Storytelling in Photography with Dasha Pears
Storytelling in photography is a key element to producing meaningful work that others can relate to and/or ponder on. What is the purpose of photography if not to make the viewer feel something. Visual creatives are too often caught up in ensuring that the technical aspects of their photos are right and let the message slip through the cracks.
As you will come to hear later on in this blog post, Dasha Pears is a surreal fine art photographer based out of Helsinki, Finland. I first noticed her work on Instagram and was taken back by her ability to add imaginative elements to her images without losing touch with reality. Dasha’s work is easy on the eyes in an attempt to keep her message at the forefront of the viewer.
In this blog post, Dasha Pears gives us some great tips around conveying stories in our photographs. Dasha also addresses a common dilemma for creatives which is, “what story do I want to tell?”.
Question 1: Why don’t you start by giving me your creative origin story! (ie. Where you are based out of, the initial push to start photography/art, etc.)
Question 2: How would you describe your style to other people?
Question 3: Something I love about your work is how it has this fantasy element to it yet still feels grounded in reality. Is this something that you consciously aim to do, or is it just how the cookie crumbles?
I love the idea of capturing all of the elements you want to Photoshop into the work during the shoot. Not only is this an interesting way of keeping the image organic to the location, but it also helps with lighting (ie. same warmth, light direction and shadows). This is also an interesting note to keep in mind during a shoot. Perhaps you didn’t have any concepts planned and/or you are participating in a photo walk. A common issue with these meetups is that a lot of people walk away with very similar images. Maybe snap an image of a few elements that defined the location you were in at the time (ie. falling leaves, neon lights, a vintage car, etc.). Now, you are not only differentiating your images but also assisting the viewer in understanding the character of that day, that location, that moment.
Question 4: How pre-planing is involved? Do you know generally what the end image/edit is going to look like, or is it more of a ‘just capture and play with it’ method?
The key thing to note here is that Dasha properly plans out her set to ensure she conveys her ideas but is open to suggestions on the day of. When surrounded by different creatives, it is important to shoot with open ears as this can only work to improve your final images. As creators, it is our job to understand and evoke emotion. Other creators will process your message in different ways (due to upbringing, media consumption, parental practices, etc.) and will have fresh eyes/input on how to convey the message.
Also, mapping out your shot in advance can of course help you produce work that is as close to your imagination as possible, but there are a few other benefits as well. If you are on a tight timeline, sketches will give you a clear idea of how to setup your shoot upon arrival without having to improvise on the spot. Also, if you are working with a team, this makes it a lot easier to communicate your vision.
Another point I liked from Dasha’s answer was around location scouting. She touched on it briefly but location scouting is too often overlooked, and it can make or break a shoot. Simply seeing an image online or remembering back to 2 years ago will not give you an accurate representation of the current state of that location. So, when producing a piece of work that means a lot to you (or your client), take the proper steps to ensuring it will work for you in its current state (ie. driving there, looking for recent photographs using Instagram locations and/or hashtags, asking someone local to send you an image if too far away, etc.)
Question 5: What has been your favorite piece thus far and why? (Maybe add some context... ie. Where you shot it, when it was shot, who with, what inspired it, etc.)
“The favorite piece is the one you are working on right now”. I can relate to this statement because when we are planning out the next project, we are typically putting our all into it. We are fully invested and producing the best work possible and conveying a message that at the time means a lot to us. Something that I have come to understand recently is that it is dangerous to benchmark your own work. to say, “this is my best work, and what I need to create against”. Not only is it important to not compare yourself to other creators, but also to do so with your own achievements. Creating work that you are proud of and other people resonate with is a special thing, but the focus needs to be moving forward and evoking a new emotion/message.
Question 6: With a style as unique as yours, I was curious to know, where/who do you pull inspiration from? (ie. could be any art form | Music, illustration, photography, etc.)
Although Dasha’s inspirations growing up were all visual, they were different mediums (ie. paintings, illustrations). This is a topic I hold close to my heart. I am a firm believer that what inspires you needs to be seen through the heart not necessarily by the eyes. I know that sounds a bit strange but I will elaborate. One of my greatest motivators and inspirations in photography is actually music. From the lyrics to the melody, music has this special ability in how it can echo your thoughts and emotions without compromising your vision.
Dasha mentioned trying to stay away from photography as an inspirational tool and I can relate to that statement. Seeing a photograph that moves you can plant a seed, but in-turn can make it difficult to grow a completely unique vision. This is because the reference was visual, and if it moved you enough to inspire a project. It provides the interesting challenge of making something unique without including visual references to the original work.
Question 7: When I look at your work, the constants tend to be...
A clever composition
Shapes
COLOUR, COLOUR, COLOUR!
Those three things paired with a creative imagination come together to produce a stunning form of story telling. What are a few tips that growing photographers can take to begin telling stories with their images?
“To begin telling stories with your images, the most important thing to do is understand what kind of story you want to tell. What stories might be important for you”. This is arguably the most valuable piece of advice to receive. As Dasha mentions, you don’t need to create content around the worlds largest issues. Perhaps you are experiencing the extremely profound emotions of your first heartbreak of death in the family. Creating art that authentically and whole heatedly speaks to the emotional response your soul is producing will greatly resonate with others going through that same thing. Often, we see creators aiming to tackle large issues that they cannot directly relate to. Focus on what is true to your struggle and growth.
Now, story telling in images is not limited to portraits. Lets take interior photography as an example. A good interior photographer captures the little things, the elements that in culmination defines the culture and character of that location. Regardless of your subject, you should always be aiming to tell a story with your images.
I would like to thank Dasha Pears for taking the time to answer my questions. Her answers provided many key learnings for us growing photographers and things to remember during our next shoot/project. Below you will find links to Dasha’s website which highlights her courses in storytelling with photographs. I highly recommend that you give that a look along with her Instagram account that will also be linked below. Thank you for reading, and I hope you found this interview to be as valuable as I did.