An interview with interior & architectural photographer & M-mode 2020 finalist, Annika Feuss

“I've always enjoyed working with pictures. As a teenager, I used to cut out pictures from magazines and see how they could be combined. I still like to do that today - I want all the images from a series to work perfectly next to each other.”

The focus of Annika Feuss’ work is on rooms and buildings. Places in Cologne, Düsseldorf and everywhere else, she takes photos for: architects, interior designers, facade planners, furniture manufacturers, companies, museums, scenographers, project developers and all those others who want to capture architecture, rooms and interior design visually. 

Photography helps to preserve what has been achieved be it projects at the moment of their completion, temporary structures, or individual construction progress for documentation purposes.  

With her pictures, with detailed photographs, suitable light, with her feeling for structures and spaces, she wants to preserve the buildings of others so that the ambience and materials become and remain tangible for the viewer - even decades later. 

It all started when she was an assistant to Ralph Richter, before and during her photography studies at the FH Dortmund. It was only natural that she specialized in architectural photography during her studies.  

Since graduating in 2011 she has been working as a freelance photographer for architecture, interiors and museums. With a particular preference for exciting, graphic, tidy picture structures. In Germany, Europe and worldwide - wherever interesting orders are waiting. 

Hi Annika, so thrilled you could give up a little of your time for us with your takeover and now this little interview.

Shall we jump right in…?

First of all I hope you and all the family are safe and well and the past years events haven’t taken their toll too much.

What has been keeping you pre-occupied recently throughout 2020 and what your plans for 2021?

Hi Pete, thanks so much for the invite, it’s been fun.

2020 was of course a very crazy year. Almost exactly a year ago the first lockdown began in Germany and I had to cancel several jobs. I wrote myself to do lists because I thought: you will never have as much time as now again.

Of course, I was also worried about what the future would bring. Amazingly, I only had a very short time to check off my todo lists. After a brief shock for me my clients, everything went as normal and I was able to work normally.

Sometimes even better than usual - because so few people were on the road and in the buildings. At the end of the year I started dealing with the subject of film and, together with my colleague Lennart Wiedemuth, set up a small company that deals with architectural films.

I look forward to learning new things and developing myself further.

Now I never knew you and Lennart work together…he kept that quiet! Wow what a pairing. I can really see how similar and sympathetic both your styles are and can’t wait to see what you have been working on.

Could you tell us a bit more about your past, your ethos and how you approach your work currently?

After graduating from high school, I worked as an assistant to an architectural photographer for a year and then studied photography for 5 years.

I have been working independently since 2011 and love my job and everything that has to do with it. It's incredibly great to do what you love and to be able to make a living from it - you couldn't really ask for more.

In recent years I have become more and more aware of how few women there are actually in my business. But I see it as an opportunity to stand out from the crowd and hope that there will be more women in this field of photography from year to year.

I agree, the scales definitely need to be balanced out somewhat. However, I think some of the most dynamic and exciting work that is being created at the moment is from your women photographers….you included of course!

With paring up with Lennart and shooting more films do you see this having an affect on the future of photography, not only in our genre but as a whole?

I am generally always interested in new things and am happy when I can learn something new. There is no point in thinking about what was better in the past.

Great answer…onwards and upwards!

What is the interior & architectural scene like in your Cologne? Is this where do you do most of your work?

As you mentioned I live in Cologne and there are many other big cities around me - so there is a lot to photograph. Despite the pandemic, a lot is being built and rebuilt.

As an architectural photographer you naturally want people not only to have their houses built by professionals, but also to have them furnished - unfortunately, this is very often not the case in Germany. That's why I often look at my colleagues in Australia with envious eyes.

I know right…everything seems so perfect over there, from the modern architecture through to interior design. However, they don’t have some of the historical architecture we have in Europe.

As a photography community we love a bit of gear talk, could you tell us what equipment you have in your bag and enlighten those who aren't familiar a little bit more about your process.

I mainly work with Canon's tilt shift lenses (17mm, 24mm, 50mm) and a Sony Alpha 7r3. Especially at interior shoots, I take photos directly on the laptop so that I can see all the subtleties.

I also always have a small ladder with me to make it bigger and a Gitzo tripod. My latest acquisition are two radios that I can use to chase my assistant around ;-)

Radios…lucky you! I’ve just invested in a large bag to carry all my gear. I was getting so tired of carrying four bags around with me…this bag has wheels!

Do you feel that you're happy with the work you produce or do you suffer from 'Imposter Syndrome'? This is something I've been discussing with others recently….

I am very satisfied with most of the pictures I take and can give them to the customer with a clear conscience. In contrast to other areas of life, I have a lot of stamina in my job - I search until I find the picture.

It's the same with image processing - it can happen that I change something a sixth or seventh time. Still, I believe that success in the job doesn't just have to do with how good the photos you take are.

I agree. I’ve discussed here before that there are many who shout the loudest however are not necessarily the most successful. It’s nice that you’re in a place of confidence in your process, a lovely place to be.

As my own personal work progresses, I look around at others and see so much incredible work! Do you have any advice for keeping motivated and pushing yourself forward?

Haha, I feel the same way. When talking to clients, I often notice why they are booking me and not someone else. And that there are many points that make your work special in contrast to others.

So you should always look: what am I particularly good at? What makes my pictures special?

Nice advice.

Where do you draw your inspiration from and how do you go about creating your stylised look?

I've always enjoyed working with pictures. As a teenager, I used to cut out pictures from magazines and see how they could be combined. I still like to do that today - I want all the images from a series to work perfectly next to each other.

Next to art, maths was the best subject in my school days - and so are my pictures. Everything has to be straight, tidy and reduced to a minimum. And yet emotions and tension should be conveyed.

Exactly, I couldn’t agree more that things be kept to a minimum! I’m not sure about the maths things though….I was awful at school…like really awful!

Is there a subject matter you’re drawn towards and do you have a favourite thing you like to shoot and why?

I just like it when it draws a common thread through architecture and interior. If everything is coordinated, then it works - no matter what style it is.

Being very familiar with your work, I can definitely identify with your common thread throughout your imagery.

What would say the highlight of your career would be to this point?

That was clearly my job for Schindler from Switzerland. I was in Shanghai for a week and photographed the Schindler Campus for a coffee table book. The request came from a young agency in Zurich and at the beginning I thought someone was playing a trick on me.

After a lot of stress with the visa etc. I was very happy when I was finally in Shanghai and was able to take photos. Apart from the fact that the work with the team from Zurich is incredibly great, there is of course nothing better than holding a book in your hands that is full of your pictures.

Awesome work Annika! Tell me a photographer who doesn’t like seeing their work in print! Although we’re meant to be saving the planet…only joking…

Do you have any favourite photographers that inspire you and anyone you think we should be keeping an eye out for?

Two years ago I joined a professional association for architectural photographers and it is incredibly inspiring to meet and exchange ideas with colleagues in real life who you previously only knew from their websites.

But then of course there are mainly female colleagues who I think are incredibly great: Nicole Franzen, Nanne Springer, Anje Blair, Lisa Petrole, etc.

Some incredibly inspiring ladies on that list.

Lastly, what has been your favourite takeaway in all the lockdowns?

I don't know if it's the same in other countries, but the restaurants in Germany have created take away boxes that you can finish at home. Since I love to cook, you can have a Michelin star menu at home - that's fantastic.

I hope that this possibility will still exist after the pandemic.

OMG…my wife’s addicted to these…not too healthy on the bank balance though.

Thank you so much for spending a bit of your time with us, we wish you all the very best in the future and keep in touch.

Thank you very much for the possibility!

To see more of Annika’s work click - Website - Instagram