SOFÍIE FLEUR: The Journey from a Vintage Shop to Photography

SOFÍIE FLEUR is a Ukrainian photographer and content manager who never imagined she would pick up a camera and start creating unique and meaningful photographs. Her work is like a story in a single frame. From a vintage shop, where Sophie’s photography journey began, to serious photo projects like "Body" and "Symbiosis." However, the photographer doesn't consider photography to be her life's calling and is constantly searching, seemingly delving deeper into her creativity with each step. The only thing she is sure of is that she is a creator. In our article, you can learn more about her ongoing search for self, her important social photography projects "Body" and "Symbiosis," and how her video "Still Life" was showcased at a Boston gallery.

VINTAGE SHOP: HOW SOFÍIE WENT FROM SHOP OWNER TO PHOTOGRAPHER

SOFÍIE never planned to become a photographer. Initially, she wanted to be a film director, but Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 killed her desire to pursue that path. It took her a year to find the strength to move forward. Her first step was opening a small vintage shop. Of course, just opening the shop wasn't enough to attract customers; the products needed to be photographed, and hiring a photographer every month was expensive. That's how a camera ended up in Sofíie's hands. Through constant practice, she learned how to set up lighting and everything else, and after all that, she realized she genuinely enjoyed photography.

ON CREATING PHOTOS: IN THE FREE FLOW OF CREATION

In the Flow of Photography SOFÍIE doesn't stick to any particular style. However, the photographer always had a desire to develop her unique style. Typically, Sofíie works intuitively, doing what she enjoys, which is why, for a long time, she couldn’t define the style she followed. The style found her by chance. Over time, she became associated with what is now called the "European flair" style. This perfectly encapsulates the atmosphere of her photographs. "European flair" in photography can be described as a blend of lightness, elegance, and restraint, characteristics often associated with European art. It is reflected in the use of natural lighting and minimalism. When viewing her photographs, it feels as if you're looking at classic European paintings. The photographer values candid shots that capture a moment as if it's a still frame from a movie, where every detail is significant and conveys a particular emotional meaning. In her work, she strives to convey these qualities, creating images that evoke emotions through simplicity and grace.

Interestingly, SOFÍIE started pursuing photography only a year ago, and within six months, she began accepting commissions and collaborating with famous people. What she follows can be summed up in one phrase: nothing is impossible. SOFÍIE believes that ideas emerge in the process of shooting. For her, photography is a craft closely connected to the living world, to the stories happening around her, and most importantly, to love. In every love story SOFÍIE has posted on her account, there is a reference to a specific person or story that influenced her. This process is not just about photography, but about truly immersing herself in human emotions and feelings, which then become the foundation for SOFÍIE's photos.

As previously mentioned, SOFÍIE also collaborates with famous people. For example, she did a photoshoot for the Ukrainian singer Dakooka, with whom she later began working.

HOW THE PROJECTS "SYMBIOSIS" AND "BODY" WERE CREATED: PHOTO COURSE

According to SOFÍIE, the "Symbiosis" project emerged by accident but became an essential part of her spiritual and artistic journey. The project's main idea is to draw attention to how people are gradually losing their connection with nature and failing to recognize its importance.

The project's goal is to invite the awakening of consciousness and the realization that our connection with nature is sacred and vital for inner balance. The photographer aimed to convey the feelings of tranquility and strength that nature provides us. The photo project began with a photography course from photo.destruction.

The second project, "Body", explores the theme of violence. As the photographer mentioned, she and artist Eva Kuns found sponsors, a venue for the presentation of photographs and videos, and launched advertising. However, she was trying to define her own internal state and find the answer to the question: who is she? During one of her walks, SOFÍIE realized that she was holding onto past achievements. Ultimately, it was decided to create photographs based on the initial concepts. The artists have already presented a video work titled "I Have a Dream", which was exhibited at the Dresden Town Hall with the participation of the city’s mayor. During this event, the photographer shared the idea, and Eva immediately agreed to collaborate. Additionally, Dari Reich, a certified psychologist currently training to become a criminologist, joined the project.

As previously mentioned, the photographs are based on SOFÍIE's personal stories. At one point, she became a victim of violence and subsequently fell into a deep depression for an entire month. Despite the complexity of the topic, the photographer found the strength to address the issue of violence in the sphere where she excels the most – through her photography. "Symbiosis" and "Body" are not the only projects by SOFÍIE with a socially significant subtext. Another important work in her portfolio is the video "Still Life," which is exhibited in a Boston gallery. SOFÍIE created the video "Still Life" after the war began. The video addresses the impact of the information we receive from news channels and social media. It highlights the issue of people increasingly perceiving misinformation and unverified facts as truth. Interestingly, the video did not attract the attention it deserved at first, but a year later it was noticed and exhibited at the Boston gallery. As the photographer noted, this is a confirmation that heavy social topics are not always immediately received; they resonate over time.