Ingrida Rutkutė is all about the visuals. She's tried many different professions but photography always rises to the top. As a fashion photographer she worked with Bottega Veneta and many others has been a regular presence at fashion weeks in Paris, Milan and Copenhagen.
What inspired you to become a fashion photographer?
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Ingrida Rutkutė: As far as I remember myself, I was always about visuals. It's just hard to describe the feeling when you go outside and you see everything in images, pictures. Even now, on the way to come here, I've taken ten images already. It's not about posting on social media, it's just for myself. All these angles, constructions, compositions, everything is just in my mind. So some people call me crazy because I cannot not take the picture and I'm just obsessed with that. On the other hand, also what inspires me is probably other people's work, how they create. It's not about copying, it's about taking something and then putting into your art. When I check other people's photos, I always analyse, I zoom in close to your eyes to see what was the light set up etc. This is why I cannot watch a movie just normally as a person, as a viewer, I'm analysing what was the setting there, where was camera coming from. That inspires me - surroundings.
Have you ever taken a photo that scared you or pushed you outside of your comfort zone?
Ingrida Rutkutė: Probably it wasn't a photo. Basically every photo shoot is out of my comfort zone because every client is becoming bigger, more important or maybe it's in my mind. I just need to do it better and always it's not enough. But I would say not the photoshoots itself but the event, I've been to many events that I was not really inside but I knew I can push through and just make it. We're in Copenhagen, some years ago I didn't know anything about Copenhagen Fashion Week. But I started realising there are fashion weeks and I was interested. And then I was scared to try it, I had no clue how it works, where should I go, what kind of shows there are, I didn't even know the Copenhagen itself or how can I earn money from that... You just need to do it. I went and after Copenhagen I started with Milan, after Milan I see I'm in the backstage of Paris, you know, it's like... It's just one after another, it's like a circle. You should do what you are most scared of.
Is there a photo that has a meaningful story for yourself?
Ingrida Rutkutė: The one from Jean Paul Gaultier. This is just the detail. It was shot on film and then I didn't realise that it will come that nicely. Just for me, you know, I'm not sure how it is for other's eyes, but I like it so much. And the story behind it, how it ended up in that place. But talking about the picture that I love most is probably this one.
That year I just started my photography career and I didn't know anything, how it works, how to do the set up, it was like literally the beginning of the career. And I was the one who was choosing the dress, choosing the model, makeup, everything. It was made in Athens. You have really good lighting there, weather conditions, everything. It speaks out for myself that I've done something great.
What's the most surprising opportunity you got through Fashion Weeks?
Ingrida Rutkutė: I guess the highlight of it was to appear in the Haute Couture Week and it happened last year. Surprisingly I had the chance to work with the client who was taking me everywhere because I needed to film her and take pictures at the same time. So we went to Bottega Veneta. The best moment of it was Jean Paul Gaultier premises. And when I went inside, for me it was like; 'ok, I've done something great in my life.' I'm not bragging about it, I'm just saying that it really meant a lot for me. Maybe at that time I didn't realise how much, because I was doing exactly the same work as I was most of the time. But then, I'm so glad I had my film camera that I just started to use it and I was so obsessed with all the images. Literally. I was taking pictures, not of the client only, but of the dresses as well. Then I got some really inspiring stories from the people who worked there, telling me that the dresses are made from crocodile leather or that this dress was worn by Kim Kardashian. In that place I realised that the world is really, really small, that you can appear in all of the locations where something important for your future projects can happen.
So what's your one piece of advice for aspiring fashion photographers, starting out in the business?
Ingrida Rutkutė: When I started, I thought that the gear is the most important. Of course, and you can see on social media how all the cameras are helping you out in some case. But then you realise that networking is the most important, no matter how better you get with your equipment. You need to communicate around all the time, be an extrovert, which I'm not, and I'm just trying to do my best, and speak about your work, just all the time, especially during Fashion Weeks, just do your best and find the connections. Because then the jobs come and all the opportunities, all the doors open.
Which opportunity helped you the most?
Ingrida Rutkutė: When I was in Florence, I went there for Pitti Uomo, it's like smaller version of Fashion Week. I went there without knowing anything and I ended up next to the entrance without realising that I need an entrance ticket. And I was ready to go back home to Greece, because I was not prepared for that. And then I met a few people that helped me to get inside. After that, the same day I was shooting with clients, because I was just basically networking around.
You've already met the designers and worked with them. Do you get any feedback, do you feel they trust you?
Ingrida Rutkutė: Yes, I guess if I am invited the second time, after the previous season, then I know I built this trust between the designers and me as the creator. I work with the media agency and then myself personally, so I'm just navigating between those two. We are now planning to do the interviews with the designers and just really want to build a trust.
What's your plans for the future?
Ingrida Rutkutė: I want to go to New York Fashion Week, so probably this is my future. I want to just see how it works. It's not about earning money or getting clients, I just want to see it, because I want to get to know that opportunity.
