LIFE OF A PHOTOGRAPHER IN AUCKLAND - energy flow guidance

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Auckland, New Zealand. That’s where the magic happens, right our fave creative photographer and entrepreneur Matilda Aaltonen?

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WHY DID YOU MOVE TO NEW ZEALAND?

When I was 20, I didn’t know what I wanted to do with life, I didn’t know what I was interested in, so I decided to do the classic Working Holiday Visa – year overseas. I chose New Zealand over Australia because I can’t stand the heat and the sun in summer… I’m a standard almost see-through white girl, I would turn into dust in the Australian sun…After my visa expired, I realised that I want to stay in New Zealand and since then I’ve been studying marketing, innovation and entrepreneurship, and working as a self-studied freelance photographer and videographer in Auckland.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO 18 YEARS OLD YOU?

Firstly, I would ask “Giiirl, what are you wearing? That dirty hippie look is not working.” There have been some questionable fashion phases in my past… #SMH

Secondly, I would say “Don’t worry, you’ll figure who you are real soon, just keep being you 100% (but not in those clothes, please).”

WHAT NEXT?

I’m going to graduate from the University of Auckland as a Bachelor of Commerce in February. Then I am going focus all my time and energy on working with photography and videography. I am hoping to get to work more with the amazing New Zealand artists and music videos.

But right now I am looking forward to experiencing the NYC Fashion Week with FEDITED and I’m very excited to see what cool things we can create together.

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION FROM?

There are plenty of young creatives and entrepreneurs with the most exciting ventures and concepts to work among in Auckland. I guess I draw inspiration from everywhere, my friends’ start-up companies, local videographers and photographers, local artists, Instagram and cool music videos.

I also like doing random things to practice and boost my creativity and imagination skills, such as calligraphy, resin art, floating in the ocean, dancing and inventing new drinking games on Saturday nights…

HOW HAVE YOU LEARNED TO FILM AND TAKE COOL PHOTOS?

I’ve learned that your experience, network, personal style, and ideas are more appreciated than education in this industry in Auckland. This works great for me, as I am completely educated by the mighty Youtube tutorial teachers of the Internet. #BlessYoutube

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR PHOTOSHOOTS?

Rule number one, charge everything. Charge your batteries, charge your extra batteries. Damn, even go and buy some more batteries, charge yourself, charge your whole life. Nothing worse than going to a shoot and your camera dies in the middle of it. Awkward!

Other standard things to do before a shoot: figure out what gear will work best for the shoot, check your SD cards, study your client and visualise.

Just before I leave for a shoot, I’ll have a serious jam onto some good music (most likely some hip hop, SKRT SKRT). That is just something that helps me get into the right mindset and get the creative vibes going! Depending on the shoot, I will have a speaker on the set to make everyone relax and have fun.

WHAT TIPS DO YOU GIVE THOSE WHO WANT TO BE PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS?

Keep shooting, keep editing. The more you do it, the more development you will see. Ask to shoot and film people you find interesting, watch Youtube tutorials on how to do cool edits and cuts, get feedback and repeat.

Later on, focus on developing your style. The photography industry is saturated with self-studied and educated photographers, what will differentiate you from all the other photographers? Your unique style.

I try and keep my style in photography and generally in life as a mix of sophistication, street and total badassness…

HOW HAS LIVING AND STUDYING ABROAD CHANGED YOU?

I think the best part of living overseas is that I’ve learned to know myself so well. Without the comfort of your homeland or family and other support systems, you figure out what you like do and what kind of jackass you really are… And that has been awesome.