Today we’d like to introduce you to Luana Seu.
Hi Luana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am a Romanian fine art & portrait photographer based in Brooklyn, New York City. With a background in the performing arts, my work focuses on creating “worlds” based on allegorical themes that include a diversity of subjects, stories, and cultural backgrounds. Coming from an ex-communist country, I was deeply fascinated by the United States of America and mostly New York City, where in 2018 I started studying acting at The American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and I graduated in 2020 (quite the “rough” start for me as an actress). Even so, nothing stopped my desire to continue to grow and explore my craft. So I moved to Paris, where I learned and worked in Theatre Elizabeth Czerczuk until I started to get many opportunities to work as a photographer around Europe and Romania. I followed my soul and went back to Romania for the first time in years and explored life, once again, home. Photography was, and still is, such an organic way for me to live. I didn’t consider myself a photographer for many years until I realized that I have been doing this profession for 10 years (11 now). That came as a shock, yet all I felt was pure gratitude for this beautiful field. I discovered myself through the people I photograph. For now, photography is my way to give the world an experience and my subjects an opportunity to see themselves truthfully for who they are.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Since pursuing photography as a full-time career, I always tried my best to keep my business and my friendships somewhat together because I believe in community. So that being said, I often got to work with people that after a few jobs together we would become friends and continue a creative adventure together. Whatever if that means to be published in a magazine or appear in a gallery. Also, because I put my soul entirely in what I do, becoming vulnerable and open in front of the people I work with, the clients/models/ subjects notice that, and I also leave space for them to do the same. It is pure but it might not be for everybody. And that is when challenges come. I love challenges. I love photographing people that are telling me, “I’ve never been photographed before. I’m afraid” or “I hate being in front of the camera”. Well, when I hear this, I’m even more excited to give that person an experience they will never forget.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work with people who have peculiar stories to tell, establishing a basis for a deeply interpersonal and collaborative process of dynamic and cinematically-inspired stories. Being raised in a very religious environment, I didn’t question, I followed. Now, my consciousness is defined not by right or wrong but by honesty and truth. My responsibility as an artist is to speak out loudly, in a creative manner, for those too afraid to do so. If you wish, I’ll be your martyr, the one to be judged and persecuted, as long as I can hear, empower, and most of all encourage them to be proud of who they are and what they represent.
I’ve established myself a reputation as a portrait photographer that uses the human connection as a starter of the process. As in acting, I listen before speaking. In photography is exactly the same – I am studying and listening to my subjects.
I also specialize in “tableau photography” where along with my creative partner and good friend – director and producer Paul Grant – we have a few meetings before a group shoot (which includes between 10 to 20 actors and subjects) and decide on a major theme of the photoshoot and what “story” we want to tell, then the work starts. We have done “THE DINNENR TABLE” which is a project that encapsulates social anxiety, childhood trauma, and an accidental representation of the Seven Deadly sins (pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth). The project was documented and filmed from the moment the actors were in costume, being coordinated with specific identities, fears, obstacles, secrets, and relationships given by the photographer/director ( myself ).
Nothing was staged except the given circumstances of the actors. Also, very similar to this project, we did “THE PROCESS OF EXISTENCE”, “ANGELS N’SAINTS” and most recently, “VISIO NOCTURNA” which will be released soon.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’m always open to meeting new people, clients, and subjects that are interested to give themselves the gift of an experience of self-discovery through photography. Never hesitate to contact me. If you are in New York, come and see for yourself how it is to be photographed by me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.luanaseu.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelu.mag/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seu.luana/
Image Credits
Georgiana Saraev – model Meeko Gattuso with his daughter Mariah for “HEAVENLY HELL” (the photographs won Juror’s Picks of the LensCulture Portrait Awards 2022 selected by Time Magazine) (balerina photograph) Mikaela Morisato (dog and woman photograph) Kristine Barilli Will Wheaton for “HEAVENLY HELL”
