• Louise Degraeve
  

• personal projects
• portraits
• book design
  

about
work with me

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BOTH SIDES is an ongoing project where I meet with other photographers and we exchange portraits. Each exchange has a different dynamic, atmosphere, focus and outcome. In the first place, it is enriching to share ideas, knowledge and experience. But we also share an intimate moment and both of us try to open up on both sides of the camera. Trying to focus on being in my most natural state of mind and appearance is a mental challenge for me. It’s almost some kind of meditation and turns out it’s a way to learn a lot about yourself.

Being photographed doesn’t always feel natural. People I portray often tell me in advance that they don’t quite know what to do or how to behave. But as we work together, they slowly grow out of that nervosity and both our concentration swells with confidence. This creates a beautiful arc of tension that continues to fascinate me. When I am photographed myself during a swap, I feel I soften gradually. I step out of my head and into the moment. The result is always surprising.