Tantalum: Hey Liis can you tell us a little about the shoot you produced for our 5th issue?
Liis Anton aka Emeranie: It was my first photoshoot in Los Angeles right after I had met my make-up artist Ashley. We loved each other's portfolios so we wanted to create an editorial together.
Tantalum: What kind of direction did you give the wardrobe stylist, hair and makeup artists?
Emeranie: All styling, hair and make-up was done by my amazing partner in crime - Ashley Gomila. I gave her direction to put together different looks mixing high fashion with a hint of fetish and keep the make-up rich and bold with a dark twist. As she was inspired by the slogan of Cattiva Cosmetics "Every woman can afford to be a little naughty", she decided to pull beautiful garments from Oscar Olima as well as handmade latex pieces from Syren and accessories from the Stockroom.
Tantalum: What inspired you to do this shoot?
Emeranie: Simply the idea of creating something strong and dark yet beautiful.
Tantalum: In general, during a session, how many pictures would you say you take to find "the right one"?
Emeranie: I always follow my intuition and try to provide myself with more 'right' shots than necessary. To be specific, one look could be around 20 images if everything's perfect yet sometimes it can take up to 500 images to develop a certain kind of emotion or movement along with perfection.
Tantalum: How did you decide on locations & subjects? We love the Giant Chess set.
Emeranie: Since it was my first photoshoot practically on the other side of earth, and I had only been in LA a few weeks, these decisions were greatly - if not fully - influenced by Ashley. It was a day full of improvisation and testing the unknown.
Tantalum: Some photographers say that there is such a thing as someone really having a "natural eye" for photography? What do you think?
Emeranie: I think it depends.
Tantalum: What makes you choose to shoot something in Color and sometimes in B&W?
Emeranie: I usually decide later on in the process of retouching.
Tantalum: Do you have other creative outlets? Which do you get the greatest satisfaction from?
Emeranie: Yes, I receive a great amount of fulfillment from singing-songwriting and painting.
Tantalum: As an artist do you find yourself drifting away from one form of media to another, devoting your creative forces souly to the media at hand. Or do you try to divide up your time more equally?
Emeranie: It depends. Around a year ago I decided to quit photography completely and concentrate on music yet again here I am, more devoted to taking photographs than ever. Drifting away from the media you once felt married to is, I believe, a natural part of being an artist. In the future, I'd love to divide my time between other types of media as well.
Tantalum: What is the ONE lasting impression you want to leave in your photos?
Emeranie: I wish not only to stimulate the mind with my photographs but the spirit, and to portray that behind all these garments and make-up, there is a soul.