Nele Bogaerts

WHAT FIRST INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A PHOTOGRAPHER?

My father was always filming and photographing during our family holidays, and he would spend time creating long montages from his recordings. Meanwhile, my mother would carefully print all of his photos and place them into large albums. Each of us had our own personal memory book, and I loved flipping through them.

As a teenager, I started photographing my friends, often borrowing my dad’s camera. We would stage photos, drawing inspiration from whatever we found on Tumblr, cycling around with backpacks stuffed with outfits to make it seem ‘like we’d been together for days’. Looking back, I was always surrounded by cameras, but it was during these years that my passion for fashion photography and art direction really took root.

WHY CHOOSE FILM AS YOUR MEDIUM?

Film photography has become a signature aspect of my work. Even when the images are scanned and viewed on a screen, they retain a sense of tangibility. There’s something about the texture, the grain, and the extended dynamic range that sets film apart. It’s hard to explain exactly, but I feel a deeper connection to analog images. To me, they feel more authentic, more real, more me.

HOW DOES NATURE INSPIRE YOUR WORK?

I absolutely adore shooting in nature because of the interplay of light and the unpredictable beauty of everything at the moment of creation. I feel like my whole perception, my way of seeing things, changed instantly when I started photography. I became more aware of the language of materials, colors and compositions. Natural light plays a pivotal role in my work, so I also became more sensitive to that. I believe there is inspiration in everything, you just have to be open to it.

WHERE WERE THESE IMAGES CAPTURED?

I have a childhood memory of giving a school presentation about my favorite animal: the Camargue horse. Last summer, I found myself reflecting on why I was so fascinated by them. I was never particularly into horses as a kid, and I don’t recall much about traveling to the region with my family. Curious, I decided to revisit the place and try to reconnect with whatever sparked that interest.

My boyfriend and I took a trip in our camper van and we were fortunate to find ourselves in breathtakingly beautiful, secluded areas. The saltwater lakes, pine trees, and calmness became our home for a few weeks. During our stay, we met an old fisherman who taught us how to find, clean, and cook fresh mussels. His generosity allowed us to linger without needing to go into town for supplies. One afternoon, while we were enjoying lunch, we encountered a stunning white horse. He was gentle, calm, and full of grace, and the experience felt magical. It was one of those moments that felt like everything aligned perfectly.

WHAT ARE YOUR SKIN CARE ESSENTIALS?

I have been using the Refining Cleanser and the Regeneration Mist, and I can honestly say my skin has never felt softer or looked better. I'm really grateful.

Explore more of Nele's work here.