An interview with trained architect, interior & architectural photographer Paulina Ojeda

“Till this point in my way of work and career, I use only natural light, it seems to me that there lies a lot of the magic of the place, as it is that it plays with textures and shadows that constantly changes in the space, that adding to the inhabitants that may be on the site.”

Paulina Ojeda an architect by training and becoming a photographer along the way.

She has spent three years dedicating herself to architectural photography, documenting various types of projects throughout Mexico, Germany and Ecuador.

Her passion for understanding and analyzing everyday life through photography, along with her passion for social issues has led her to document various projects and social processes, the most recent being the social production process of the Design / Build workshop, working in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences of Munich and the Ecuadorian office of Atarraya Taller with the project of the Santa Catarina Quiané community in Mexico, its Center for Culture and Ecology. Work that she had for the last exhibition in the Architekturmuseum in the Modern Art Gallery in Munich.

Hi Paulina, I hope all is safe and well with you and many thanks for taking the time to share with our community, what a great takeover.

Can you tell us what has been keeping you occupied recently throughout 2020 and what your plans for 2021?

Hi Pete, thank you so much for inviting me to this space!

Of course 2020 was a year of many changes and adaptations, many pauses too, which perhaps I had not done before, especially to analyze where I am in terms of photography and where I want to go with it.

Previously I dedicated myself totally to my work, without rest or pause for something else, but 2020 was a year in which I allowed myself to educate myself on many topics, not necessarily related to photography but that if they can be complementary to how I perceive photography and where I want to go with it.

This 2021 has been more enlightening about where I want to go, I am looking to learn more in visual communications. I hope by 2022 what I am looking for, can be realized.

That is great, sounds like an enlightening year. I was hoping to have more time learning new tips and tricks, but luckily work has continued to be busy. Every year I try and get a better work/life balance but it never works out…

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

I have a background as an architect, however, my love for photography began many years before, documenting my first trips in Mexico when I was a high school student, all in a very amateur way. It was until I was studying architecture that I wanted to educate myself more in photography, where I was working with a photographer in my city, to learn more how to use a camera.

On the other hand, for many years during my education as an architect and shortly after it, I was working in various architecture studios, which helped me to see and analyze diverse processes and interests of each one, which I think has helped me develop an eye I criticize how to approach projects through photography.

During my career I had the opportunity to participate and document some processes of social projects in the least expected places, where I loved telling stories that were not so common to hear in my university or my training. I think that, from that point on, I have loved documenting processes and different ways of living, getting to know the other through how they live and develop in their space. It is beautiful for me to see how it generates curiosity and approach to things and stories that if they had not seen it in those photographs, they would not have imagined or thought about it before.

I think that therein lies the beauty of photography, bringing you closer to situations and moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.

What a beautiful answer, I love the idea that our work brings us closer to the buildings that we photograph. It’s as if each space has a personality and we document the emotion.

How do you go about getting work and what do you find is the best solution you've found?

Since I started the path in photography, 10 years back, I have shared my work in my media (FB and IG) without thinking that one day I would be doing this for living, and thankfully my work has reached eyes that have appreciated it. I cannot say that it has been easy and more in a market where it is mostly dominated by men.

I have to say that I consider myself very lucky to have a great group of friends and colleagues in the field (architecture) who have valued my eye and who recommend my work. It may sound cliché, but I think the best publicity you can have is your own clients and of course, losing the fear of sharing your work.

Well with work as beautiful as yours hopefully the balance in our industry will level out sooner rather than later.

Where do you see the future of photography heading, not only in our genre but as a whole?

Maybe I'm romantic about it, but I still see photography with great relevance. I believe that images play an important role in people's reality, in how they shape our mental reality and desires for our future. I think that, in this digital age, more and more, photography is becoming relevant, in how the story is told. However, it is complicated given the large amount of information out there, to be able to filter what is seen and how it is consumed. I would hope that in the near future, we will be given more tools from a very young age to be able to consume with more criteria everything that is on the web and as a consequence to have a better content out there.

What is the interior and architectural scene like in Mexico, is this where do you do most of your work?

Mostly my work is in Mexico and a little bit in Germany.

I think the architectural scene in Mexico is growing more and more, showing the richness of my country, perhaps also the desire to documenting has increased and therefore we can see it more present in magazines and digital platforms. Which makes me very happy to see more proposals from both architects and photographers - and specifically I must say, more women in these two areas- that they are having really diverse and very particular forms to approach to a project.

Some of, it not all of the work that I find is standing out from the crowd at the moment is from women. It is so great to see and sometimes so sad to hear from the interviews I’ve done that it is seen as such a male dominated career.

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.

At the moment I have a Sony mirrorless body and I work with tilt shift lenses and other zoom lenses to complete details. I try not to require or carry so much equipment to the sessions. Although the equipment is important and helps you with many peculiarities, I think that also some of the beauty of the photo is in the spontaneity, something that could not be achieved if you carry the whole house so that a session goes well, rather there would be the experience put into practice of each photographer, knowing what you need for certain sessions and taking only what is necessary.

Prior to the session, it is important for me to listen to my clients, that they tell me in their eyes and in their words what is important about their project and from there to start to know the project. However, what I like the most is walking around it, getting to know it, seeing how living changes during the day and its use and understanding the context in which it is found.

Till this point in my way of work and career, I use only natural light, it seems to me that there lies a lot of the magic of the place, as it is that it plays with textures and shadows that constantly changes in the space, that adding to the inhabitants that may be on the site. 

Big up the natural light. Over the past few years my work has diverted towards only using natural light. I love the soft textures it creates more than an overly lit and processed images. Personal preference Do you feel that you're happy with the work you produce?

It is peculiar, because most of the time I love my work and how it is developing, however, sometimes it is difficult as a creative person to be happy and at peace with what you do, because there is always something to improve.

I think that it is an infinite process of evolving and developing, every eye is unique, and the season of ours life as photographers too.  That it is important to always keep it in mind so as not to feel frustrated with the famous Impostor syndrome. I try to seek at the time of the sessions or just photographing, that I express what that moment makes me feel and / or object, and that for me is happiness.  Everything else is secondary and is a walk. 

I know what you mean, I’m always pushing myself to learn new tips and tricks, read about new equipment, editing techniques etc.. I forget to take a step back and really review my work. That said, if I look at my work from last year, 2, 5, 10 years ago, I can certainly see that things have improved…..I hope!

Do you have any advice for aspiring photographers to keep motivated and pushing yourself forward?

It may definitely sound very cliché but it is important to start with what you have and photograph everything in which you find something beautiful.

Many times we stop to follow something that we like or love, because we do not have the education and / or the tools that our great idols do. It is important to remember that no one starts out as an expert. Something I love about photography is that it is a great tool for expressing and discovering the extraordinary  in "ordinary" things.

I think we should talk a bit about copyright.....How do you go about educating your clients about licensing and is there anything we can be doing better, especially in the UK to inform our clients better?

It is quite a path. In general, with the internet and the material found there, there is very little education about it. I think that for us who are immersed in this world it may be a more “common” topic, however I think it is a topic that we should talk more about with our clients about it. It seems to me that a long way to go there, but to the extent that we do it, it will be beneficial for the union and other colleagues.

Slowly, slowly, but we’ll get there.

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

Rather than to find a specifically look, I like to look for inspiration in discovering different places and if it is the same space that I have visited before, trying to see it with different eyes. Travelling helps me a lot. However, there are times when I cannot travel, and I look for inspiration in movies, books and everyday life. I love going out, just walking, with no other purpose than to observe. I believe that beauty is found every day in everyday life.

Oh I miss travelling, the best part of the job! I can’t wait until we can return to normal and continue to travel to new and exciting places, meet new and exciting people and explore different cultures.

Do you have a favourite thing you like to shoot and why?

I love the documenting processes and the people involved in them, one of the experiences that I have liked the most has been documenting processes of construction of social projects. Getting to know the people both on the site and those involved in the design and construction has been really inspiring. They have had great value in my way of seeing and valuing photography by helping to talk about these processes, other realities and people. However, it is not necessarily the bulk of my work. I hope that in the future there will be more opportunities for this.

On the other hand, I think I love documenting houses. It is very interesting for me to discover different dynamics and ways of living, depending on the place I was located and the culture that surrounded it. As I have the opportunity to document more projects, it becomes more and more of a great exercise in valuing and honoring diversity, appreciating differences and discovering different ways how to do things. 

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

I think that this last year has made me very grateful and value everything more, the road with its ups and downs, than just one point in particular.

With the pandemic it has been a highlight and something to be thankful for, living doing something that I love. Being able to travel, meeting so many talented and wonderful people, so diverse projects and ways of living, is too.

Nice. Yes a year of reflection on what we do and the passion that we give to our subject. We’re very lucky to do something we love.

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

I love the composition and the way it connects with the people who inhabit Anjie Blair's space, the aesthetics and neatness of each image by Salina Kassam, the simplicity and at the same time the complexity of Laura Deuss's images and the work and way of seeing photography of Sandra Pereznieto, is a real master for me.

There are many more, however they are the first that come to mind. 

Oh they are just lovely. I was thrilled when Anjie & Salina did takeovers and interviews recently. I’l go check out Laura and Sandra’s work immediately.

Lastly, what have you learnt and taken away from the past years events?

I feel like I used to go with the rush of daily life. I think like many, I have valued stopping and taking breaths. It has taught me to value and seek more moments of calm and reflection, which are also very necessary to do a good job and grow towards the direction that each one seeks.

A huge thanks to Paulina for giving up her time this week for a her takeover and our chat. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

If you’d like to see more or Paulina’s work click on the following links - Website - Instagram