Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ophelia Boman Jorgensen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ophelia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
Becoming a photographer has been an incredibly rewarding and exciting journey! My previous education in Art History provided a perfect foundation as I quickly discovered I could transfer my theoretical knowledge and visual analysis skills into my photography projects. The hands-on nature of photography has been very exhilarating, enabling me to bring my ideas to life and infuse my work with boundless creativity. This potent blend of theory and practice has truly allowed me to blossom as a visual artist.
Looking back, there are a few things I would definitely have done differently. First, while I massively value research and remain totally convinced it is the backbone of any successful project, more practical experimentation in the early stages of my work would have accelerated my learning and project development. Trial and error is definitely a core method in the arts; no amount of books or late-night googling can quite replace it.
I believe the most useful skill as a photographer is the ability to connect with and understand my subjects, be it a person, object, or place. You have to know it inside out to be able to close the gap between how you (the artist) feel about the subject versus its physical appearance. It is here the secret for an effective translation of emotions lies: in the relationship between the creator and the subject. I believe this matter to be far more crucial than the quality of equipment used or any technical proficiency within post-processing.
Secondly, for any aspiring photographers out there I heed you a warning: beware of the endless admin work involved! Marketing my work, managing finances, and organizing the shoots, exhibitions, and people involved requires a different skill and indeed a change in mindset. For me, the stamina for that skill is definitely still developing, but it is very rewarding still: new opportunities pop up simply by remaining dedicated to my social media presence.
Despite everything, persistence (or perhaps better explained as sheer stubbornness) and a passion for storytelling through photography keeps me motivated. Plus, meeting new people is always a bonus. Each project, whether personal or professional, is an opportunity for personal and professional growth. I am incredibly grateful for the experiences that shaped my career within photography and I’m very excited for the continual learning the future undoubtedly holds in store for me.
Ophelia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Despite jumping ship from the world of Art History and entering the photography industry, my fascination of a single image to tell a story and evoke powerful emotions never faltered. I believe that this is the ultimate factor which shapes my artistic vision and creative approach within my work.
My work primarily focuses on photography which involves people, anything which can create a compelling story for the viewer. I find people endlessly fascinating, and the way in which they can be captured by default becomes limitless. As a result, my services mainly includes portrait and event photography, with some aspects of personal branding. My aim is to make the invisible essence of a person visible, captured in a way which balances personality with the purpose behind the photoshoot. I am also an enthusiastic tutor who loves to collaborate, merging someone’s creativity with my creative input has proved to bring around fantastic results!
Whilst many feel uncomfortable in front of the camera, I tackle this by creating a friendly, relaxed and trusting environment for clients and models alike. Authenticity in photography is single-handedly the most powerful tool in conveying a person who they really are. My commitment to storytelling and ability to connect with people on a personal level allows me to understand their emotions, personality, and how their unique life experiences have shaped them into the person they have become. This ability benefits me with two advantages: not only does my photographs become visually striking, but they are also rich in meaning and emotion.
In my final major project towards the end of my degree, I focused on mine and my sister’s feelings of alienation as a result of moving away from my home country. The final product, titled ‘Homebody’ is potent with emotion, touching on themes of suffering, desire, and homesickness. As this was shot in Sweden, our home country, executing this project was not only a technical and artistic challenge but also a very emotional journey.
Ultimately, my photography is more than visually pleasing images – it’s about creating and exploring connections, telling stories, and authentically capturing the exact feeling of a person. Regardless of the complexity of the photoshoot, whether it’s a one-off portrait session or part of a large body of work with a broader context, I bring the same level of passion, dedication, and creativity to every opportunity.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The main motivation within my journey as a photographer is to use my work as a means to connect with people and transform their unique stories into images, conveyed with as much authenticity as possible. On a personal level, I find that the more qualities I can extract from a person and make visible, I then help uncover the common threads which unite us but also the distinctive qualities which makes us unique. With this, it’s not surprising that my portrait session often wildly differ from each other!
I always strive to empower individuals through my work. This empowerment can go beyond appearance; sometimes it lies in the deeper context and purpose behind the photoshoot, the ‘why’ that drives it.
To me, ‘good’ photography always presents a relationship between the subject, photographer, and the audience for which it is intended. As a photographer, I deem it my duty to nurture these connections, encouraging viewers to see the world from a different perspective and develop a deeper understanding of others. In this sense, much of my work seeks to raise awareness. I aim to shed light on social issues or cultural stories which often go amiss. I don’t always intend to inspire action, if the viewer feels like obtain a deeper understanding of the person presented in my work, then my goal has been reached!
I continue to seek ways in which I can improve myself, pushing the boundaries of my creativity and discover new ways of producing work which is both meaningful and artistically compelling. My goal is to produce work which resonates on a contextual, emotional and aesthetic level.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
One aspect that I certainly didn’t understand before becoming a photographer is the depth of emotional investment and vulnerability that goes into creating meaningful work. Each portrait is more than a visual representation; it is a culmination of empathy, connection, and storytelling. The process of producing work featuring people requires immense social skills as well as intrapersonal ones. I am constantly training myself to recognise and interpret emotions which I may not necessarily relate to, using my ability of introspection to immerse myself in the lives and experiences of others.
It also has to be said that the art industry itself is often tricky, it is seldom linear or event predictable. To succeed, it involves constant self-reflection, pushing creative boundaries and the bounds of your comfort zone, and above all: experimentation. It is vital to remember that numerous failed approaches will eventually yield to a successful method. This quest for growth is often incredibly challenging, I believe each artist walks upon a mostly unpaved road throughout their career.
I think it is also an easy mistake to take the evident emotional quality of a project for granted. Creative intuition is definitely not automatically translated into visual language, a factor which can be overlooked by those outside the art industry. In photography, every decision a photographer makes is calculated; composition, lighting, and colour all play a pivotal role in establishing the narrative of the photograph and communicating the photographer’s intention.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.opheliajorgensen.com
- Instagram: @photobyphe
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ophelia-boman-jorgensen-773299285
Image Credits
Ophelia Boman Jorgensen