Meet Thomas René, IMONATION's favourite, up-and-coming Parisian street style photographer. With his career just beginning to bloom, meet the man behind the shots from Fashion Week. In his first exclusive interview, we talk photography, the future of street style as well as his special announcement.
I bought my own camera in 2014 but I used to shoot with my dad's since 2012.
What made you start shooting street style and models during Paris Fashion Week?
I just wrote down the shows venues one day and went in and started to shoot around.
I'm currently shooting with a Nikon D90 and a vertical grip for portraits, and just got an 85mm f/1.8 lens that has dramatically improved the quality of my shots during this SS17 season.
Do you find that it is a competitive atmosphere when attempting to find the best shot?
With dozens of photographers running after one person it is difficult to have a clean shot. Literally every photographer complains about many of us there are outside the shows, but I think we are all involved to this roundup in a way.
Which photographers inspire your work, or that you look up to?
I love Yu Fujiwara's film shots, they're real and spontaneous.
Christina Paik who also shoot with films, is one of my biggest inspiration and of course, Adam Kitz Sinding aka Le 21eme aka King of street style.
Are there any people or models that you love capturing?
I love people with positive energy and who stay true to themselves. Attitude is everything. Some of them are Dilone, Damaris Goddrie and Lexi Boling.
Where do you think the future of street style photography is going?
This is a difficult question. Street style is literally an outside/free fashion show and it's obviously a big opportunity for brands to promote their products. I'm really new to this street style thing, so I cannot properly estimate how it has evolved since the beginning but I think we can still expect a bright future and it's getting more and more impact with all this social media madness.
Have you got any big projects coming up?
My "Lookbook de Paris" project will take place Saturday, December 3rd in Paris. It is a one-day exhibition with a selection of photographs of random Parisians that I took in the streets, for their sense of style and their outfit. Open to everyone from 11am to 6pm and the location is O Comptoir du Sud-Est, 19 Rue de Miromesnil, 75008 Paris.
I just want to work with creative and talented people in the fashion industry. I don't dream of a specific job or position. I'd love a versatile career. To learn, discover and experience as much things as I can.