There is a lot to say about the category of photography, but creativity always comes first! The background, the light, the poses, the make-up should support the client’s vision by putting the customer in the limelight.

In addition, the shoots are always guided by emotions, because they should make the viewer feel something. And it doesn’t matter what: hope, sadness, love. You don’t have to put it into words, but it shouldn’t leave the viewer unmoved.

Who it’s about: Marta Szcześniak, Polish photographer in France

Stands for? Photographs that are strong and sensitive at the same time

Who is Marta? She is a photo artist, pretty as a model, and a mum! A woman with many lives and we are happy to tell the story of the woman behind the pictures. We accompany Marta on her journey from Poland to France and even around the world!

‘Hello’, Marta greets us and tells us about her beginnings in Warsaw in an advertising agency as a graphic designer. At the same time, she began her career as a photographer. She photographed confectioners and their art in the Marriot Hotel for catalogues. Her approach did not resemble a reportage, but rather a poetic one, with an eye for detail, colour, time and light. The more harmoniously beautiful tables are laid out, the more precisely the cherries are placed on the cake, the more you want to savour them. And somehow this approach is only right – after all, we style almost all areas of our lives. Our own appearance and, for example, our own wedding or other important events.

She left ‘sweet’ Warsaw and moved to France in 2005. ‘There I specialised in wedding photography and also quickly immersed myself in the world of event photography,’ she tells us over a high-calorie cup of hot chocolate with cream (who can resist that?)‘ at Cafe de Paris in Monaco. ‘At best, your own wedding is a unique and one-of-a-kind experience that also comes with not inconsiderable financial obligations. Understandably, you want to get the best possible result. And that also applies to the photography that will forever remind you of this one day.’

Poetry, magical light, meditative landscapes, details, a lively scene…..again, Marta is able to convey emotions and capture how the day feels.

‘My work has taken me around the globe, including Japan and Australia for wedding coverage,’ says Marta, sipping her cream. ‘Is there such a thing as a perfect wedding photo? We all know that tastes differ, and in the end, the bride and groom should feel comfortable above all else.’

‘I’ve also had the opportunity to photograph at prestigious events such as the Monte Carlo TV Festival, MIDEM, Cannes Lions and MIPIM. Building a portfolio full of celebrity photos has opened the doors to fascinating projects, such as photographing Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues for his solo album.

I frequently work with large companies such as CBS, Open AI and La Martiniquaise and have covered the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona for several years. I also specialise in property photography, focusing on luxury villas in the region.’

Before Marta became a mother of two adorable little daughters, she travelled all over the world. She touches with her photos, portraying prominent contemporaries, was (and is) a successful fashion photographer. Her passion for fashion photography led, for example, to an exciting editorial project with Bulgari for Hia Magazine.

Her aim is to photograph the artistic milieu that inspires her. The encounter, no, better: the exchange, with such creative and demanding clients lays the foundation for Marta’s visual language. I, Sabine, like the combination of the aesthetics of old Hollywood and the refined atmosphere of the Salon de Paris.

With the cultural change we are experiencing all over the world, the concept of beauty is also changing. We are no longer limited by gender, standards of perfection or homogeneity: beauty is no longer a criterion to be met or a test to be passed or failed, based on outdated norms. It is becoming more diverse and constantly evolving as we free ourselves from outdated stereotypes that used to dominate our cultural world. Never before has the diversity of expression been as great as it is today and representation as far-reaching.

With the right attitude and the right tools, paired with knowledge, detailed control and intuition, Marta shows herself to be independent, elegant and a citizen of the world!

What is your recipe for success? Total commitment and luck. You have the first in your own hands, you have to hope for the second.

We wish you all the best, dear Marta! You will find  more about Marta here.

All photos courtesy Marta Szcześniak