PHOTOGRAPHY: INTERVIEW WITH DIMITRY LOISEAU

Dimitry Loiseau is a commercial and fashion photographer whose work has been seen in fashion publications, advertising campaigns and album covers. Dimitry is originally from New York and now resides in Los Angeles. His French and West Indies roots, as well as his extensive travels has helped him to be well versed in other areas of photography.

Dimitry has provided photography for commercial clients, celebrity portraiture, and travel destinations. His work has been featured in various media outlets that include Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan, L’Officiel, Glamour, ELLE, People Magazine, NY Post and more! His purpose is to capture the essence of his subjects through the medium of photography using his attention to detail and efficient work ethic. Dimitry currently serves as the Creative Director & Chief Editor for Regard Magazine, a celebrity fashion & lifestyle digital publication, in which he co-founded.

Some of the celebrity talent that he’s photographed include Paris Hilton, Brian Tyree Henry, Octavia Spencer, Meghan Markle, Regina King, Sarah Wayne Callies, Derek Fisher, Roselyn Sanchez, Sterling K. Brown, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Taryn Manning, Tricia Helfer, and Keke Palmer.

 

 

INTERVIEW WITH FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER DIMITRY LOISEAU

 

When did you first realise you wanted to pursue a career as a photographer + visual director?

Initially, photography was a hobby, something that I truly enjoyed doing. After some time, I began to share my work with friends and they encouraged me to take it more seriously. I think it was at that point that I realized I was embarking on a career in photography. As far as being a visual director, that took some time. It certainly didn’t happen right away. As a photographer, I had to develop a style of shooting, a style for the images that I created. Of course, after years of working with celebrities and various brands, the visual directing started to develop to the point where clients would trust in my abilities to do so. 

How important is your cultural background for your career? 

My family comes from the West Indian/ Caribbean region. I think the benefit of speaking and understanding multiple languages has helped me to become open to a variety of cultures, different ways of life and also being able to communicate effectively to people in general. Of course, traveling around the world has certainly cemented this mentality and has created some opportunities that I may not otherwise have had, if if I wasn’t open to such things. 

I definitely think that having understanding and empathy for people with different backgrounds allows us to bridge cultural gaps. So, yes, for me it’s been great for my career and just life in general. 

 

 

Who have been your biggest mentors in this industry and what is the best advice they have ever given you? 

My biggest mentors were not individuals that were a part of the entertainment industry. They were people who simply had experience in life. The best advice I’ve ever received was to work hard, trust your instincts and be patient. 

 

How can visual communication improve the effectiveness of a brand through photography?

Every brand has a message that they want to convey. Photography is a form of visual communication that can be used to get this message across to an audience. Still photography is different from moving picture. Therefore, the challenge is how to deliver this message in an effective manner. I enjoy working with brands and clients who appreciate this tool and are willing to think outside the box, in order to be successful in this area.  

Share with us your best experience as a photographer. 

There are so many wonderful experiences that I’ve had over the years. Some go these experiences include working with specific talent/ celebrities who, at the time of us working together were not as well known, and at a later time became globally recognized individuals, winning multiple Oscar or Emmys Awards. It’s pretty cool knowing that you played a small part in the journey of their careers. Other experiences came through traveling. Meeting and working with people from different countries, and ending up forming some great friendships. I remember a few years ago, I was invited to cover Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Mexico City. My colleagues who I worked with came from different parts of the world and yet, we were all able to share in the same experience. That forges some great bonds and relationships that can last a lifetime. 

 

 

What are your favorite softwares to work with when it comes to graphic design + post-production? 

For post-production work, I enjoy Adobe Photoshop. It’s a great retouch tool. They’ve also upgrade and continue to update their RAW features which allows you to make adjustments on RAW files from pretty much any camera. I also incorporate Adobe InDesign and Illustrator for other aspects of design. 

What is the most challenging part in working with celebrities as a photographer?

I think that people tend to forget that celebrities are people just like we are. They have different jobs, different responsibilities as public figures but essentially, we’re all the same. That’s my approach when working with anyone. Of course, the bigger the celebrity, the more crowded it may get when working on set with them. But, everyone wants the same thing, consideration and respect. Keep that in mind, and things will go well. Another thing is to know your craft. Knowing what you want, displaying a balanced level of confidence and communicating effectively will contribute to a great working environment and will help celebrities be comfortable with you while you’re on a shoot.  

A letter to your future self. What would you write?

Hey Dimitry, so you made the big decision! I’m really glad that you’re finally doing what you love. However, there are a few things I think you should know. This business is not what you think it is. It’s not as glamorous as you thought it would be. In order to be successful, you’re going to sacrifice a lot of your personal time, relationships and even things you may want to do. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable. People won’t be who you thought they were. Some who know you may not understand you or even support you. But don’t worry, plenty of strangers will celebrate you because of the impact that you’ll have on them. Trust your instincts, you have them for a reason. Keep working diligently, and never stop doing the things that got you where you are, that’s the key to your success. Your career will take flight in ways that you never imagined, but don’t rush the process. Everything in between, the wins and losses, the challenges and obstacles, they are all preparing you for where you should be. So enjoy the ride, appreciate it all and don’t forget to look back every once in a while, just to see how far you’ve come.