“I NEED TWO THINGS IN MY LIFE.
SENSITIVITY AND ART.”
I'm Stéphane,
a photographer whose sensibility and art are inseparable guides to every moment. I've chosen to see the world through a lens, capturing the emotions and moments of truth that shape our lives. My aim is not simply to take photos, but to weave a living, authentic story of each precious moment.
A tireless dreamer, I have always refused to resign myself to normality. I choose to feel, perceive and understand the world in all its complex beauty. It's this sensitivity that gives life to every image I capture.
I'm not just your photographer. I'm your storyteller, your chronicler and the discreet guardian of your heritage. I'm here to capture your most precious moments and make them unforgettable. My goal is to create photographs that allow you to travel back in time, to feel and relive every emotion captured, forever.
My commitment is to provide you not only with exceptional photographs, but also with a truly personal and memorable experience. Because every story, every person, every moment is unique and deserves to be told with delicacy and passion.
Portrait photographed by the talented Pauline Maroussia P.
Where I come from…
Corsica
I was born in Bordeaux, Gironde, on a Friday the 13th, to a father who was a gendarme and a mother who was a caregiver, and I'm the eldest of 3 children.
I spent most of my childhood in the vibrant heart of Corsica, enveloped by the splendor of the calanques of Piana and the turquoise blue of the Mediterranean.
My father's work kept us on the move.
These 11 years spent on the Isle of Beauty were to forge a character curious about everything, and a desire for discovery.
Growing up, I was captivated by National Geographic and Commandant Cousteau documentaries, programs that triggered in me an endless fascination for the world and its wonders. It was in these moments of wonder that I first dreamed of becoming an oceanographer, taking over from Calypso, and sailing the oceans in search of cetaceans.
But life had other plans.
After graduating from high school, I undertook a year of art studies at ECV Bordeaux, with the ambition of becoming a computer graphics designer. I dreamed of putting my artistic skills to work in the digital world. However, the Internet bubble of the early 2000s burst, sowing doubt and uncertainty about the future of this path. This situation forced me to redirect my career path. That's how I became a nurse, which allowed me to develop a completely different kind of sensitivity and humanity. However, my taste for art and creativity never left me, and it was finally through photography that I was able to make my artistic dream come true.
Having become a nurse, I found a way to indulge my passion for the art of the image by photographing weddings alongside my work at the hospital. In 2010, I immortalized my first wedding in Luxembourg (where I lived for 8 years and where my son was born), an event that marked the start of an incredible adventure. Self-taught, I learned on the job, refining my technique and style over time and through experience.
In 2014, I embarked on a round the world trip that has profoundly shaped my life and my art. From New Zealand to French Polynesia, via Iceland, I was confronted with diverse cultures and breathtaking landscapes that broadened my perspective and enriched my creativity.
My eclectic background has shaped my identity and fueled my creativity. To be multipotential is to possess an insatiable curiosity, an ability to adapt and learn, and above all, a capacity to see the world from multiple angles. My experience as a nurse has enabled me to understand human beings at their most fragile, while my passion for cinema, video games and travel has enriched my perception of aesthetics and narrative. As a photographer, I've been able to synthesize all these skills and passions to develop a unique, sensitive and poetic approach.
I've gradually turned to Black and White, seeking to recreate the atmosphere of the great reportages of the 20th century, those of the golden age of film. I also explore medium format to give a Fine Art touch to my color photographs.
Wedding photography has become my specialty, a passion that's much more than just a job. Every wedding has a unique love story to tell, and I'm honored to be able to capture these precious moments and turn them into everlasting memories.
I'm convinced that a photograph should be more than just an image. It must tell a story, capture an emotion, evoke a feeling. It's this philosophy that guides my work and that I strive to embody in every shot.
I didn't set out to win awards or be published in prestigious magazines. My greatest recognition comes from the testimonials of my customers. Their satisfaction and emotion with the images I capture are my greatest reward.
This is who I am, Stéphane Christian R. (Christian is actually my middle name, inherited from my maternal grandfather). A photographer who once dreamed of sailing the oceans aboard Calypso. Today, I sail through lives, loves and emotions, capturing the beauty of our world through the lens of my camera.
“Today, I sail through lives, loves and emotions, capturing the beauty of our world through the lens of my camera.”
WORK PHILOSOPHY AND PHOTOGRAPHIC STYLE
In my work as a photographer, I draw deep inspiration from the best in the field around the world, always on the lookout for new techniques and perspectives to refine my art. My approach to weddings is that of an attentive and discreet observer. I blend in with the guests, capturing the day as it unfolds, intervening only when necessary for couple sessions or unforeseen events.
I believe that the true beauty of wedding photography lies in its ability to capture the authentic emotion of the moment. My aim is to produce images that faithfully reflect the atmosphere, energy and feelings of the wedding day. Each photo is carefully worked on in post-production to ensure the best possible quality, while preserving the essence of the moment captured.
My preference for black and white and the Fine Art style stems from my desire to evoke deep emotions. Black and white, by eliminating the distraction of color, allows me to focus on the essence of the image - the emotion and the story it tells. What's more, the Fine Art style, with its softness and elegance, evokes for me memories of my childhood in Corsica, the soft pastel colors of the landscape and the bright light of the Mediterranean sun.
What sets my work apart is my commitment to telling the story of your wedding with authenticity and sensitivity. My photos are not just images; they reflect the emotion, love and joy that marked your day. They are a precious, timeless and moving legacy that you can cherish forever. I don't try to ensure that my photos exude a particular emotion; I let the day unfold naturally and capture the emotion as it happens. The result is a series of photos that are a faithful reflection of your day, full of emotion and truth.
Before the wedding, I take the time to get to know you and understand your wishes and expectations. During the wedding, I work discreetly to capture every precious moment. After the wedding, each image is carefully processed to ensure exceptional quality and a consistent aesthetic that matches my style and your expectations.
Every couple has a unique story, and I'm honored to be able to tell it through my photos.
“My photos aren’t just pictures; they reflect the emotion, love and joy that marked your day.”
PERSONAL DETAILS AND PASSIONS
Behind the camera lens, I'm a man of contrasts and varied passions that nourish and inspire me. Born on March 13, 1981, I grew up in an era when pixels came alive to create bold new worlds. As a child, I'd escape into fantastical worlds, controller in hand, marvelling at each new adventure offered by the world of video games (Team SEGA!). Even today, at the age of 42, I find the same enthusiasm in these virtual worlds.
I'm also a passionate cinephile, captivated by the way every image, every shot and every scene can tell a poignant story and trigger deep emotions. The art of cinema has left an indelible imprint on my style of photography, driving me to capture moments that tell a story rich in detail and emotion.
Alongside my passion for photography, I've taken an interest in the fascinating world of cryptocurrencies since 2018. This complex and constantly evolving universe has captured my curiosity. Investing in crypto-currencies is for me an exercise in strategy and anticipation, similar to the way I anticipate a moment of truth to capture in photography. It also teaches me a valuable lesson about the value of fleeting moments, as well as the importance of well-considered decisions.
These experiences have played a decisive role in the person and photographer I have become. They taught me to look beyond the ordinary, to seek out unique and authentic moments, and to create images that speak to the soul.
But beyond these passions, my greatest source of inspiration and joy is my family. I am the father of an extraordinary son, Baptiste, born in 2012 of a first marriage.
On July 13, 2022, I had the good fortune to marry an extraordinary woman, with a gentleness and kindness that probably originated in a galaxy far, far away, Candice. Together, we form a team, a refuge and an inexhaustible source of inspiration.
When I'm not behind the lens or immersed in a virtual adventure, you can find me sampling Italian or Asian cuisine, enjoying a quiet moment with my family, a ukulele in my hands, or pushing my limits by discovering new things (#multipotential).
