In Focus w/ Maggie Stout
She/Her | @maggie.stout | 21 | St Paul, Minnesota
How did you get into photography?
I used to love taking photos of my nail art when I was in middle school, so my parents bought me my first digital camera. After posting my pictures on Instagram, a friend from school asked me to take photos of her and I fell in love with portrait photography. Before my freshman year of high school, I attended my first photography Instameet and was able to meet a whole network of photographers who shared the same passion for the art as I did.
Who are some of your biggest inspirations?
Movies have been a huge source of inspiration lately. I think any Wes Anderson and Andrei Tarkovsky film have some of the best cinematography- you can look at any frame and they each tell their own story. I also draw a lot of inspiration from film/fashion photographers Sally Mann, Sonia Szóstak, and Fanny Latour-Lambert.
How do you prepare yourself for a shoot?
I love collecting photos and creating mood boards on Pinterest. Once a concept for a shoot is thought through, I use the boards as a way to communicate to the models the style and feel I want to achieve. I have a lot of go-to spots in the Twin Cities that I shoot at, so then it is a matter of deciding on the location. Sometimes I will have specific shots I want to take, but most of the time I like to experiment during the shoot.
What do you ultimately want to say with your work?
For me, photography is an escape where I can be whoever I want to be. My favorite thing about taking self portraits is how I am able to explore different sides of myself. I want each photo to tell a unique story and bring the viewer into a new world.
If you could give a young photographer any advice, what would you tell em?
I think it is easy for young photographers to copy popular trends or other photographers which is fine once in awhile, but I believe photography is a chance to explore new ideas and be unique. I would tell beginner photographers to experiment as much as possible. Make an effort to try out different styles, editing techniques, angles, locations...- anything that will challenge them to to create something new and original.