Meet: Caroline Safran
NYC-Based photographer.
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Join us as we chat with Caroline about her earliest memories with photography, navigating the creative process, and more!
Before we start, for those who don’t know you, can you share with us what you do and where you’re based?
Hey! My name is Caroline, I’m a freelance photographer based in Brooklyn. I also work at Baby’s All Right doing marketing and ticketing stuff.
Can you tell us about some of your earliest memories with photography? What first attracted you to this medium, and how did those early experiences shape your path to becoming a photographer?
My grandfather always had a camera in his hand, I know it was a hobby he picked up later in life. All the photos of me and my siblings growing up were taken by him. So, I like to pretend there is some sort of genetic predisposition that drew me to it. My first real experience with taking photos was in my freshman year of high school, I took a dark room photography class. Took lots of pics of tree bark and sweet little flowers. I’d while away many, many angsty teenage hours alone in the school dark room, and I think that gave me the gift of photography as meditation, as a solo practice.
Your portfolio showcases this dynamic range of both black and white and color photography. How do you decide to shoot in black and white or color for a particular setting or subject? Can you kind of walk us through your thought process in making these creative decisions and how they contribute to the overall mood/message of the image?
Sometimes color can distract from the composition of a photo, so I like to use black and white when I feel like the actual structure of a photo and quality of the light would be better communicated without color. I think my eyes tend to absorb color as the first bits of information when looking at a photograph, so when you take that away you are able to distill the other bits better.
Were or are there any artists that have inspired your shooting style?
Absolutely dozens, but I’ll name just two: Juergen Teller and Nan Goldin.
Photography isn’t only about technical skills but also about storytelling. How do you go about capturing narratives and emotions in your photos?
I think it’s important to be in communication with your subject, whether that subject is the kind of living organism that is a live show or if it’s an individual in a portrait session. Getting an understanding of the emotions behind the thing you’re photographing will inform the feeling of the photo organically (or it should).
When it comes to portraits, how do you approach your sessions to make sure you capture the true personality of your subjects?
I always make sure to have a conversation when I’m doing a portrait session with an artist about what the kind of persona is they are trying to convey, what the message is. Whether they have a character of themself like a Ziggy Stardust kind of thing or otherwise.
When it comes to concerts, is there a specific genre or type of show you find yourself drawn towards more?
Definitely indie rock, you know, like guitar music. Just personal preference and where I feel more comfortable.
Kind of in that same vein, do crowds ever influence how you’re shooting?
Most definitely! Sometimes, a crowd is just so thick it will chew up anyone trying to navigate through it, which means I can’t quite slither around as much as I want and have to stay along the edges. Other times, in a tamer crowd, I can really move around and kind of run loops through the crowd. I like it best when I don’t have to stay put for too long.
For those who are interested in getting into photography, what’s one piece of advice that you’d share with them?
Don’t worry about having the latest gear or anything. It’s not about that. To some degree yes, it really helps to have nice equipment. But learn fundamentals first, learn how to not make people feel nervous when they have a camera in front of them, and that will teach you a great deal, not the most expensive gear.
Let’s Get Deep
What’s your theme song?
Night In or Night Out?
Night in, despite my career.
When do you feel the most you?
When I’m eating a meal outdoors with someone I love.
What’s something you’re obsessed with right now?
Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Perfect food.
Call or Text?
Call.
When was the last time you cried?
An hour ago, honestly.
When was the last time you laughed?
My mom was reading Rumpelstiltskin and did a funny voice, it got me.
Current favorite follow on social media?
Lastly, what’s one thing you would tell your 16-year-old self?
Keep making stuff! Not just photos but collages, writing in journals, paintings. Just make as much art as possible and feel those big feelings.
Find More of Caroline here:
Instagram: @carolinesafran
Listen to Caroline’s Playlist: Here
