Interviews / Stories
Sara M. Toscano
Tell us something about yourself
My name is Sara M. Toscano, I’m a 35 year old Portuguese that moved to Holland in September of 2008 I have a university degree in computer science. My first word was dog and I love animals, in Holland I have a cat (Snuff) and in Portugal I have a dog (Sebastian).
How and when did you get into photography?
I started loving photography when I was a little girl.
My grandfather loves photography he always had a camera with him and I have nice family photos from a time when that wasn’t very common.
Since she was little, my mother used to feel the magic of photography because a couple of family friends had a photography shop which they still have till today, now owned by their son (he’s my mothers childhood friend).
They develop film so she would run around and play feeling the smells and seeing magic happen in front of her eyes when the images started to appear on to the photographic paper.
My parents always had a camera and I started playing around with it since I was 2 years old. Growing up my parents gave me 2 cameras of my own and later my mother had to hide the camera because I always wanted the prints and it was very expensive to have the rolls developed.
When I moved to Holland I meet Robbert Beck trough a common friend. He aloud me to assist some of his photoshoots, gave me assignments and critiqued my work, never telling me how I should do it, only what he expected to be delivered, after that he would let me know were the final result had gone wrong if that was the case. I started reading light, searching, learning and understanding more about the subtleties of sculpting it. I made the assignments with a little digital camera and got my first DSLR short after.
I started professionally in 2009 after being in Holland for a year.
What does photography mean to you?
Like I wrote in my website, to me being a photographer isn’t only a job, it’s my life, my breath and my Karma.
Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers.
My style is very romantic, ethereal and classic but I also have a more edgy side to it.
I like to get effects in camera and not only with post production to create images that capture the essence of my subjects and allow me to show the back of my camera and get instant reactions to the images I’m creating.
Where do you get inspiration from?
I get inspirations from life, everything, it comes from the books I read, movies, music, fashion, places I travel, nature, food, smells, the museums and art galleries I visit, people I meet, things I see and experience, everything that stimulates my brain.
Do you think in advance what you want in the picture?
I normally have an idea of the direction I want to go but if I see something more exciting or I get a great idea from the environment I’m in or a feeling I get I go for it.
Studio, on location or both?
I like both and I’m comfortable either way.
Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional?
I’m a paid professional and I also love doing my personal projects.
What has been your most memorable session and why?
Every session is special and unique in their own way, I can’t select one, thankfully I have had great teams with whom I really like to work with and also great clients.
There was an assignment for a bank though were I felt very grateful for my craft.
I was alone just me and my camera, creating an image inside a fabulous vintage location witch is a very exclusive area with stunning views were I would have never been if it wasn’t for my work.
What has been the biggest source of inspiration in your work?
The biggest source of inspiration has been sculptures and old masters of painting like Vermeer, Bellini, Leonardo da Vinci, Tintoretto, Rembrandt, Van Gogh, etc.
I also like to look at other photographer’s work like Joel Grimes whom I recently had the honor of meeting and talking for a while, what a great professional and person he is.
I also like the work of Annie Leibovitz, Olivero Toscani, Anne Geddes, Yusuf Karsh, among many others.
Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens?
I use Canon and my favourite lens is my 50 mm.
What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer lookign to start their own business?
Always create images they love and don’t be discouraged by negative opinions, their will always be people that won’t like your work and that’s ok, poor blue if everyone would only like yellow.
What do you think of our new magazine?
I think it’s great to have a publication that shines a light and shows the work of creatives.
