I'm 100% Sure It’s The Right Path For Me
Featuring Tamara Ruibal Words by Nastasia Khmelnitski
Remarkably romantic, somewhat dreamy - Tamara Ruibal’s work is likewise exceptionally storytelling. Tamara has developed her artistic vision, through which she creates narratives, her models become actors on set, portraying certain circumstances. A chimeric feeling that arises comes as a result of a carefully designed atmosphere through choosing the scene, thinking through the specifics of poses for models to carry, and an identified personal background, which sets the character to the ideal mood.
Curiosity and love towards the surroundings allow to disclose the most interesting moments outside the set and display the essence of what lies beyond on set.
Tamara Ruibal is a Barcelona-based fashion photographer, originally from Cangas, Spain. In the interview, we speak about Tamara’s interest to observe and to depict people through the chosen medium. Tamara explains her approach to shooting fashion stories, her emphasis on the importance of teamwork on set, and her background in Arts education.
‘I started realising how special my home town was exactly the moment I left it when I started to travel and see new places. After that moment, I started appreciating more what I had around me: nature, the colours, the textures... but most of all the people’
Cangas
You spent your early years in Cangas, Spain - a resort in southwest Galicia. What’s special about this place?
That's right, I'm from a little fish town on the Galicia coast. I moved to Barcelona a year ago, but I still feel somehow as if I'm living in Cangas (it almost feels like Barcelona is a long holiday break).
How do you think it shaped you as a future photographer?
I started realising how special my home town was exactly the moment I left it when I started to travel and see new places. After that moment, I started appreciating more what I had around me: nature, the colours, the textures... but most of all the people. How authentic, special, and real they are, their habits, hobbies, workspaces... This is what pushed me to photograph this world that I was living in to document everything that I experience.
How is it different from Barcelona?
Barcelona is a great city, full of life and there's always something to do, there's this feeling of constant movement. On the contrary, Cangas feels very relaxed, almost quiet, and it's this contrast that makes me see those little details and special moments like seeing my dad harvesting grapes.
‘My first impression of London was... well, I think I was quite excited about living in another country!’
What were your first impressions of London back then?
My first impression of London was... well, I think I was quite excited about living in another country! The perception of London was that it's multicultural and diverse. My original impression of the UK or British culture was based on the Royal Family or typical English things.
What’s your favorite type of editorial you shoot for fashion magazines?
I feel that my photography can vary depending on what I want to express, depending on the kind of project I'm doing. I don't think I have a specific way to shoot fashion editorials. Sometimes I look for lifestyle images to document a story, but sometimes I like to create ideal scenarios to tell something more idyllic.
Is it a specific story you want to tell, aesthetic you choose to create, or the dynamics in the team that drive you to work on a new thing?
Sometimes the ideas come from something very clear, but most of the time, things evolve. I love to speak with the rest of the team to see where we can push the boundaries and create something special. I do love to work as a whole with my team. I think the final image is a result of everyone's hard work.
I love experimenting with my photography, sometimes when you are not 100% happy with the work you have created, post-production techniques and photo manipulation can bring those images to another new level creating something completely unexpected.
‘The idea was to make clear that any place can be a great place to stage a story, and we believed death is still a taboo sometimes in our society, so we wanted to claim that’
Where Do We Go?
Let’s discuss your latest experience shooting the editorial Where Do We Go? and the idea to shoot in the graveyard. What is special about the place?
The concept came from the stylist, her work speaks about death and the standardization of it. We had a clear idea of a graveyard not as a focal background but only as a hint. We wanted to leave nature to speak for itself.
How does it tell the story?
The idea was to make clear that any place can be a great place to stage a story, and we believed death is still a taboo sometimes in our society, so we wanted to claim that.
Freelance
What were your main steps, and how did you decide to develop your career as a freelance photographer?
Since I was very little the art world has been very close to me, I have always been fascinated by it. I studied Arts, but I didn't know exactly which area I was more interested in until I started experimenting with photography and film. It was back then when I fell in love with it, and I started to get very curious and excited about it.
I realised that the fashion photography world has a lot more behind than just a picture of a garment, there's a lot of art, harmony, colours... it takes you to a different world.
How soon after making this step, you realized this was the right thing to do?
I've been lucky enough to be able to further study photography in FotoDesign in Barcelona. It has been a beautiful and amazing experience, I have met incredible people, I have learnt a lot not just in the photography field but about myself, my style and how to believe in what I do. Photography brings me joy, happiness, and peace in some sort of way. I'm 100% sure this is the right path for me.
‘I keep close attention to acting. I think it's very important to create a story. I like to have my own sketches with poses and ideas, but I do also love improvisation’
Models
What is your approach in casting and working with models on set?
I try to find models that fit the profile that the team and myself look for, not just for their physique but mostly their attitude.
Do you tend to create specific poses before the shoot or improvise on set?
I keep close attention to acting. I think it's very important to create a story. I like to have my own sketches with poses and ideas, but I do also love improvisation.
Photography
What's the project you feel most accomplished about?
I really can't tell which project as every single one feels like an accomplishment, but I feel that there's also a lot of things that can be improved. I know for a fact there's still a long way to go for me, learning and developing my skills as a photographer.
What’s the main thing on set from a technical perspective or in terms of aesthetic?
I feel it's essential to have a good vibe with the whole team while working to make sure things are done in the best possible way. I feel very lucky to have met incredible people that love and enjoy fashion the same way I do.
Regarding my aesthetic, I think it's an ongoing project, I feel that it's like a white canvas that hopefully, I can keep filling with new and exciting ideas. I would love for my photography to keep growing with me. Time and life experiences have strong power in the art that you create; how you perceive life and the world will translate through your work.
Upcoming Projects
What are your plans for this year? What are you working on right now?
At the moment, I'm working in a couple of editorial projects that soon will get published, but the future is quite uncertain at the moment due to the situation we are living in.
I'm also reshaping my portfolio and thinking of new projects. It's a difficult time for everybody, but we need to be positive and try to keep learning and growing.
