Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloe Meynier.
Hi Chloe, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Southern France where I studied Science and Psychology for ten years. After getting my PhD in Marseille, France, I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to work as a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley. Soon after I arrived in the US, I ventured to photograph colorful and/or abandoned buildings that looked drastically different from the landscapes I was used to growing up. But a few months after I relocated, I started to really question my life and fell into a depression. I was totally alone and brutally faced the psychological damage caused by years of sexual abuse as a child. In addition, I was not passionate about research and I needed a creative outlet. A year later, I left UC Berkeley, quit my research career and started an MFA in Photography at Academy of Art University, San Francisco. My parents made this transition possible and without their unconditional support, I would not be where I am today. I think during all these years, a lot of personal factors pushed me to be more creative and that art, especially photography, was a missing component in my life. I have been teaching Photography classes since 2015 and have been a fine art photographer for the past ten years. My personal photographic projects led me to LA many times and will continue to.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I would not say that it was a smooth road. I had many moments of doubting myself and transitioning from a scientific career to a career in the arts was difficult. There is a saying in French that says: “you know what you’re losing but you don’t know what you’ll find”. I knew I was interested in photography more than in research but I did not know anything about it or did not know if I would really want to pursue it more seriously after graduation. I was not sure if it was a smart decision to quit my research career, especially after spending years studying for it. I was about to be 30 and I thought that it was not a decision I should make lightly, especially from a financial standpoint. But the biggest struggle was the constant doubt about my ability to succeed in photography. I also knew that making a living as a fine art photographer would be difficult, so allowing myself to embrace the unknown was another challenge. However, with perseverance and hard work, I now know that it was the right decision and I do not regret any of it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a fine-art photographer and my work revolves around gender identity and societal norms. Soon after starting my MFA, I took on the challenge to be both the photographer and the subject. I just found solace in using my mental struggles as a creative engine. It was a cathartic process that allowed me to know myself better. I am still using myself in all my projects. My most recent series “Made in the Shade” depicts characters in Mid Century Modern settings, mirroring an era that was aspiring for change but during which women rapidly lost their independence gained during the war period and returned to domesticated environments to fulfill decades of gender role traditions. The interior settings are authentic to the time period and are an essential element of the narrative. The series challenges female stereotypes and gives the characters the power to be architects, scientists, musicians, engineers, doctors, etc.; roles often identified as being fulfilled by men. Several images of this project have been shot in and around LA as there is a big concentration of Mid Century Modern homes with their original layouts and furniture. I only create photographs a few times a year as I finance my own projects but I am very pleased that the series has gained some recognition and exposure over the past couple of years. I was recently awarded prestigious accolades: Fine Art Photographer of the Year through the International Photo Awards (IPA) and First Place through the Life Framer Award. Previously, I won second place in Fine Art and gold in Fine Art/Portrait at the Budapest International Foto Awards and third in APA’s Something Personal competition. I was also named a finalist for The Independent Photographer’s 2021 Visual Storytelling Award, the Lens Culture Art Photography Awards, and the American Photography 37 contest.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I think the biggest risk I have ever taken so far was to decide to switch my life over to concentrate on photography. I had no idea what it would lead me to and still until this day, I do not know what it will look like in the future. I would not call myself a risk-taker though. I like to plan things and to limit the risks. The main reason is because I am a perfectionist and think about almost every detail before going on location to shoot. I spend a lot of time researching locations and look at a lot of magazines, websites and social media pages. When I find a space that sparks my interest, I usually have an immediate response and story in mind. But sometimes, I have to adapt. Once I am projected into the actual environment, things can be very different. The space, the lighting, and furniture are sometimes different than how I imagined them. It forces me to quickly rethink the image in terms of compositional strategies, lighting and narrative. I work hard to minimize the risks even though I like to work under pressure.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.chloemeynier.com
- Instagram: @chloemeynier
Image Credits:
Chloe Meynier
