Words and Photography by Nadine Wilmanns
Cravings: How the Longing for a Real Life Led Me to Storytelling Photography
“Television is not real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.”
(Bill Gates)
There was a time in my life when I craved to go to a coffee shop before work just to feel like the day belongs to me. Coffee shops became the places of possible opportunities for me, where I felt hopeful that there`s the possibility of something happening around any next corner.
Just for an hour, maybe less, I used to sit writing or reading and making notes and of course taking photos while I was there, feeling like a storytelling photographer. I certainly chose coffeeshops by looks and not necessarily by the taste of their coffee. And of course, in Shoreditch in East London there were many.
Closer to life
Then I usually had to head to my workplace. I was working in fashion at the time at a small high street supplier in East London and unfortunately my work had become more and more meaningless to me very quickly.
My employer at the time was indifferent to the exploitation that fast fashion runs on. And the more I read, heard and saw about the fast fashion industry the more I became aware that I don`t want to contribute to that.
Most of all, I just wanted to feel like I was actually living — present, connected, master of my own time. I longed to be closer to life where it happened.
God’s timing
That said, when I started there, I loved my team and our conversations were meaningful and until now I don`t want to miss a day I spent with my four teammates then because their faith had such a lasting impact on me. Just shows how God uses very imperfect and substandard situations for his good. It was a blessing that the four of us were there at the same time. But soon the team fell apart – one after the other stopped working there, were replaced by others, and soon the purpose of this job became smaller and smaller.
Storytelling
Looking for new opportunities, I started studying journalism on the side and attended a photography class in the city while working in my fashion day job. After all, I had some experience in that respect: while I was a fashion student I worked for a local paper on the weekends. Storytelling is something that I have been craving and trying to do for how long I can remember, be it in writing, in drawing or in taking photos. I mean stories are what make up our lives, they are the most tangible thing left after a day has passed.
There is nothing closer to life than a story. Jesus taught in stories, we learn from stories, we listen when a good story is told, we love to read a good story, and we also want to relate ours. We connect over stories. Storytelling photography to me is more than a marketing instrument but also a tool to connect with life and others.
Refusing to give up
Photojournalism seemed a good way to make a living in London, while still doing something that had meaning to me. An opportunity with a magazine in Germany opened up which I took with high hopes. While it didn`t prove to be great for various reasons it was still an important and useful stepping stone to other opportunities. More doors opened, some closed again, and yet again others opened and so on.
I remember one youtube video I watched where the photographer – I can`t remember who it was – said: Of all people who have studied photography only a tiny minority actually ends up working as photographers and the crucial differentiator between those who did and those who didn`t was: those who made their living with photography just have refused to ever give up. That was a game changer for me. I finally had something I could stick to, and so I set my mind on refusing to give up.
Branding and Business Photographer
I now photograph full time for branding and business clients across London and beyond and I also added video to my service portfolio. As a storytelling photographer I finally find myself close to living with open eyes and close to life that`s why I crave doing it. When something emotional is happening my first instinct is to take a picture.
Who are you?
Branding photography and business storytelling in particular asks exactly the question I find most compelling: who are you actually, what contribution do you want to make, and how do you show that in an authentic way? I still have a few dates open in spring — if you’ve been thinking about photos or video for your business, I’d love to hear from you.
Funny enough I hardly ever work in coffee shops anymore only when I have time in-between meetings, because obviously there is distraction and I`m just not very fast working there. That said I think I want to re-implement that more again in my work week. After all, it is something that makes me happy if I spend my time both useful and enjoyable. And it makes me feel like the day is mine.
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