Lilimaginaire was created in september 2017. Why Lilimaginaire? Lili is my nickname, and “Imaginaire” (“imagination” in French) is my driving force. I am a creativity machine which couldn’t work without my imagination.
Lilimaginaire helps and supports Social Solidarity Economy (SSE) projects by proposing image consulting, redaction of articles and shooting for an accessible price. The SSE projects include many different activities. Their points in common? They are all non-for-profit endeavours and they aim to enhance quality of life. The money they get from their actions is invested in other actions and so forth.
Specialised in SSE projects, Lilimaginaire creates coherent universes with the purpose of making them known to the public. The projects can be as diverse as helping people in need, sustainable environment, art in general, culture, concerts, entertainment, music… It doesn’t matter if the project is at the starting point of an idea, or if it has already been launched. As you can see, each project I work on is integrated in my portfolio and published on social networks.
I am convinced that it is possible to keep one’s creativity going, while being professional. That is why in this website, you can see my personal projects and adventures. Showing you both professional and personal projects is a choice I have made. Sometimes it’s difficult for me to distinguish between them, because they work hand in hand. In sharing my creations with you, I show you a part of myself, of my intimacy. I need my bubble, as it allows me to create for other people.
Lilimaginaire’s photography
We are several billion people on Earth. Each person has his or her own way of seeing things. A picture is not THE reality, but A reality. A chosen reality. Photography is a perspective, a story, an adventure. It’s the opportunity to interpret endlessly a limited world. Today, photography allows me to meet and create images that stimulate people’s imagination.
What do I like the best when I shoot photography? People. Making them smile. Surprising them when they are truly authentic. I like to chat for a while before a shooting. I get to know the person, just enough to make the subject feel comfortable. Photographing moments and events is something I cherish because it’s impossible to get the same picture twice. It’s unique and ephemeral. Photography is fieldwork. It’s impossible to improve your skills without going outside. My favourite photographers are street photographers like Don Maccullin or Vivian Maier. They have an impressive view of the world (I practise a lot, but it is quite hard!). They are able to capture and compose amazing pictures in a very short time. The second subject I love photographing is architecture. I enjoy playing with lines, and geometrical shapes. I like giving another interpretation to classic constructions.
As a devoted photographer, I am in love with equipment. I shoot and film with mirrorless cameras : the SONY Alpha7II and the SONY Alpha6300. I chose mirrorless cameras for two reasons :
Because of its light weight. I travel a lot and camera equipment can be quite heavy.
Because of its discretion. A less imposing camera allows me to be fade quickly into the background, when I’m shooting street photography or an event. People get more comfortable with me, and the photographs are more natural and unposed.
Most of the time, I use a prime lens (a 50mmf/1,8 for my APS-C, a 55mm and 35mmf/1,8 for my full-frame camera). I love the bokeh and sharpness they give. Above all, I like the challenge of a prime lens. They don’t move for you, you have to move by yourself and be creative. Sometimes you can find awesome angles just by chance. I also have two zoom lens, in case I become lazy (a zeiss 16-70mm f/4 and 10-18mm f/4, both are for my APS-C).
Lili’s story
Since I was little, I have always been curious about my environment, on my travels and in my encounters with other people. I truly realised this when I was eight years old. My mum bought me one of those famous Kodak disposable cameras. Have you ever tried one? This kind of camera gives you thirty chances to immortalise your family trip to DisneyLand Paris. You had no way of telling if the picture was going to be good or not. Most of the time, you thought your pictures were awesome. I used to be very disappointed with mine. However, I still remember the feeling when I disappeared behind the lens! Each time I rolled the thumbwheel, I could finally show what I was seeing. From this time on, I spent most of my youth photographing everything. I became the reporter for school trips and costume parties. Sometimes outside with friends, sometimes inside in my imaginary microcosm. I cut, paste, wrote and created. I never stopped.
This is how, along with my passion for meeting new people, photographing and writing, I decided to go to university. I studied clinical psychology for five years. After that, I worked for different nonprofit organisations and set aside my job as a psychologist in order to improve my communication skills. Articles, videos and pictures… most of the organisations I met were in need of my creativity!
Meanwhile, my trips to other countries, my photo essays and my experience as a volunteer encouraged me to share and help more. I saw many people had amazing ideas and projects, but they struggled to get the attention they needed. They should have already been famous by now, but they didn’t know how to value themselves or their work.
My studies and conversations with people from diverse backgrounds made me think a lot about society and its evolution. In my opinion, the capitalist economy could be more humanised with the help of SSE organisations.
The conclusion came all by itself : a pen to convey, a camera to show, and a backpack to meet.
