This week’s inspiration comes from Copenhagen-based Leonora Bernstein.
A multi-talented creator with an eye for details and a passion for capturing and cultivating the beauty in the world, Leonora’s creative spirit will make anybody fall in love with her work!
Aspiring creators, take note of Leonora’s detailed answers to our 5 Creator Questions:
Who are you and what do you do?
I was born in Denmark, but lived in Namibia with my family for 19 years. I moved back to Denmark in June 2009 and currently live in Copenhagen. I live and breathe creativity, and consider myself to be a Jack (or Jill?) of many trades. I am currently working as a freelance photographer and concept designer.
As a concept designer, I guide the visual creative/design processes for private individuals and companies and help conceptualise their design ideas into a solution. My attention to detail gives me a good perspective to identify and nurture the “red thread” in your ideas, and eventually help “kill your darlings” that might be holding your creative ideas and processes back.
As a photographer, I enjoy capturing detailed photos in which the object in focus tells a story no matter if it is a product, person, landscape, or mood. Photography is an art of observation. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them. Capturing moments, details, aesthetics and beauty. Storytelling through photography, because every picture tells a story. The photography industry is very large and includes many different objects of photography. I prefer landscape and detailed photography, as well as black and white photography, and I have my professional lens set on those.
My website portrays two of my fields of businesses: photography and speaking. However, over time I would like to add more categories and more information about the projects I am currently working on.
How did you get started?
I started taking pictures a little over a year ago with my Canon camera. Before that I loved taking pictures with my iPhone and found myself looking for spaces, places, objects and landscapes to photograph. Becoming more confident in using the Canon, my photos improved and I started experimenting more and more, trying to find the right angles, light and mood. I didn’t decide to become a photographer, it just kinda happened gradually. I still have a lot to learn! Practice, practice practice!
What sets you apart?
It’s all about the details! As I’ve written on my website, photography is the ability to stir the soul with light, shape and colour. It is more than a medium for factual communication of ideas, products, people, mood and nature. These details speak to our emotions and senses, they inspire stories and perspectives. Detail photography often tells the story of the situation by focusing on a relatively small portion of it. Focusing on details adds more character to my work.
What obstacles did you have to overcome?
It is difficult to get started and it takes time before the ball starts rolling. It is never easy. So many decisions, so many choices. As I am a one-person company I stand alone in many of my decisions, I think that is the hardest part of it all. I also find it difficult promoting my abilities and my work. I would rather have my work speak for itself – or even better, have my happy clients spread the word to new clients.
Do you have any tips for other creators?
If you really love what you’re doing, why not make a small business out of it? Start small and make that successful. Be detailed about your work, your website, your product, your communication, and your work ethic. The details matter in all businesses. Use time on the details – they often get noticed by your client. Think creatively and be different!
To see all the details in Leonora’s work, check out her website!
Ready to take her advice? Then start small, think creatively, and build your own website with IM Creator – start now for free!
