Interview: Eylül Ezik, photographer

Born in Bursa (Turkey) in 1987, Eylül Ezik is a fashion photographer based in Istanbul (Turkey). She graduated from Istanbul University in English Literature, and then, having a passion for photography, she studied at the Istanbul Fashion Academy in fashion photography. From literature to photography, she creates a visual language in the fashion area, specifically editorial photography. Story-telling is the main thing in her works, and her sources of inspiration are movies, narrations, cultures, and daily life itself.

You can find Eylül Ezik here:

• Website:  www.eylulezik.com
• E-mail: eylulkaroglu@gmail.com
• Instagram: @eylulezik
• Twitter: @eylulezik
• Facebook: @EylülEzik
• LinkedIn: @eylulezik

1. Hi Eylül, how long have you been working as a photographer now?

I have been working as a fashion photographer since 2016.

2. What inspired you to become a photographer? What were your first steps?

It was a long process to find out what the real me was. From the beginning, my only idea was to do something related to literature, but after that, I realized I wanted to tell stories visually.

When I was a student at the university, I was a member of the photography club. This was my first step to learning photography. It was just an exciting hobby for me at first. I did not think I could do it as a job during those years. After I graduated, my main concern was to earn money. I got a job as an English teacher, but it was not exactly my dream. The only thing I knew was that I had to do something different to express myself. After a couple of years, I took a short course in fashion photography. Then I said yes; this was really what I wanted to do. But the course was not enough by itself, clearly. I quit my job and concentrated on fashion photography. I did many test shoots with models and made collaborations with some designers both in Turkey and Europe, and then it went on. Moreover, I worked too hard, learned and experienced a lot, and imagined and believed in myself. So I am here.

3. Are you a professional or an amateur photographer?

I am a professional with an amateur soul.

4. What is your favorite subject to photograph?

I do like mainly editorial photography as a fashion photographer. I enjoy telling a story in a specific mood with models. I create the story in my mind and make the models pose accordingly.

5. What kit do you shoot with?

I use a Canon 5D MarkIV with a 24-70mm Canon lens, but in most of my shootings I also use analog cameras, especially Rolleiflex, which is my favorite.

6. How would you define your photographic style?

Actually, it is difficult for me as a photographer to define my style, but I can say it is dramatic, instinctual, and makes you feel like you are in a movie in carefully selected locations.

7. Which editing software do you usually use?

I generally use Capture One Pro and Adobe Photoshop.

8. John Wanamaker said: Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I do not know which half. Do you gain your clients by advertising or in another way?

Most photographers can gain clients thanks to social media; I am one of those. When I post my work, especially on Instagram, this makes me visible to my potential clients. Sometimes I pay for sponsored ads on Instagram. This is also really effective.

9. How does your typical working day look like? What do you do when you are not working? How many hours/days per week are you working? What do you do in your free time?

As a fashion photographer, I have to work with a team that basically consists of a stylist, a make-up artist, a hair stylist, assistants, and models. So, we are doing collective work. The set dates are generally programmed at least a week ago, and I only work on those days. We usually work all day long, for example, 8–10 hours a day. My busiest working periods are at the beginning of the fall/winter or spring/summer collections in the fashion industry.

In my free time, I mostly watch movies, travel, read to feed myself, and do sports at least three days a week.

10. What would you do differently if you would start again?

I wish I could do it a little bit earlier.

11. A professional photographer is also an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs have many things in common. They read a lot. What about you? What are your favorite books?

I have many favorites, but these are the first ones that come to mind:

• Brave New World/Aldous Huxley
• The Time Regulation Institute/Ahmet Hamdi Tanpnar
• The Trial of Franz Kafka
• The Waves/Virgina Woolf
• Notes From Underground: Fyodor Dostoevsky
• Talented Mr. Ripley and Patricia Highsmith
• Las Babas Del Diablo (The Devil’s Drool)/Julian Cortazar

12. What was the best advice you have ever received as a photographer? Do you have any advice for other photographers?

Take your steps according to how you want to see yourself after ten years. This was the best advice I have ever received. I totally agree with this advice. Besides, I can say to the other photographers that they should fully believe themselves and never give up.

13. Top 3 mobile apps on your smartphone?

• Instagram
• Vsco
• Nomo

13. Top 3 websites?

• vogue.it
• models.com
• nowness.com

14. Your last vacation?

A short trip to London

Eylül’s Work: