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These days, veteran star of the silver screen Sorakrit Pongdee is one of Thailand most sought-after fashion photographers. He recently took some time out to share some of his opinions with ThaiAsiaToday.com
Youthapong Charoenpan (YC): Could you tell us why you moved away from acting and got more involved with photography?
Sorakrit Pongdee (SP): Sure. It began over 10 years ago. During that time I was appearing in movies but I also got involved in a photo shoot as a graphic designer responsible for retouching photos in fashion magazines. After a while, the chance arose to become a photographer for some magazines.
YC: So you found it easy to adjust to the role of fashion photographer? SP: To be honest, at the time I wasn't really aware of the significance that shoot would have on my life. Not long after I had the opportunity of doing a session with Sirinya 'Cindy' Bishop for Image magazine. That shoot really propelled me into the limelight overnight. Fortunately, it was almost like a passport into the world of fashion photography.
YC:Are fashion photographers always able to keep pace with the rapidly evolving world of fashion?
SP: Well there's really a bit of a difference – in the world of fashion, trends come and go, but fashion photography is almost timeless, shining a light upon the various developments.
YC:Could you describe for us the challenges in terms of balancing commercial and artistic interests in the world of fashion photography?
SP: I think to think of myself as more than just a photographer. I quite like the idea of commerce and art mixed together in the sense that the role of a fashion photographer – whether you like it or not – can be carried out very commercially or very artistically.
In my opinion, my job is to make people want to buy clothes or related products. That's what I do.
Artistically, my photos never tend to be too hard
or too absurd – rather, they are aimed at showing off the most
beautiful aspects of the subjects I'm shooting. It would certainly be
fascinating to see my photographs hanging on walls afterwards, or
selling as fine art prints. However, I think the main function of the
job is to sell clothes and magazines, or whatever else we're expected
to promote through our work.
YC:Can I ask about your rates – do you charge a lot for your services?
SP: I'm understandably pricey.
YC:And what would you say makes you and your work stand out from the competition?
SP:
I like to think that I make a difference because I invest a lot in my
productions. I select and hire the very best team of hair and make-up
artists, the best team of set designers, and the best stylists. And
when a company is spending all that money, you want to make sure that
it is profitable otherwise you'll be out of work!
YC:Thanks, I admire your honesty. SP:Thanks very much. Nevertheless, some people criticize me for it. Some
people believe that as photographers, we should focus more on the
artistic side than the commercial side, but, in my case, I chose
fashion photography because I know I'm good at it and it's profitable.
I didn't choose to be a fine artist, so in that sense I feel I've
really achieved something good when I can see that the products I have
shot have become the 'talk of the town'.
YC:And, looking ahead, what are your goals in terms of your photography?
SP:Well,
since the domestic market can't really grow any further, I think I'm
also ready to look for opportunities elsewhere. I'm looking for an
agent that I can rely on in terms of looking at clients based in Hong
Kong, Japan, Korea and Singapore. I'm particularly focused on beauty
products and have developed a good deal of trust from producers and
many leading beauty products.
YC:How did you manage to do that?
SP:I
think unique lighting is one of my 'secret weapons' along with my
intuition, which can really make a difference. When it comes to
shooting beauty products, there's no real 'standard' – it's all down to
your instinct and institution. Fortunately, in this regard, these
factors have helped me build my reputation. The outcome appears soft
and natural, and stylish without being pretentious.
YC:Thank you so much for sharing your precious time with us.
SP:My pleasure.
To take a closer look at some more examples of Sorakrit's work, go to http://www.sorakrit.com .
Lifestyle
Whether it's traversing the relatively cosmopolitan “urban free-for-all” that is Bangkok, with its trendy malls, urban wellness centers and posh fitness centers, or perhaps traversing the wild trails outside city limits, explore activities to suit your lifestyle.
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