Léo Arnaud, fashion photographer

Specializing in fashion photography, Léo Arnaud graduated from the Bachelor Photographe et Videographer program in 2017. Winner of the Picto de la mode prize the same year, her work has been exhibited at the Palais Galliera, the Villa Noailles, La Villette, Fisheye Gallery, the Maison
Européenne de la Photographie...

She talks to us about her favorite themes and her new project.

I won the Prix Picto de la Mode in 2017, right out of school. That's how I
I met Paolo Roversi, who was president of the jury. I was his first assistant and, at the same time, I was selected as one of the finalists for the Hyères festival in 2018.

I then went on to have several exhibitions, including my first solo show, which helped me gain some visibility.

Since then, I've been focusing on fashion, but I continue to work in parallel on
more artistic projects.

"Emerging Adulthood" Léo Arnaud 2017 Picto Fashion Award

I started out in portraiture, because I liked to show off my models and photograph them in beautiful clothes. It was at Gobelins that I discovered that this could be fashion photography. I didn't know this world at all before.

I take photos to express my ideas, my feelings, to talk about my experiences. I work a lot on the relationship with the body, and in particular my female gaze on female bodies, but my photos are also very much concerned with deconstructing gender labels.

Little by little, I realized that I could tackle these themes through fashion, as clothing is a tool with which it's interesting to play in order to get messages across.

"Untitled" - Numéro Berlin - 2024 - Léo Arnaud

Itry to approach commercial projects from an angle that speaks to me, bringing my vision of fashion and the representation of women, in particular.

On the editorial side, which is very important for visibility as a fashion photographer, I propose projects on which I do my own work.

I propose projects on which I do the art direction myself. It's on this type of series that I tackle the subjects that are dearest to me and that I express myself the most.

I don't think it's compulsory, it depends on our individual character and our
ability to create links and make contacts.

As I'm more creative than commercial, it's useful and very important for me to be able to discuss strategy and feel supported.

"Figures" - 2018 - Léo Arnaud

They're very varied, but I usually start from my own experience and the ideas I want to convey through my work.

That's why I began by working on the relationship with the body, or deconstructing gender labels, for example.It's more the political or personal messages that inspire me.

I've also talked a lot with Paolo Roversi about his vision of photography, and these discussions have inspired me a lot.

I've been working on the same themes, which have a very personal resonance, for over 10 years now, but always by photographing other people.

To tackle them more head-on, I' ve decided to embark on a series of self-portraits, a project that's underway but will take some time.

"Marcia" - 2020 - Léo Arnaud

What impressed me most at GOBELINS was theemulation between students. I learned and grew a lot through contact with other students and the diversity of visions, techniques and mutual support.

"Untitled" - Numéro Berlin - 2024 - Léo Arnaud

I'd advise you to create by drawing on your experience, on what makes sense on a personal level.  It's often this authenticity that makes images timeless and allows you to develop a rich universe.

You have to photograph fashion as you would like to see it, not as it already is.
it already is.