Behind the Lens: In Conversation with Isabelle Hardy
Based in London and Paris, Isabelle Hardy is a fashion and lifestyle photographer, having shot worldwide for global brands and magazines. Isabelle was the photographer for the second day of our content shoot in Paris for our latest collection, ‘Immerse’. Come behind the scenes with us as we chat to her about how she immerses herself in her field of work, some of her career highlights, and what she loved most about her time with us in Paris.
Isabella, can you tell us a little bit about yourself, and how you got into the industry?
I'm a photographer based between London and Paris - I shoot mainly fashion and lifestyle but also love capturing places and local cultures when I travel. I got started in the fashion industry through working in social media for brands where I had some opportunities to shoot imagery and video for social channels. It got to a point where I wanted to solely focus on photography, shooting the kind of campaign imagery that I had been scheduling in my social media roles, so I pivoted to doing it full-time. I think my experience working in-house for brands and in social media allows me to have a unique understanding of what kind of imagery and content audiences engage with.
How do you Immerse yourself in your art?
I love spending time hand printing my film images in the darkroom. It's a beautiful and thoughtful process, which allows me to step away from screens and distractions of the outside world and fully immerse myself in what I have shot. I love that at the end of the day I can hold my work in my hands, which is very special in the digital world that we live in.
Have you always enjoyed using and developing film, or was this something you discovered later on in your career?
Using and developing film was my entry point to photography. I studied photography at school when I was 16 - we would shoot mainly black and white film and develop the images in the darkroom and I loved the process. I also shoot digital and appreciate the strengths of both formats, but film will always have my heart and it's something I'm focusing on more and more.
Is there a specific time in your experience as a photographer where you have had to immerse yourself into a situation out of your comfort zone?
Shooting backstage at Fashion Week for the first time! There is so much going on before and during a show, which could feel overwhelming and out of my comfort zone. I just had to throw myself into it and immerse myself in everything happening so I could capture it all beautifully.
Who or what are your main sources of inspiration?
Travel! I always feel so inspired to create when I am in a new environment and feel very lucky that I get to travel to new or favourite places as part of this job. I also find travel to be a great reset for my creative process.
Favourite part of your job?
Meeting and collaborating with other creatives. Travel comes in a close second!
Becoming a Paris local and having spent a lot of time in the city, what is the best way visitors can immerse themselves to get the best experience?
If you are able, I would say walk as much as possible! One of the great things about Paris is that it's very compact so I always walk when I can. You never know what you might stumble across, you get to see the city at your own pace and you can make the journey from A to B part of the experience. I once walked the length of the Seine within Paris in a day just for fun so that gives you a sense of how walkable the city is!
How have the cities you live in, London and Paris, influenced your art?
London and Paris are both incredible cities but they are very different from each other and have influenced my art in unique ways. London is constantly changing and the people who live here are always pushing the boundaries. It feels like you can experiment with almost anything without judgement and that inspires me to think outside the box and get creative. Paris is more grounded. I think the timeless and iconic look of the city keeps me consistent in my artistic vision. It's important for me to have both influences at play in order to create new perspectives and I'm lucky to spend lots of time in both cities.
Any key highlights from shooting our ‘IMMERSE’ Collection in Paris?
It's hard to pick one highlight - it was just such a wonderful day! We walked around Paris in the sunshine with a big suitcase full of Kivari goodness and shot in some of the best spots in the city.
And finally, out of all of the incredible photos you took of our latest collection in Paris, what was your favourite final shot?
There are so many shots that I love but a particular favourite is this one of the Oceana Mini Dress. I love Anna's facial expression, the backlit light, the big hair, the sparkles on the Seine behind her and the colour of the dress really pops
