some concerts with a friend in 2011 … and recently I recorded two tracks with two really great producers.
Diane we thank you so much for the time you have given us, we wish you all the best for your future projects and we congratulate you again for your amazing work.