When talking to fellow creatives, we often wonder: HOW DO THEY DO IT? To prevent Instagram stalking or doom-scrolling to figure out their secret sauces and success stories, we prefer to ask them face-to-face. Today: an unfiltered conversation with ALICIA PASTOR, fashion photographer. Cover photo: courtesy of Alicia Pastor
IN CONVERSATION WITH ALICIA PASTOR
Making up fairytales with her twin sister at a young age may have marked the start of Alicia Pastor’s fashion photography career. Dressing up, painting their faces, and immersing themselves deeply into the stories they had made up formed a harbinger of her need to create stories that connect to her reality and fantasy. “Fashion photography allows me to recreate the stories I visualize, blending the many creative areas I’m passionate about.”
Traveling the world is part of the profession of a fashion photographer. Nevertheless, there are several rituals that Pastor swears by. They keep her down to earth, she believes. “I need a routine to stay mentally stable,” Pastor explains. “My morning ritual consists of breakfast, writing in my journal while sipping coffee, and at the moment, I try to exercise early in the mornings to take advantage of the early day and stay focused.”
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You’re a busy photographer, traveling the world and working on several projects simultaneously. The question on anyone’s lips is: how do you do it? How do you manage your time and keep cool during these different projects?
“By going to therapy and getting to know how my mind works. To stay motivated and mentally stable with this lifestyle, I must spend some time each day caring for myself. I try not only to do commercial projects but also to spend my time working on personal projects where I am completely free to do whatever I feel like doing. I also try to plan my weeks, set schedules whenever I can, and enjoy the process.”
“TO STAY MOTIVATED AND MENTALLY STABLE WITH THIS LIFESTYLE, I MUST SPEND SOME TIME EACH DAY TAKING CARE OF MYSELF.”
Alicia Pastor
What has driven you to start photographing?
“Since I was little, I have always been very creative. I’ve always been creating things with my hands and body, almost as if it were a vital necessity. I have painted, drawn, danced, and designed websites and clothes, but it wasn’t until I was a teenager that I started to take seriously the idea of dedicating my future to something creative. In those years, an interest in fashion awakened in me. I even created my fashion blog. That was when I picked up a camera for the first time. Along with my Fine Arts degree, delving into darkrooms undoubtedly inspired a deep desire to experiment with this “new” technique through which I could express myself.”
How do you generate ideas and bring them to life?
“Yesterday, I read a chapter of Rick Rubin’s book The Creative Act: A Way of Being about inspiration, and I couldn’t agree more with what he said. Inspiration and ideas tend to come at unexpected moments. I think that for this inspiration to flow, it is necessary to connect with your surroundings. It’s good to try and see beyond what is evident in our day-to-day lives and deactivate our autopilot mode.”
“TRY TO DEACTIVATE YOUR AUTOPILOT MODE NOW AND THEN.”
Alicia Pastor
“I try to note down ideas the moment they come. I immediately need to find references to help me develop the idea and make preliminary sketches with images and words. I enjoy the creative process of making my ideas a reality. I always get very involved in the process, which is essential when doing photographic projects.”
Are you more of a solo worker, or do you flourish within a team?
“In my work, I’ve always thought that every person involved in the project is essential, from the people on set to the producers and everyone present during the creative process. The result of each work is the result of a project done as a team. That is why I always try to surround myself with a team that I can discuss my ideas with, people with good taste who can contribute perspectives that differ from mine, and who are respectful and kind above all. Many creatives are involved in fashion photography, and each of them is an essential pillar of each project.”
What hiccups have you experienced along the way? What have they taught you about yourself or your way of working?
“I still have a lot to learn and experience in my job, but I have learned to work with people who make me feel good. I’ve also learned to set boundaries both as a professional and as a person. Furthermore, something I rarely talk about is how being a woman sometimes makes it difficult to be taken seriously as a professional in this predominantly male industry. I believe that day by day, we are making progress, and there are increasingly more female and young role models in photography such as Carlin Jacobs, Harley Weir, or Petra Collins.”
What’s the one moment in your career that you will never forget?
“So far, the most remarkable moment I’ll never forget was when I decided to dedicate myself to photography. It was a difficult decision, but I believed in myself, my passion, and my talent. I hope this experience continues to bring me unforgettable moments.”
How do you stay present?
“Staying present is something I’ve been working on for the last few years, and it’s an issue that interests me as I’m so used to living fully in the future without appreciating the present moment or the little things that I achieve day by day. Journaling has helped me value the present and focus on what I have, not what I lack.”
What are you most proud of?
“I’m most proud that I can make a living from fashion photography and not give up on the journey that got me to where I am. In the past, some people told me it would be nearly impossible to do this. Nowadays, though it takes consistent effort, I can say that I pay my bills thanks to my job as a fashion photographer.”
What excites you most about the future?
Everything I have yet to experience, both professionally and personally. Who hasn’t fantasized about the future and everything they wish to achieve? As I mentioned before, I always do it, but I refuse to focus on that. Whatever happens in the future results from what I experience and believe in the present. The fact that I have no idea what will happen in the future excites me the most. It’s like feeling the magic of unwrapping a surprise present.”
