New issue: ISSUE 7 with Betty Taube

Here you can find a short overview of the topics that are printed in the new issue:

• Betty Taube reveals her modelling tips and career highlights in an exclusive interview
• Fata Hasanovic gives travel tips and talks about her life in Dubai
• Fabian Arnold talks about his dream woman, his career and his own fashion brand
• Enisa Bukvic talks about her life with boyfriend Simon Desue and dog in Dubai
• Blogger Anna Paulina Scherg gives fashion tips and talks about her life
• Model-Guide: Model tips, Fashion Week and model coaching with Lutz Marquardt and Oliver Rudolph
• Fashion brands – Guide: From Chloé to YSL – the world’s most famous fashion and luxury brands

Read online! Now on fivmagazine.com

Read the whole magazine online too:

• FIV Issue #7

Interview with Betty Taube: Model tips & career highlights

Model, actress and presenter Betty Taube has already achieved a lot! Her participation in the TV show “Germany’s Next Topmodel” has opened many doors for the likeable brunette. Together with two other contestants, Betty came in fourth place. After GNTM, Betty was seen on the TV show “Verbotene Liebe” and the styling documentary “Shopping Queen”, among others. However, Betty has never given up her modeling career. Cooperations with big fashion brands or well-known car companies: The curly-haired beauty is not only popular with her fans! Betty told us what you have to keep in mind in the model business and how you too can realize your dream as a model. We interviewed the humorous and funky model for you to learn more about her life behind the camera.

• Interview with Betty Taube

Interviews. Fata Hasanovic, Fabian Arnold & Enisa Bukvic

Exclusive and exciting interviews with relevant influencers and models like Fata Hasanovic, Fabian Arnold, Enisa Bukvic and Anna Paulina Scherg can be found here. You can look forward to helpful model, fashion and travel tips and exclusive insights into the private lives of the influencers.

Fata Hasanovic: About her life in Dubai and GNTM

Blogger and model Fata Hasanovic took part in the TV show Germany’s Next Topmodel a few years ago. The pretty brunette came in third place on the show and has since taken off on social media. Four years after her participation in GNTM, Fata built her own YouTube channel, a successful Instagram account and even her own podcast. However, one thing has always been clear for the beauty: she wants to be in the media industry! With her fun-loving and fun nature, Fata takes her followers with her and gives them private insights into her life, which many envy. Dubai, sun, beach and lots of travel – the model is living the real dream! In the interview, Fata reveals to us what her most beautiful travel destinations are, her tips for a successful participation in GNTM and her favorite travel partner.

• Interview with Fata Hasanovic

Fabian Arnold: Own brand and future plans

Who hasn’t heard of influencer “fabianxarnold” these days? He currently has more than 120,000 followers on Instagram and the number is constantly growing. With us he has fully unpacked, he talks to us about former self-doubt, how he got into sports, his own fitness brand and his dream woman!

• Interview with Fabian Arnold

Enisa Bukvic: Career as a model and life in Dubai

Model and blogger Enisa Bukvic has had quite a career as a model. Ever since she was little, she dreamed of entering the modeling business. But the road to get there was often not easy. However, Enisa never stopped trying to make her dream come true and fought her way through. Now, a few years later, Enisa has achieved the lifestyle that many envy her for. She lives in Dubai with her boyfriend Simon Desue and her French bulldog Charlie and works as a model and influencer. The blogger also proved her skills on the TV show Germany’s Next Topmodel. We interviewed Enisa for you to learn more about her modeling career and her life with Simon and Charlie in Dubai.

• Interview with Enisa Bukvic

Anna Paulina Scherg: Tips for styling and self-confidence

Anna Paulina Scherg is mainly known on social media for her fashion content. With her excellent fashion sense, the Regensburg blogger posts her daily outfits and styling videos, with which she inspires her followers. The business student has been active on Instagram for two years and has already achieved a lot: collaborations with big fashion brands and her own bag label. We interviewed Anna for you and asked her questions about life as an influencer, the foundation of her own brand and her affinity for fashion.

• Interview with Anna Paulina Scherg

Special: Becoming a Model – Casting Tips

In our Model – Guide you will find everything about modeling: Tips on how to become a successful model in Milan, virtual models and an exclusive model coaching by Lutz Marquardt and Oliver Rudolph.

Daisy Page: Virtual model takes off

Daisy Paige is the latest up-and-coming digital supermodel from Los Angeles. She already has a modeling contract with Lipps LA – a well-known modeling agency from California. Daisy was designed by the start-up company Spark CGI. Lipps LA is known for working with famous faces like supermodel legend Helena Christensen, rapper Cardi B and rocker Courtney Love. Daisy is being marketed by the agency along with her other talents. CGI and its agency hope to enter an age where people in many traditional roles will co-exist with CGI characters. Back to the overview: digital influencers.

• Virtual models

Top 6 Daylight Studios Munich

Photographers like Oliver Rudolph often work in daylight studios and like to test interesting locations. FIV has sorted the most interesting studios for you, with plenty of space and room for the best shoots.

Goldberg Studios – Rental Studios in Munich

Recommendation for Goldberg Studios on Google: 1 Review

5.0/ 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Müllerstraße 46A, 80469 Munich
• Goldberg Studios Website
• Phone: 089 2309900

LOFT 506 – Rental studio photo location

Recommendation for LOFT 506 on Google: 6 Rating

4.7/ 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Hansastrasse 31 Building 506/ 2, 81373 Munich
• Loft 506 Studio Website
• Phone: 089 26949371

Rental studio Thorwaldsen

Recommendation for Mietstudio Thorwaldsen on Google: 5Rating

5.0/ 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Thorwaldsenstraße 23, 80335 Munich, Germany
• Thorwaldsen Studio Website
• Phone: 0177 7175163

Studio-Balan – Event location and daylight studio

Recommendation for Studio-Balan on Google: 2 Rating

3.5/ 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Moosacher Str. 86, 80809 Munich, Germany
• Studio Balan Website
• Phone: 089 62816644

ZERO-8

Recommendation for ZERO-8 on Google: 10 Rating

5.0/ 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Gotzinger Str. 8 a, 81371 Munich, Germany
• Zero-8 Studio Website
• Phone: 089 74409863

Rental Studio Munich Counter Hall

Recommendation for Schalterhalle on Google: 1 rating

5.0/ 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Chiemgaustrasse 83, 81549 Munich, Germany
• Counter hall Studi0 Website
• Phone: 0176 62524904

Special! Learn photography – tips for beginners

Mirror reflex, digital, smartphone: Technology and accessories

There are several setting options on the display of an SLR camera. These are hardly understandable for strangers and very difficult to assign. You could almost say it looks like mathematics. As soon as you have understood the individual settings, it is even more fun and professional to use your camera. A photographer does not just press a button and have the perfect photo. It’s much more about analysing the scene how you want to take a picture and getting some points worth mentioning. The photographer pays attention to light and shadow, sharpness of the image and many other points that we want to explain to you here. If you buy a reflex camera, you should assume that the extra accessories are huge. 

Autofocus for sharp photos

Autofocus – it’s a small technical wonder in a camera and most people are grateful for it as it ensures sharp images. So it is a great help for hobby photographers and professionals. But if you want more than just sharp pictures, you should turn off the autofocus every now and then and take care of the depth of field yourself. There are different situations in which the autofocus is a disadvantage and an ambitious photographer is best to switch it off.

Beauty retouching makes beautiful skin

Beauty retouching – it is also called photo manipulation of faces and bodies, according to the ideal of beauty. In this process, mistakes in the picture are corrected or even further elaborated, beautified.  Wrinkles are softened, spots are removed, skin is smoothed and colours are adjusted. The aim is the natural implementation of the retouching, for a more beautiful, not too artificial-looking overall impression. This can be very successful and perfect the picture. It can also destroy the image. Therefore you should pay attention to how you retouch pictures.

• Removal of disturbing particles
• Edit and perfect images: Beauty Retouch

Exposure time also called shutter speed

Exposure time – some claim to learn the camera is like pure mathematics. It is not that difficult, but you have to be able to handle numbers and shapes. Every camera has an automatic function, but as a good photographer you should prefer the manual setting. As soon as you have mastered the camera settings, the best pictures can be taken. An important point for the image display and exposure is the exposure time or also called shutter speed. It determines the extent to which light affects the sensor of the image capture device or the duration of the open aperture. Do you know what is called a short or long shutter speed?

• Automatically and manually adjustable
• Read more about the exposure time

Data backup on travel

You like to travel? And do you take a lot of pictures to show your family and friends what a great experience you had? For travellers, camera memory space is a problem. Hobby photographers and travelling used to mean lots of rolls of film to develop and today a memory card is overflowing, because nothing inspires a photographer more than a new environment. To discover them through a lens is something unique and should really be captured in pictures. However, not really every photo taken is a work of art for eternity and a mass of pictures does not mean that the quality is correspondingly high. We have an article for you where it is all about sorting out photos properly and backing up data.

• Save data while travelling
• More about memory cards and backup

One- & tripod for stabilizing the camera

A 0or tripod – no ambitious photographer can do without a good camera tripod. Especially for longer exposure times, such as for fireworks, or for star photography, tripods are indispensable tools. Tripods are used outdoors as well as in closed rooms. Many situations when taking pictures require longer exposure times. If you are looking for a safe position for your camera, a good tripod is a useful tool. But tripods are available for different purposes and in all possible shapes, sizes and weights. It is not only important to use a suitable tripod for taking pictures, one also has to know how to use a camera tripod properly. Here are some basic information that you should keep in mind when buying and using a tripod.

Setting sizes between camera and object

Adjustment sizes – photographs look more vibrant with the right adjustment size. The mood that the image is intended to create is created by choosing the right distance between the camera and the subject. Especially those setting sizes with close-ups of people can be very expressive. The settings are often divided into two main groups: The total settings and the close-ups.

• Panorama, long shot, half close up and close-up
• If you want to know more about the setting groups & sizes

Photo drone: the technology in the air

Photo drone – modern and the trend among photographers. They help to take pictures from exciting perspectives. The drone technology is a fun side factor when taking pictures. Hobby, as well as professional photographers can let off steam here.

• Current models, prices and legal bases at photo drones

Apply backlight for contrasts

Backlighting – Beginners in photography are advised not to shoot in the direction of backlighting. Nevertheless, the attraction of this direction of photography lies precisely in the special contrasts created by the sun or another light source on the object and its immediate surroundings. Careful alignment and a few technical tricks make snapshots taken against the light appear as if taken directly from life.

• Photography with backlight

gray gradient filter as color and brightness adjustment

Gray graduated filters – they help with the problem of dynamic range. These filters have their limits in color fastness and odd horizon line (for example in mountains). An alternative is to digitally superimpose different exposures of the same scene. This requires that there are no moving objects in the scene and that the camera does not change its position (tripod).

• More about gray gradient filters and the brightness differences

High Key & Low Key: bright and dark light

High key and low key photography – an overexposed image, with astonishingly many details, probably shows a high key photography. The counterpart is the low key photography. In this mode, the photographer plays with brightness and darkness, creating elaborate black and white stretches.

• High and Low Key are the counterpart of each other
• More on the subject High Key & Low Key Photography

Camera tripod for a stable position of the camera

Camera tripod – whoever wants to buy a camera tripod faces an almost unmanageable offer. While in the past camera tripods were made mainly of wood, high-quality tripods are now made of aluminium or carbon, and anyone who travels a lot with their photographic equipment will always pay particular attention to the weight. Tripods should be large enough so that you can look through the camera comfortably at maximum height without bending your back. Nothing is worse than taking pictures all day long with a bent back. But the bigger a tripod is, the higher the weight is usually. As a photographer you will usually have to make a compromise between size and weight.

• Detailed tips on the topic camera tripod>/li>

Macro lenses: interchangeable lens for shootings

Macro Lenses – this lens refers to a special interchangeable lens that allows you to achieve an image scale. One also speaks of macro photography. Macro lenses are also very suitable as beauty and portrait lenses. Apart from an affordable price, the focal length is roughly equivalent to a light telephoto lens, which is ideal for facial proportions.

• Special interchangeable lenses and macro lenses

Monitor calibration: Adjustment for color & brightness

Monitor Calibration – Once you decide to work with photos and bring them into the desired format on the screen, edit them in color or post-expose them, you can’t avoid professional monitor calibration.

• Exact adjustment of the color and brightness display of a screen, especially with the help of color management
• More information about monitor calibration

Polfilter: Tool of product photography

Polarizing filter – this filter is a useful tool especially in product photography, where reflections are most if not all unwanted. But it can also be used in landscape photography, for example to make a rainbow more striking or to make the leaf green appear more saturated. It is a special tool, the handling of which one must have tried and practiced many times.

• The useful tool: polfilter

Memory card: volume, types and tips

Memory card – the question of the type of memory card usually does not arise because it is predetermined by the camera. CF cards are usually much faster than SD cards. Fast cards are preferable, so that in extreme cases (for example, series shot) really all data is written. The larger the storage volume, the greater the risk of losing many pictures at once if the card breaks down. On the other hand, smaller storage volumes must be changed more often.

• More information about CF, SD and memory card types

Sensor contamination: Cleaning the camera

Sensor contamination – as a photographer who travels a lot and shoots in different locations, you can assume that sensor cleaning is a necessary and easily manageable evil. Depending on the degree of soiling, dry cleaning with a bellows is sufficient or wet cleaning with special cleaning agent or isopropanol is necessary. In the latter case it is recommended to work with a special cleaning pad, which is available in stores.

• dry cleaning with a bellows
• More information about sensor contamination and sensor cleaning

Depth of field & aperture

Depth of field – at a small depth of field only the foreground is sharp, as the depth of field increases the photo becomes sharper and sharper in depth until finally the whole background is sharp. The means by which the depth of field is controlled is the aperture. A small aperture number provides a small depth of field (only the foreground is in focus), a large aperture number provides a large depth of field (everything up to the background is in focus).

• More about the term and its meaning depth of field

ISO value as light sensitivity of the sensor

ISO Value – the abbreviation for International Organization for Standardization. So the ISO value of your camera is an internationally standardized value. The higher the ISO value, the higher the light sensitivity of the sensor. This includes vocabulary like aperture and shutter speed. To get better at this topic in practice, you should practice on your own camera and turn the ISO values up and down.

• Every doubling of the number means that only half as much light is needed
• Information on light sensitivity, sensor & aperture

White balance avoids color errors

White balance – this balance prevents a color error during a shot. Semi or fully automatic white balance is quick and easy, even for beginners. However, it has a high error potential depending on the environment. Photography with manual white balance is particularly natural. However, this takes considerably more time. If, despite both methods, color errors remain in the image, they can be at least partially corrected by subsequent white balancing on the PC.

• white-balance sensitizes the color temperature of the light at the shooting location
• More information about the topic white balance

Tips for photographers: avoid beginner’s mistakes

Beginners often make many mistakes. They lack the experience of practice, theory and practice. In order to avoid these mistakes, one should allow help and take up tips from experts, experienced and train with this information. Especially the field of photography is broadly diversified and often underestimated. There are many techniques and settings that vary from camera to camera and always differ from the photographic genre.

• That’s why we have for you the 10 tips & Tricks for beginners
• Read more about interesting photographer tips

Book tips

But how do I photograph correctly? What are the tricks? How do I expose correctly and how do I adjust my camera according to the environment? How do I work with apertures and how do I retouch my pictures naturally? These and more questions are answered in the best possible way in the following books. A photo workshop is not absolutely necessary, you can simply teach yourself photography with the help of these books. We have compiled the top 10 book recommendations for learning photography. We also have more book recommendations for Fashion & Beauty, Fashion Photography, Models & Style Icons and for Health, Nutrition & Fitness.

Fashion photography is a branch of photography that focuses on clothing presented by models. Often such photographs are used for advertising purposes, but some are taken for purely aesthetic reasons. Fashion photographye fascinates fashion enthusiasts as much as aesthetics lovers. The eye is spoiled with beautiful fashion, special settings and extraordinary & beautiful models. Fashion photography has established itself as an art form in its own right.

• 10 book tips on fashion photography

Basics of photography

Learning to photograph takes time. Most of them start with portraits, then photograph not only at home, but more and more outside and discover more and more motives in the studio as well as outside. But how do you photograph landscapes perfectly? What do you have to pay attention to when you photograph animals in the wild or moving people in the city? In our free guide for photographers you will find all the important and first tips you need to know as a beginner in photography.

Get to know important topics, as well as how to take portraits, people, outfits, sports motifs or even night photography.

• learn to photograph – beginners and novices

Stefan Milev: Instagram
Stefan Milev: Website

Way to professional photography – Tips, role models & work

FIV: In times of the Internet and social media, photographers are indispensable and can be found in almost every niche. How did you come to your field? Is there a story how you came to become a photographer?

Stefan: I call my niche simple craft, photography. Not everybody is able to do that, although it seems that the whole social media is made up of photographers.
“Bobo – My mother’s childhood friend” is my story. We had many photos lying around at home, one was very special – a self-portrait double exposure of my mother and him – that was the foundation for my photography.

FIV: As a photographer, you are often under time pressure or in a hurry. What tips can you give us to help you get through the whole thing?

Stefan: You cannot turn the clock! Most of the time I am very absorbed in my work and I don’t like to be put under pressure. It is best not to pay attention to the time. And if there is not enough time, there is a new day.

FIV: Your paintings seem to have a certain style. Do you have a role model or what do you get inspired by? What do you want to express with your work?

Stefan: My work consists of many thoughts, dreams, personalities, fantasies and moments, the expression is the photo itself. I don’t know if this can be called “style”.

FIV: What exactly do you do in your work and what things should you pay special attention to? Would you say that work can become monotonous? What do you find appealing in your work and what is your recipe for a lack of drive?

Stefan: My work ties in with the interface of modernity, in which I search for and open up new possibilities of representation and ways of doing things through the invention of photography and the examination of this technique.
Special attention: Motifs and possibilities of representation from Surrealism, Abstraction, Expressionism and Naturalism, but also from early photography and silent film cinema, return. Despite the visible inspiration and references to art historical models, my works are not mere imitations or replicas. Rather, I succeed in taking up the aesthetics and transferring them to current pictorial themes. In doing so, my pictorial language is used in its mode of action to focus on levels of the dream, the grotesque and the subconscious. Thereby temporal levels are inscribed in my works, which link the past with the present and stimulate fantasies and visions with their visionary character.

Or, to describe it in simplified words: “Mental freedom is the air I breathe. In general I am influenced by life, I feel myself as an observer and visualist who loves simplicity and time”. Limitation and standstill feel incredibly unnatural to me. Perfection is very important to me, and when I have achieved it, I show the imperfect to potentiate the perfect, it can’t get monotonous.

FIV: Stefan, would you say that being a photographer is a normal job like any other, or does a photographer sacrifice a part of his free time?

Stefan: My free time is very important to me, I use it consciously to reflect, to recharge my batteries and to feel. I would never sacrifice my free time, because it is a very important good, we all should appreciate that more, just like boredom!

FIV: When you think about the future, where do you see yourself in 5 years? What are your plans? I’m sure you already have some projects lined up.

Stefan: To answer this question adequately, I will probably need 5 years. Currently I am working on a project called “SMPH” which consists of many different series. There are many artists involved, the project lives on/with the time. Beyond that there are further plans, so answer follows in 5 years…

FIV: There are many good commercial photographers in almost every industry, how would you say your work stands out from the competition?

Stefan: Everything they can do, I can do better

FIV: Becoming self-employed is always a risky business and a big step. Where did your self-confidence for this step come from? Did you get support from someone special?

Stefan: The encouragement comes from my mother. The support always comes from my wife.

FIV: We know that the job of a photographer involves a lot of work. Do you work alone or do you have employees or partners who support you in your work?

Stefan: Basically I do everything alone, but this would never be possible without my helpers, assistants, friends and family.

FIV: Your style is very artistic. You bring elements into your photographs, such as flowers or shadow plays. How do you know how you want to portray the model, where do you get your creativity from?

Stefan: Many elements are used consciously, others are the result of mistakes. Mistakes bring me forward.

FIV: Under your pictures (sometimes even in the picture) there are quotations. What do you associate with these quotations? Or in other words: How do you come up with the titles of the photo series?

Stfean: The quotes/titles reflect my personal feelings, my emotions.

FIV: Last but not least, what would interest me very much is: what has been your greatest success so far? How did you feel about it?

Stefan: Photography is my life, it is happening now and yesterday is memories, my photographs. The morning, are my thoughts and my dreams, they are uncertain and free

Stefan Milev: Instagram
Stefan Milev: Website

Late entry, training as photo designer & family cohesion

FIV: As a child, did you like to take pictures and what were your favorite motifs at the beginning?

Julia: I came relatively late to photography, around the age of 20…Before that I didn’t have a camera in my hand and wasn’t very interested in photography although my father worked for KODAK for years.

FIV: What was your career as a photographer like? Where did you get your photography skills from?

Julia: After the Abitur I didn’t know for a long time what I wanted to become. Then I had the possibility to do an internship with a fashion photographer and saw there for the first time a kind of career wish for me. I continued to assist, then did an apprenticeship as a state-approved photo designer, after that I assisted again freely and firmly and finally I became self-employed. My photography skills come from the classical education, I learned analog and then of course from my practical experience during my residency. And of course through many free works.

FIV: Were there people in your environment who were worried that you could not live from your work as a photographer?

Julia: No, fortunately not, or rather they didn’t say it because they saw how vehemently I pursued my career aspiration and that I had a fixed goal in mind. So I was rather encouraged and supported.

Julia about talent, teamwork on set & professionalism

FIV: Is there such a thing as talent in photography or is experience the most important thing?

Julia: Definitely, in my opinion talent is still the most important thing. But talent alone is not enough.
Experience can also be very helpful, but it takes time.

FIV: Nowadays you don’t photograph alone anymore, but with a big team of make-up artists, lighting and of course models. Who organizes the whole thing and how does a day with a shooting at your place work?

Julia: For most of my current jobs I am allowed to put together the team. Here I help myself from my pool of experienced and well-rehearsed people who fit perfectly to the respective shooting.

FIV: Amazon and Hugo Boss have already used your services. With such big clients there was certainly some action around the shootings. Which one do you like to remember best?

Julia: I remember big jobs and also smaller ones. All jobs, no matter how small or big, received the same attention, the same intensive preparation, the selection of the team etc. Not only the professionalism, the concentrated work on the set but also the humanity and the joy during the job play a big role for me.
And so every piece of the puzzle makes a big whole.

Beauty Portraits & Training as a photographer

FIV: You photograph for different industries and accordingly take different pictures with quite different objectives. What kind of pictures do you prefer to make in your private life?

Julia: I don’t really do much photography in private. My favourite works are usually the “beauty portraits”. A mixture of close-up and portrait.

FIV: What would you recommend to a young person whose dream is to become a photographer? Should one proceed differently today than in the past? What do you think are the biggest challenges as a photographer today?

Julia: For me personally it was still important to do the classical training. But that was 20 years ago. As a photographer, I was still allowed to grow up with analogue technology.
I think it’s nice to be able to look back.
It helped me a lot as a foundation and development to master the entrance into digital photography.

Today, the classic job description of the photographer no longer exists. Today the photographer is more of a “content creator”, everything has changed a lot compared to back then.
I don’t want to judge that at all. But the classic photographer from back then definitely has to reinvent himself today.
I think today it is easier for newcomers or autodidacts to enter the world of photography. There are numerous tools. In my opinion, the classical training is no longer necessary. Personality is important to show yourself and your skills.

Julia’s plans for the future: exhibition, book & gratitude

FIV: Finally, let’s talk about your future. What are the biggest goals you want to achieve as a photographer? What are your biggest goals that you still want to achieve in life? Is there anything new on the horizon?

Julia: Photography has always been a dream job for me, I am still very grateful to be able to work as a photographer.
An exhibition would be a great thing. A hardcover book with my best works so far would be great. Apart from that I am open and thankful for everything that will come.

Anna Grewelding: Instagram
Anna Grewelding: Website

Early interest in photography, first Canon camera & key moment

FIV: First a few questions about yourself. Where are you from? Where did you grow up and since when did you know that you wanted to become a photographer?

Anna: I am Anna Grewelding, 27 years old, grew up in a small village and came to the big cities with photography.
I grew up in Maring-Noviand, a small village between the Mosel and the Eifel, near Trier. Very early I started to be interested in art and photography. But I rather came to photography by detours. As a small child I took a lot of pictures and my very first camera was from Canon. But then I did not suspect that it will be a very big part of my life. Knowing that I wanted to become a photographer was rather a slow process. There was no particular day when I woke up in the morning and wanted to become a photographer. It was rather a very expensive hobby. It gave me pleasure when I had a bad day. In those moments I was taking pictures. For me it was simply world off and camera on. Diving into a completely new world. At some point came the time when I started to look for photographers, to see what kind of photography they do, what their life looks like and I think that was also one of the key moments that I am a photographer today.

Self-employment as a photographer – change as a person

FIV: Becoming self-employed is always a huge step. How did your friends and family react to it? Do they support you at work?

Anna: Self and constantly. Every step into self-employment is not easy. It is not only a change in your working life, but a change that affects you as a person. You learn absolutely a lot about yourself during this time and you also need people who support you and help you. My parents were not so enthusiastic about it in the first moment, I think. My daughter makes herself independent, a lot of responsibility, so much work and what happens if that doesn’t work out. I think that many parents think that way at first, and that’s what made me think about everything and question everything. Looking back, I can understand the fears of my parents. In my family, there was also no one in a creative profession who was self-employed that you could have asked. So you have to take the first step yourself. I am absolutely grateful that my parents are my biggest critics but also my biggest fans. My parents and siblings have always supported me and still do. It all started when my first photo studio moved into my children’s room and I had my first customers. All this led to the fact that today I train photographers for workshops and work for well-known companies.

Anna in 3 words, sag & her tip for new energy

FIV: How would you describe yourself in 3 words? How would your friends describe you?

Anna: Ambitious, goal-oriented, creative.

FIV: Every job brings stress and almost everyone has a hangover. Do you have a trick for lethargy? How do you motivate yourself on such days?

Anna: For me it’s usually not individual days, but rather a slow process in which I notice that I’m quite tired and my creativity decreases. It’s important for me to turn off my emails, my mobile phone and social media, put my work aside and just go out, go to the beach or read a book. These are things I can do for myself when I realize that I’m having a sag. This is quite normal and comes back to me from time to time. My tip is to find something that you enjoy and that gives you new energy.

Of course, if you have work and can’t just drop everything to recharge your batteries, it helps to reward yourself. Sounds a bit weird at first, but it works very well. When I don’t feel like doing something, I think about things that I would like to do or would like to do. This is how I reward myself when I have done the work. These must be very small things. For me it is mostly chocolate.

GNTM Shootings & Competition in the beauty photography branch

FIV: On your page you see familiar faces, especially from Germany Next Topmodels. How was it to work with the models you know from the series all over Germany?

Anna: Of course I am very happy to work with the models from GNTM. But I also have to admit that I don’t see them as such when they come to my studio. For me, the people who come to the studio are more important. I am super curious to get to know the person, hear their story and work with them. Because every person who comes to my studio has experienced unique things and I am very curious about this experience.
For my siblings or friends it is rather unusual when they see or know that I took this picture. For example on pictures where people from TV are shown.

FIV: You are working in the beauty photography business. Would you say that there is a lot of competition in the industry and how do you stand out from your competitors?

Anna: There are already some photographers who are in the beauty photography business, but there is much more in wedding photography or other areas. There are a lot of jobs in the industry and also a lot of needs that need to be met. There are always some coming and some going again. Therefore I think that there is something for everyone. Competition in a creative field is rather relative for me. Each of us photographers has our own personality and our own style, how we take pictures and how we work with the pictures. This is something that clearly distinguishes us photographers from each other.
In beauty photography I have specialized in natural and authentic photography and editing. I do not like this artificial porcelain skin. For me it is important that the human being and his face is absolutely preserved, not changed too much and that the skin structure is clearly visible.

Anna Grewelding – This is how a professional shooting works

FIV: There are many things that are important in a shooting and have to work so as not to endanger the process. A very important factor is always the models. What are important qualities that a model should bring along to make the project run smoothly? What are absolute no-go’s on the set that could endanger the production?

Anna: For me personally, fun and a good atmosphere is always important on set, despite a lot of stress and little time. Of course, this is not always given, but I think that this is one of the points that makes working much easier. What I often notice is that a project is usually at risk if there is no clear communication. This can be, among other things, that it must be clearly regulated which goal all parties involved have or also who is responsible for what. Clear communication, and if everyone knows what they are working towards and what they are responsible for, a lot of problems are solved and a working day becomes easier. A No Go on set is for me when someone prevents me from doing my job. I absolutely prefer to work with models who are super flexible and have fun at work.

You see only one photo at the end – That’s what’s behind it

FIV: We as consumers ultimately see only the end product. What effort is involved and how much time is spent on planning a project? What is essential for you as a photographer in your daily working life?

Anna: Every project is different, so it is difficult to define an exact time frame. However, every project requires a lot of planning before the shoot and a lot of time with editing and reviewing after the shoot.
The shooting itself is therefore the middle part of a project. I usually start with the analysis of the idea. Either the customer has exact ideas or I can still get involved.
In both cases I analyse the idea or the topic and look at other or similar projects. It is important for me to find out what is special about the topic and what all is involved. Then of course the planning itself. The preparation with the team, finding the moods and props. To plan all those things that you don’t have in the studio so spontaneously. Then, of course, comes the day of the shooting. We record everything, often a very busy day with lots of people on the set. Why so many people on the set? Because I think it’s important that everyone has a task and doesn’t have to worry about several tasks at the same time. So I have many specialists on the set, who later together form a perfect team. In the end, the images are viewed, sorted out and edited. This is the last third of a project and what is most relaxed for me. In order to plan all this and always keep everything in view, a planning app is indispensable for me in my everyday work. It tells me what’s next. Good planning simply saves an enormous amount of time and is therefore an important and indispensable tool for me to coordinate everything.

The German fashion metropolis & international comparison

FIV: As a German photographer you have probably been to Berlin before. Why do you think Berlin is Germany’s fashion metropolis? And can you compare Berlin with the other fashion capitals London, Paris and New York?

Anna: I have already been to Berlin for a few shootings. But I think, just in my opinion, that in Berlin life and letting life play a big role. For me, Berlin is the German fashion metropolis. Especially in Germany there is a lot of criticism or whispering about being different or being on the street in your own style, maybe even a style that nobody knows. In Berlin I always have the feeling that it doesn’t matter what you wear. This makes it easier for creative people to go out and show what inspires them. It might as well be that I just see it that way, because I’m not in Berlin every day and I don’t live there. But Berlin for me is no comparison to London, Paris or New York. These are all cities where I have been and worked. I think it’s a great pity that Berlin or any other German city is not much more represented in the fashion world.

Become a photographer – That’s how Anna did it

FIV: When you look back on your career, is there a point from which you can say that it was your stepping stone to your current position? If so, what point was that?

Anna: The question is very nice in any case, but I don’t think there was a direct stepping stone. For me many things led from one to the other and carried me further and further. It’s really important to know a lot of people in the industry who are satisfied with your work and recommend you. That way you get further and further ahead and faster and faster. For me, I think it was really important that in the beginning I simply took all the experience I could get, never gave up and did a lot to get ahead.

Anna Grewelding: Instagram
Anna Grewelding: Website

Susanne Nevermann: Instagram
Susanne Nevermann: Website

Way to fashion photography: Career, work & projects

FIV: Hello Susanne, with you one does not know what you are best presented as. You are an excellent photographer, but that is only one piece of the puzzle of your skills. You are a successful art director, often booked editorial and commercial photographer and also a picture editor. People, Beauty and Fashion are your professional fields and apart from your creative activities you enjoy travelling in Iceland. In any case, thank you for taking the time to talk to us.
Of course we have done some research in advance to get a rough picture and to be able to ask you more demanding questions. Did you find your description suitable, would you like to correct or complete something?

Susanne: Hello and thank you very much for the opportunity to introduce my work and myself. The piece of the puzzle is already very well formulated. So far I have looked into many areas of photography and somehow got stuck in beauty and fashion. The description is of course very flattering, thank you very much for that!

© make-up & hair @evelyninnerhofer

FIV: Were you already a little creative girl when you were a child in Magdeburg? How do you remember your childhood and can you remember your first photo you ever took?

Susanne: I came quite “late” to photography. It was only during my training as a design assistant that I developed an interest in photography. As a child I had a camera, but I only used it for short periods of time and rather documentarily captured a holiday. It was a neon pink compact camera with the inscription “Formel Eins”, that much I remember. My first photo should have been taken on a farm and shows either cats or cows. Not a great art. It has been living in my parents’ attic ever since.

FIV: How did your path go from being a child from Magdeburg to becoming a successful creative power woman living in Hamburg? Did you complete an apprenticeship or study and did you previously deal with other areas of photography or even another artistic subject?

Susanne: As a child I loved to paint. Not outstandingly good but I enjoyed it a lot. When I was asked about my future career aspirations, I always answered that I wanted to do something “with art”. I can still draw only moderately. But I never had the ambition to become better in this field. I could realize my ideas more easily through photography. This started, as already mentioned, in my training as a design assistant and the subsequent study of information technology and design in Lübeck. I completed my internship semester at an advertising agency in Hamburg and since then I have been living and working in Hamburg.

Susanne: The projects I was involved in are manifold. Sometimes I have the luck to work for designers, but sometimes it’s days of research for a mood film. Most of the time I still make my living through art direction. There is a lot of competition in photography. Up to now I thought my fun in photography would suffer if I would deal with it alone.

FIV: Tell us a little bit about your great love Iceland. On your website you can get a good impression of the breathtaking nature and as a photo motive the small island state is suitable in any case, that makes sense to us. But I would like to hear again from you personally what attracts you there again and again and what Iceland means to you.

Susanne: At the beginning of my independence my husband and I flew to Iceland. At that time he was already working as a freelancer for a few years. In our respective permanent positions, and before that in our studies, we never had the money and time for a longer trip. We figured it was now or never. Somehow I had Iceland in the back of my mind So I bought a map, planned a route and then went around the island with a rental car and a tent. We felt that we had to stop every 100 meters to take pictures. The landscape is incredibly beautiful and changeable. Above all I love the loneliness and seclusion in the east and north of the island. No people, no noise, no garbage. But a lot of fresh air and impressive nature. Great to just switch off.

FIV: How does your approach to creative projects like an editorial shoot for fashion brands differ from your approach to the professional presentation of a doctor’s office?

Susanne: The approach is not so different, there is always some kind of story told. First of all, I familiarize myself with my client. What does he want to express and convey. Editorials are usually a bit freer and more varied than the presentation of a medical practice.

FIV: In order to train such a list of skills and to put down roots in the creative industry in the long term, you need a strong will. But very few are born with it. How did you overcome the necessary setbacks to get to where you are now?

Susanne: That’s right. A lot of things only come about through contacts. Customers don’t go to “fotograf24.de” to find the right person for their project. You know who knows who. That’s how it works. And on the way there are many nights and weekends of tutorials and research. If you are also the more introverted type of person, the process takes a lot longer. I am still far from being where I would like to be. More single-mindedness in one direction wouldn’t have hurt but I’m working on that right now. What helps is the love for what you do and an understanding family.

FIV: Which concept developments, shootings or other events from your career do you remember best?

Susanne: I love working in teams and with clients who tick about the same as I do. Fun is also very important for me. You don’t have to prove anything to the others, we are all not perfect and that’s good. Unfortunately, there are far too many blasphemies and boasts in this industry. Fortunately, I had made almost only good experiences so far.

FIV: In order to develop new creative concepts and ideas on a daily basis, but of course also to reach as many people as possible, you must never lose sight of the spirit of the times. Where do you get your inspiration from and how do you manage to master the balancing act between artistic creativity and the wishes of your customers, tailored to their target groups?

Susanne: In the beginning you collect a lot of ideas and then, in consultation with the client, you break them down piece by piece until you reach an agreement. The ideas for this can come from the most diverse places and at the strangest moments. But it also helps to have an inspiration folder that you search and maintain from time to time. I not only collect beauty and fashion photos that I like, but also colors, shapes and lighting moods that I find beautiful. What I like so much about beauty photography is that every model is a new, exciting and unique “canvas” on which I can live out my creativity.

FIV: How do you imagine your future? Do you want to continue your current line or do you still have ideas that go in a completely different direction? First of all you concentrate as we know on your child and probably have a lot of daily action. Maybe as a mother you will also concentrate more on your family from now on.
In any case, we from the FIV editorial office wish you good luck for the rest of your life.

Susanne: Thank you very much. Yes, that’s right, with the birth my daily routine has completely changed. Getting out and going somewhere has to be well organised beforehand. From December I try to become active again and take on my first assignments. I am also thinking about specialising more. In any case, it is an exciting time and never too late to follow his passion.

Susanne Nevermann: Instagram
Susanne Nevermann: Website

Top 6 – Cologne Cathedral City Photo Studio

In the NRW area, you can find the best photo studios in Cologne. From industrial buildings to chic loft studios, photographers can shoot.

LOFT STUDIO COLOGNE

Recommendation for LOFT STUDIO on Google: 27 Rating

4.7/ 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Richard-Wagner-Str. 18, 50674 Cologne, Germany
• Loft Studio Website
• Phone: 01511 6790949

The greenhouse studio

Recommendation for the greenhouse studio on Google: 3 Rating

4.7 / 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Hammer Deich 26 – 34, 20537 Hamburg
• The greenhouse studio Website
• Phone: 040 20007599

FOTODOM rental studio

Recommendation for FOTODOM on Google: 15 Rating

4.2/ 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Hongkongstraße 7, 20457 Hamburg
• Fotodom Studios Website
• Phone: 0221 9498080

LuftHaus Studio

Recommendation for LuftHaus Studioon Google: 2 Rating

5.0/ 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Rondorfer Hauptstraße 45, 50997 Cologne, Germany
• LuftHaus Studio Website
• Phone: 02233 9660400

HafenRaum GmbH & Co. KG

Recommendation for Hafenraum Studios on Google: 11 Rating

4.3/ 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Im Zollhafen 12, 50678 Cologne, Germany
• Hafenraum Studio Website
• Phone: 0221 9331860

STUDIO LIGHT STREET

Recommendation for Studiolichtstraße on Google: 5 Rating

5.0/ 5.0 stars

Further information, contact persons and directions:

• Address: Lichtstrasse 28
• Studio light street website
• Phone: 0221 9545013

Special! Learn photography – tips for beginners

Photographers can only join the artists’ social insurance to a limited extent

Unfortunately, the law classifies the work of photographers as handcrafted, who mainly take photos for private use, such as portrait or wedding photographers. Children or nude photographers are also excluded from this membership. On the other hand, advertising photographers or press photographers may well join the artists’ social security fund, and this also applies to all photographers who live from the fact that their photos are shown publicly at art exhibitions. Stock photographers are also included in the Künstlersozialkasse, as they do not have a permanent client, but take photos and then offer them for sale.

According to the legislator, stock photographers have the free choice of their motifs, which for him is an indication of artistic freedom. For the membership in the Künstlersozialkasse a business registration is neither an obligation nor an obstacle. However, independent artists of all kinds cannot be members of the Künstlersozialkasse if they employ more than one employee. In such a case they are not considered to be in need of protection and can insure themselves.

Join the Artist Social Security

Those who are not sure whether they can become a member of the Künstlersozialkasse should complete the online questionnaire for membership. This questionnaire is a test for the Künstlersozialkasse whether the conditions for membership are met. The artist can prove the required income through his tax return, or an invoice. This also includes his activities at exhibitions, or perhaps certificates, prizes, or scholarships that he has received through his work. Publications can also be decisive for becoming a member of the Künstlersozialkasse.

Contributions to the Artists’ Social Security

The advantage of being a member of the Künstlersozialkasse is that the Künstlerkasse pays the employer’s contribution to the social insurance, which it in turn collects from the companies that have artists working for it, such as galeries, newspaper publishers or advertising agencies. That’s why the artists pay only half of the contributions compared to other self-employed people and are as good as employees. The Künstlersozialkasse also receives contributions from artists who, for example, with an annual income of around 10,000 euros per year, have to pay around 150 euros a month in contributions to the KSK. However, the amount of contributions also depends on other income, or the number of children present. If someone is engaged in a social security or artistic activity, it is usually decided in which area this person achieves the higher income in order to be classified there.

Many self-employed people are in great demand for entry into the artists’ social insurance fund because they have to pay far lower contributions for compulsory insurance there. However, the limits for membership in the Künstlersozialkasse are very limited and actually intended only for people who earn their living exclusively with art. For photographers this is however of disadvantage, because portrait and order photographers are classified as craftsmen, why they must pay the far higher tariffs of the independent ones. Only press and advertising photographers, such as those who devote themselves solely to their artistic inclinations, are recognised by the Künstlersozialkasse.

What is the KSK and what are the advantages of KSK?

Freie Wildbahn e.V. provides information about the Künstlersozialkasse and explains everything you need to know about applications, membership, monthly savings and insurance rates.

https://youtu.be/37a6XcRnk8I

Artist Social Security Contribution – What is important?

DATEV explains how self-employed artists and publicists have to insure themselves, who is affected by which taxes at all and which taxes have to be planned financially.

https://youtu.be/p2hwO3y2Q4s

The Audiopedia: What is the artists’ social insurance? Meaning and explanation

Meaning, advantages, requirements and more on the topic of artists’ social insurance simply and precisely explained by The Audiopedia.

https://youtu.be/mcIULyvZCdE

Plan and prepare star photography well

There is no room for spontaneity when photographing celestial bodies – good planning is called for here. The nightly location should be chosen very carefully. What is needed is a dark area, far away from the halos and light pollution of large cities. The darker the area, the more stars are visible.

As an anchor for the photos you should look for a nice foreground. Unlighted buildings, fences, trees, rock formations, lakes etc. are suitable. An interesting foreground gives a photo an individual character. Information about local weather conditions is also helpful. What is needed is a clear, cloudless sky. High humidity is also not good, as this can lead to blurred images. Bright moonlight unfortunately outshines many stars, ideally a time should be chosen for the photos when the moon is not visible in the night sky.

The wandering of the stars over the night sky is mostly caused by the rotation of the earth. For best results, the camera should be oriented north or southeast. The axis of the earth points exactly to the polar star (north star), therefore it does not change its position in the course of the night. While it can always be found in the same place, the other stars move on.

How your star photography equipment could look like

A DSLR camera or a camera with manual recording mode and fully charged batteries are the basic prerequisites for successful photos. Likewise a stable tripod, even passing game can cause shocks. A wide-angle lens (10 to 20 mm) provides the best results. You can also shoot with a longer focal length, but the wide aperture of the wide-angle lens allows for much lower ISO values and an impressive image width.

If there is a way to program your camera to take pictures at certain intervals, that would be ideal. Otherwise a remote control helps. There should be plenty of space on the memory card. The photos should be saved in RAW format to get better results during post-processing. And don’t forget coffee (or other drinks) and snacks, it’s gonna be a long night. Sometimes a warm jacket is also good, because the nights can get very cold here too.

Clear sky – it can start

Because it can be difficult to set up the equipment in complete darkness, it is best to start in the last daylight. First you should place the camera and the tripod at the desired location. Align the camera to capture as many stars as possible. Take some pictures of the foreground in daylight with different ISO settings for post-processing. Switch the camera to manual mode and select the setting for serial photos. If you want to display the stars as a dot, open the aperture completely and expose the sensor for about 30 seconds.

Depending on whether you want the sky to be brighter or darker, you should experiment with different ISO settings. If the result is satisfactory, save the settings. With an exposure time of one minute, the movement of the stars on the horizon becomes noticeable. If you want to show the star migration as a trace in the sky you have to make several interval shots. It becomes really spectacular when the traces of the stars stretch over the entire horizon. This often requires exposure times of up to 2 hours. Also here some experimental recordings are to be recommended.

Result: The perfect summer night and good equipment provide fantastic star images

With well thought-out planning, good equipment and the right viewpoint, spectacular shots of the night sky are not that difficult. With free software such as Startrails (Windows) or StarStax (Mac and Windows), the images can be combined in post-processing to a grandiose shot.