Sad Mag: Who are you and what do you do?

Rachelle Simoneau: My name is Rachelle. I like taking photos.

SM: When did you first start taking photos? What attracted you to photography?

RS: I’ve always been drawn to photography, from the surprise of getting my film developed to going to The Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography in Ottawa every chance I got.

SM: Tell us about your first camera.

RS: My first camera was my dad’s old Canon FTb manual SLR that I still use almost everyday in Paris.

SM: How did you end up in Paris?

RS: I moved to Europe in 2010 and was shooting a lot in London. When it came time for a change, Paris was an easy decision to make. The process of getting here was a little more difficult, but it’s all good now.

SM: What’s it like working as a photographer in Europe vs in Canada? Is the culture around photography different?

RS: As a fashion photographer I notice styles and feel of photos change drastically from city to city. It’s been exciting for me to develop my own style in different major cultural centers.

SM: What do you miss about Vancouver?

RS: My friends, bike culture, seeing the mountains and ocean every day, sushi at Toshi’s, Wreck Beach.

SM: Who are your favourite Vancouver photographers?

RS: I love Candice Meyer‘s fashion work and Grant Harder‘s portraits around Vancouver.

SM:Do you have a favourite photograph of your own?

RS: The photo I keep coming back to is from a shoot in 2009. I was still living in Vancouver and assisting at a studio when I felt that fire to start shooting on my own. I called a couple of friends and we went to Lynn Valley. I see that photo as a departure point for my career and still love it.

SM: Where can we find more of your work?

RS: I post new work on my blog while I work on my new website.