Swedish Photographer Kim Blomqvist

Kim Blomqvist is a Swedish photographer; she was born and raised in a little fishing village on the southeast coast of Sweden. She grew up with her grandmother and grandfather who had a house right by the ocean. When she was 8 years old she sat on the beach one summer’s eve and looked out over the water. She turned to her grandmother and said that one day she would go across to that big country in the west. 11 years later she sold my apartment for 8000 Swedish crowns and bought a ticket for 7500 skr and left. She stayed away 14 years, enjoying the warmth, the hospitality the multicultural, the multilingual, the place that came to shape her; Miami. She is a restless soul but she tries to put it to good use and let it be her driving force. She was once asked if she considered having reached her goals; her answers were no and I never will because as soon as I reach one I set up another – that to me is living!

Were you educate in photography, or are you self taught?

Aside from reading a few photography books, no I am not educated in photography. Instead, I have studied pictures, watched tons of programs involving photography and from that developed a clear sense of what I want to create when behind and in front of the camera, what I feel I can bring to the field and above all; finding the feeling; the soul of every picture I take.

What camera do you use most of the time?

I am inseparable from my Canon 5d Mark III

Which photo are you currently most proud of?

To this, I have no answer. It would be like asking a mother to point out which one of her children is her favorite; to which there should not be an answer. I believe as a photographer you have to take pride and feel for all the photos you create even if some are there to show you how much you have grown and come to develop.

Comparing where you are now with where you are when you first started, what could you have done differently to get to where you are sooner?

I should have started much sooner!!

You’ve clearly worked with a wide range of models, what tips can you recommend to people looking to expand their portfolio?

BRING IT! The models that deliver are the ones that have taken great care to study the product, the mood, etc before the shoot. They come into it having an idea of what they can and want to bring to it. They have their own ideas and are not afraid to test them or suggest them. I am the same way when I am in front of the camera and it allows for the model and the photographer to connect and get carried away in the creative process where it is a joint venture.

Describe a typical shoot.

Ohh… I don’t think there is such a thing as a typical shoot for me. I try to walk into every shoot with a clean slate so that I bring my very best each time. Aside from getting my gear in order and researching in preparation (location, product, props, etc), there is one thing that I am very careful to do at every shoot; connect! If I shoot people I connect with them, if I shoot products I connect with them and their creators, if I shoot a location I connect with it. I am often told that I am able to capture the essence of whatever it is that is in front of my camera and I attribute it all to this connection. And if I shoot people it makes them feel comfortable and they can let go.

How much time do you spend taking photos, versus retouching photos? Favorite accessory?

I would say 1/3 of it is taking the photos and 2/3 is the after treatment. It does not only have to do with retouching, but you also have to decide what you want to do with your raw file and then bring that out being very careful not to lose its natural allure in the process. Favorite accessories; I would have to say glasses/sunglasses, watches, and hats! Love rings as well!

Who would you like to work with most?

Hmm.. tough question… Someone I have always wanted to photograph is Viggo Mortensen. And no, not for the obvious reasons haha.. but I think there is a side to him that has yet been captured but then again there are a lot of people I would love to work with!

Favorite photography book?

I have yet to discover…  Working on one of my own at the moment maybe something will come of it.

To know more about Kim please visit: Kim Blomqvist

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