We recently had the chance to connect with Edsger Studio and have shared our conversation below.
Edsger, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
That’s a great question — it’s basically about what you are passionate about and can really lose yourself in. For me, portrait photography is such a passion. Often a shoot is scheduled for several hours, but the time always tends to whiz by. Someone told me once that one of my portraits made her feel as if time had stopped. I love that comment, and it is really what I try to achieve. I feel I have succeeded if you cannot just glance at one of my photos but have to stop, look closer, and feel at peace.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a portrait photographer, originally from Europa, but I have now spent most of my life in the US. In California, where I live, portraits are commonly called ‘headshots.’ The term may be right for a driver’s license or a quick snapshot for casting calls, but for me it misses the point entirely. A great portrait shows more than just the fleeting appearance of a person: it shows part of their soul. It should create a deep feeling of making a real connection with another human – sometimes beautiful, an always interesting and captivating, leading you to wonder who the sitter is and where you can learn more about them. That is my brand. It is a never-ending pursuit, to achieve the unachievable, but getting ever so close once in a while.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I grew up in a fairly isolated environment with little or no access to art or literature. The first time, as a teenager, when I saw the work of some of the great photographers like Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Yousef Karsh, and Arnold Newman, I was hooked. At first, I felt that there was no way for me to achieve that level of perfection, but slowly over the years, with dogged persistence I feel that I have gotten close. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with some really great people that have inspired me. I realized quickly that we all basically start from the same point and have to learn our craft slowly, by putting in the hard work and not settling for first attempts. The key is to be super critical of your own work, while taking inspiration from many. And it is not just about acquiring the most expensive camera or studio setup. I was a judge at a photo contest for elementary and high school kids a few weeks ago and I was hugely inspired by what some of them were able to achieve often with no more than an iphone.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I cannot recall any time that I almost gave up. I have been discouraged at times, but never to the point where I would want to quit. Sometimes it can seem as if you as a creator are the only person who can see how special something is. Often, the passage of time reveals that actually you were wrong, and what you were excited about fell short in a number of different ways. Perhaps this is the greatest frustration of what I do: sometimes it can take a while before you can more clearly see if something that you created was truly special, or still fell short.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I have had a number of friends who have inspired me greatly. What I admire is selflessness that comes so naturally to some, and the grit to pursue what is right, no matter the obstacles. Very happily, I am married to just such a person, and she is a daily inspiration to me.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Your question reminds me of an anecdote I once heard of a shaman talking to a tribesman who was depressed. The first question he asked was: ‘When did you stop dancing?’ To me this story is so funny and compelling because I don’t dance, and never have (with perhaps one or two exceptions). So no, I am not tap dancing to work, but I am nonetheless super excited when I can start on a new project. I guess I’m tap dancing in my mind, and that’s what counts!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://edsger-studio.com
- Instagram: @edsger.studio
Image Credits
Martta Rebekka
Kazi Waves
Courtney Lakin
Michal Sara
Laura Dromerick
Cat Mae
Melanie Pineda
