Photographer Mariano Vivanco is launching his first retrospective book with the 224-paged ‘Portraits Nudes Flowers’. With over fifteen years of shooting under his belt, Vivanco features some of fashion’s most famous faces in it–from celebrities like Rihanna and Lady Gaga to supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Irina Shayk. Vivanco even showcases his passion for capturing flowers with vivid images of colorful blooms. We recently got a chance to catch up with the photographer for an interview where he discusses the new book, how social media influenced the title and more.
Social media is something I think about consciously and continuously. Social media has made photography, all genres of it, more immediate and accessible. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
What is your goal for a shoot from the time you get on set?
To create good images that people like and remember. Also on the day, to make sure everyone walks out feeling good.
How did you choose which pictures to go into the book?
It was a two year process of editing and re-editing all of my work to find what best represents me now.
You are known for your work in fashion, but with this book you show off your passion for shooting flowers. What is it about flowers that appeal to you?
Flowers are the purest form of beauty. They never seize to inspire me. I began shooting flowers when I was a student in Melbourne, Australia, and I have recently rekindled my passion for photographing them.
You have multiple books now. How is the the experience working on ‘Portraits Nudes Flowers’ different this time around from your first?
Portraits Nudes Flowers is my first retrospective book. It is a collection of fifteen years of work, and I wanted to document that.
You have shot a lot of famous faces through the years, is there anyone who you haven’t worked with who you would like to shoot?
I would have loved to photograph Marilyn Monroe and Cleopatra. I’m very inspired by these women. I would love to photograph Cate Blanchett one day. She is one of my favorite actresses.
What do you hope people take away from the book?
A feeling of well-being, aspiration, and happiness.
You have been a globetrotter since a young age. Where are your favorite places to visit?
Anywhere I can go with my family and disconnect. The trend has been that every year we go to Perú or New Zealand, where parts of my immediate family live.
Your social media presence is strong and you are active on all the major networks. Do you think social media has changed fashion photography in any way? If so, how?
I think that everything is linked. The reason I called the book Portraits Nudes Flowers without “and” or commas is to facilitate the hashtag #portraitsnudesflowers. Social media is something I think about consciously and continuously. Social media has made photography, all genres of it, more immediate and accessible. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In the new book, you will find a conversation about social media between me and author Janet Mock.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
Having my parents come to my latest show in NYC, where I exhibited works from Portraits Nudes Flowers.
