I feel it’s important to establish a routine as a freelancer to work more efficiently, but sometimes that’s not always possible. It’s great to have the flexibility to change your week according to your needs.
" By mainly using tinted colours, there’s a dream-like mood that permeates the scene. "
What does a week of life look like for you? What do you do each weekday?
I feel it’s important to establish a routine as a freelancer to work more efficiently, but sometimes that’s not always possible. It’s great to have the flexibility to change your week according to your needs. I’d say every week is a bit different, depending on the work or travel that I have coming up. Collaborating with a brand means communicating with the client, conceptualisation, creating a visual proposal, get the necessary props, producing the set design, shooting and post-production (this usually takes 1 1/2 week avg.). When I’m starting with the actual photoshoot, I hardly have the time for anything else during the day, although I try to catch up with priority emails in evening. But a “in between shoots day”, in times of lockdown due to the pandemic, goes something like this: catching up with the news during breakfast, working out, emails and other admin work until lunch; making lunch and going out for a walk; researching and planning for personal work/shoots; spending an hour or so engaging on instagram; more emails; and dedicating one hour of the day for the online-course I’m currently taking. Before lockdown, I’d take at least one day a week to go out shooting – I’m missing it!
How do you incorporate colors in your work, do you work with the same colors all the time?
Colour is the most important part of my work. I’ve ended up developing an aesthetic style around it and it’s fundamentally what my images are known for, where I mix softer pastel colours with details of bolder tones. By mainly using tinted colours, there’s a dream-like mood that permeates the scene. For product photography, I really enjoy creating specific color palettes to fit the object I’m shooting, and how those specific hues and tones can portray and symbolize concepts that can be relatable to the product itself. I like to use all colours in their tinted states – blue, pink, orange, green... you will rarely see an image from me that’s shot with a white background, and you’ll never see black (which is a great colour nonetheless).
How do you define/find pieces/props that work for your aesthetic?
To define the prop(s) I’m going to use, it all starts in the conceptualisation of the shoot and the visuals and elements behind the brand – wether it’s packaging design, ingredients, the campaign, shape, purpose... I really like to find props that are reusable, like glass and colourful tumblers. I usually search in local shops or the flea market. Natural props, like flowers and fruits, aren’t really reusable, but I do work with those kind of elements a lot — they naturally fit with the brands I usually shoot for. Pieces like Moodelier’s are wonderful stands and evergreen pieces – they complement so many different type of objects, being really versatile and just down-right beautiful. Their creative minimalism and sublime lines makes them all the more usable, and perfectly-match with my style.
What is your favorite type of project to work on?
My favourite type of work is the one that takes me travelling. It also allows me to create personal-work at the same time, which makes it a great opportunity. At home, I really like shooting parfums. I’ve always loved perfume bottles’ design, the idea of scent and discovering the notes that create a fragrance. The connections we create from smell. It’s easy to get drawn to the type of ingredients that compose it, and get inspired with the props that make most sense to use. Fragrances always have a strong concept and context behind them which is something I really enjoy in my creative-process. I also really like shooting fashion editorials, although that’s not something that comes by very regularly.
" People seem to find it amusing that my favourite music genre is old-school hip hop. "
How do you incorporate Moodelier pieces and other props into your workflow? Can you show us some photo examples?
As mentioned before, Moodelier pieces are very easy to incorporate in a set design. When I’m brainstorming out ideas for the set, I always think of Moodelier’s shapes and if they can fit with the product, since they elevate a visual almost immediately without having to include much more to the scene. The most important thing that comes to mind is scale, and if they are fitting with the product’s size and shape – so I just grab some pieces with some colourful paper and see if they could work with the product, sorting out different compositions. When I’m sketching, it comes even more clear if it makes sense to use them – and, most often that not, it does.
What are your enneagram types?
My enneagram type is 5w4. I prefer being guarded and a bit withdrawn, although I’m quite emotional and empathetic. I like to seek new skills and knowledge, and curiously explore new environments.
Who and what are your inspirations currently? I know you love to draw inspiration from Movies and art sometimes. Any apps and accounts that we should follow that have been helpful or inspiring for you?
Painting masters are a constant inspiration in terms of colour work. Cinematography is another place where colour places a very important role on the mood and feel of a scene and story, so it’s no wonder that movies can be a very inspirational source. Some accounts that I’ve been inspired by lately: @teklan, @mblakepope, @jillburro_w, @helenkoker and @neylenegiysek (curating account).
Any fun fact about you that you’d like to share?
People seem to find it amusing that my favourite music genre is old-school hip hop.
If you enjoyed learning about Theresa and want to learn how she creates her magic, why not watch her 2 classes on how to inject movement in still-life and how to create brand proposals? Learn more here.
All photos by Teresa Freitas
Instagram: @teresacfreitas
Website: www.teresacfreitas.com
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