Girl Power: An Interview with Jessica M. Kirk (NSFW)

Jessica M. Kirk makes outstanding nude portraits of women and emphasizes their beauty with the perfect combination of light and dreamy mood. Ever since she discovered analogue photography her life has changed and she continues to amaze us with her work. In this interview Jessica talks about the creative process behind her photo shoots and lets us into her world of endless inspiration.

When did you make your very first photograph? Was that the beginning of your photographic journey?

Around age seventeen (ten years ago) I began making conscious photographs. It started with an Olympus Trip I had found in a thrift store for $3. Prior to that it was social snaps on disposable cameras as a child, and lo-fi digital cameras through my teen years.

What attracted you to analogue photography? Which cameras have you used so far and which one do you prefer now when it comes to work?

I like that analogue immerses me closer to the organic process of creation. I like to work for my art. Contemporary society is fast and obsessed with instant gratification. I like to earn it. Shooting film provides that for me. My collection is too much, but my go to favourites are: the 90s Canon EOS 500 for portraiture. I have a few of these bodies on back up, that’s how much I’m down with the 500. The Yashica T4 and the Olympus Stylus for travel / social snaps. Asahi Pentax K1000 if I want to change up from the EOS 500. Canon AE-1, honorary addition to any film photographer’s set.

How do you feel about self-portraits? Do you feel more relaxed in front of or behind the lens?

Self-portraits are essential. I’m comfortable in front of the camera; I’m comfortable with myself. But I prefer to be behind the camera where I can direct and keep the vision in line.

"Yes, society is becoming more comfortable with nudity. Though there is a long way to go. Feminism and body / sex positivity movements are helping to dismantle stigmas."

What sparks your creativity? What is it that you want to showcase in your photographs? How do you make your creative vision a reality?

I find inspiration in the French New Wave film movement; art cinema. That sparks a lot of my aesthetic creativity - low budget productions shot in friend’s apartments, film experimentation, colour tones. It also compliments my philosophical approach with existential and social themes. However, it doesn’t come without problems. Within New Wave there is a lack of representation of women of colour, and the women muses are given voices by male auteurs. I want to showcase strength in vulnerability.

You make exceptional portraits of women and nudity is a big part of it. How do you get your models to feel confident and beautiful even when they are not fully dressed? Do you think people are getting more comfortable with seeing nudity nowadays than before?

Usually the models are aware of my work before they agree to participate. But I like to set up meeting for coffee prior so there is a clear objective for the day of the shoot. This also allows for a collective process in negotiating what is and is not comfortable for the model. I also like to gage the model’s story or personality so I can bring that to the forefront of the shoot. I’m a huge proponent of body and sex positivity, so that translates into the models feeling confident. Yes, society is becoming more comfortable with nudity. Though there is a long way to go. Feminism and body / sex positivity movements are helping to dismantle stigmas.

I understand you are studying liberal arts and you are also a photographer. How hard is it for you to find a balance between those two and be equally successful? Is it necessary to make compromises in order to keep both pursuits in your life?

I’ve just recently graduated, and while I was studying it was very hard to balance the two. My brain doesn’t know how to switch off anymore. I’m a Sociology and Religion Studies major, with African-American Studies and International Studies minors – all theoretically heavy. But my degree has completely informed my photography in terms of my paradigm, approach, and vision. I’m very stubborn, so I made it work without compromising anything except for ‘down time’. I made sure I got the grades while also fitting in creative pursuits as a contribution to movements my degree reflects. But without being aware of the implicit social tones my work speaks to, my work is exploring beauty. Exercises in aesthetics are therapeutic and a nice change from writing papers on international war and conflict.

You mentioned that you’ve done some new shoots recently. What inspired you this time to make these photos? Can you tell us a little bit more about the creative process behind your photo shoots?

I’ve been living in the United States the last year in Seattle, Washington. I completed my senior year at the UW. As I learnt, Seattle is a very special city. Full of movement makers. I was welcomed into the community early in my move there. I met women who really exemplify what sisterhood and inclusivity is. They inspired me. Seattle inspired me.

In your opinion, what is the best thing about being a photographer? If you weren’t a photographer, how would you choose to express your creativity?

For me, through my process, the best thing is building solidarity and connections with other women. If I wasn’t a photographer I would delve more into motion film. I love cinema. I’ve been working on interview projects with the women I photographed recently and turning those into little clips. I’m currently editing those, while Godard and Varda play in the background…

All photographs shown in this article were used by the permission of Jessica M. Kirk. If you want to see more of her work, follow Jessica on Instagram, or check out her Tumblr.

written by Ivana Džamić on 2016-09-03 #people #girls #analogue #nudity #film-photography #nude-photography #jessicakirk