Paris based fashion photographer Gilbèrt François started taking pictures at a very young age, and he learned all about technique from his father, who is also a professional photographer. A polymath, Gilbèrt is an accomplished classical musician, he has work as an aerospace scientist, software creator and filmmaker before embracing his true métier in photography in 2006.

About his inspirations, he says: “I’m getting a lot of inspiration from the people around me, the clouds, designers, painters, poetry, the weather, ballet, human anatomy. But most inspiration I get from music. I think music is the closest way to express an emotion or a feeling. From there, music can be translated back to colours, shadings, contrast, and state of mind.”

His work has been featured in publications such as Elle, H, Avant-Garde, Cosmopolitan, Nouveau, Elegance and Le Vif, and his commercial clients include Balmain Paris, Laundry Industry, Wella, Mexx, Dept, Vittorio Marchesi, and Tony Cohen. At the moment he’s shooting editorials and advertising, but he makes room for personal projects as well: “I’m working on a ongoing project, called “supernatural” in which I shoot the models as pure as they are, but with a deeper dimension. Capturing their energy, emerging from their eyes. Recognition. Illusion. Natural beauty. Powerful softness. Fears natural dynamics. That’s what “Supernatural” is about.”

Here’s some of his work:

Brooklyn based fashion photographer Erica Shires has been working professionally for about 5 years, and her main sources of inspiration are melancholy moments, small details, serendipity, old books, ghosts stories, other creepy things, and the Swedish film Let The Right One In. Her inspirations seems to influence her work, which often is a bit mystical and dark, but playful. She has been shooting lookbooks for Erica Tanov and Cloack + Dagger, and her work has been featured in Foto8, New York Magazine, and Bust.

About the future, she says: “I recently finished Erica Tanov’s SS10 campaign and I’m about to shoot a story for Vevant. I just mixed up chemicals for a new wet plate series. And I’ve been shooting a lot of video and learning final cut pro.”

Here’s some of her work:

Paris based Gyslain Yarhi has been in the business for over 15 years, and is one of the absolute heavy weights. His work has been published in publications such as Black & White, Dealer de Luxe, Elle (France), Elle Deluxe (Russia), Elle (Norway), Glamour (Italy), Gloss, Harper’s Bazaar  UK, Harper s Bazaar (Singapore), Icone, Madame Magazine (Germany), Madame Figaro, Marie Claire UK, Spruce, Surface, Sunday Time, Tank, Tique (Norway), The Independent, Tresor, Vogue (Australia), and dVogue Joyas. His commercial clients include Body Shop, Jacques Dessange, Urban Decay and many more.

His work is quite versatile, and his portfolio consists of nothing but highly inspirational photography, from beauty to fashion.

Here’s some of his work:

Young French photographer Anne-Constance Frénoy started out as a dancer and model after having studied theatre and history of art and literature, before she moved over to photography. Her main sources of inspiration is art, music, 70’s aesthetics, love, nature, light and of course the female body curves. ”I love the surprising light games on a female body  and the magic atmosphere it gives to a picture,” she says.

Anne-Constance is based in Paris, and her work has been featured in Mirage, as well as exhibitions. At the moment she is working on a diary of naked self-portraits, and a new story for Mirage.

Here’s some of her work:

Montreal based graphic design student Sofia Ajram expresses her dreams, thoughts and fascinations through photography. When I ask her about her inspirations, she explains: “A great deal of things inspire my work. History, for the most part, sums it up rather well. What has happened, within and without, universally, and what has yet to happen but will be documented by time. That being said, I have never experienced this history firsthand, so the visual aesthetic of my work is due to my lucid dreams and vivid nightmares. I feel as though I need to document them in some way that others may experience what I have seen. [....]That aside, women influence my photos. Women are sexy. Women are seductive, powerful from the core in a wild way that’s virtually inexplicable. I like to document that sexuality.”

She has been shooting ever since she was hired by Truth Explosion Magazine in 2007 as a concert photographer. Her work has been featured in publications such as EnRoute Magazine, Poetic Terrorism, Carpaccio Magazine, C-O-M-A Magazine, Vellum Online, Mossless Magazine, and Antler Magazine, but most of her work is personal work not commissioned at all.

At the moment Sofia’s finishing up her final semester in Graphic Design at Dawson College in Montreal, and going to professionally be in the field in less than a month. Lets hope she doesn’t forget about photography, because her work/art is amazing.

Here’s some of it:

New York City based Michael Casker has been working professionally for about 2 years, after having attended Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA. His inspiration comes mostly from his own childhood. “I grew up in a small town in middle America, and I try to to incorporate something from my youth in every story I shoot to achieve a good balance of style and substance.”

His work ranges from being dreamy and playful, to crisp and sexy, and I think his creativity and versatile style makes him a photographer to keep an eye on in the future.

Here’s some of his work:

30 year old Jason Lee Parry is based in Los Angeles, and has worked as a professional fashion photographer for about 3 years. However he picked up his first camera already when he was just fifteen years old, and since then he hasn’t stopped creating images that evoke undiluted sexiness mixed with a feeling of youthful freedom.

When asked what inspires him, he answers: “Living in a tent in my living room and drinking whiskey for days on in, that’s when the ideas really  start to flow. Or any kind of fort will do. 60s and 70s playboy mags, old motorcycle films, Jim Morrison’s Poetry, long road trips with little cash, recklessness,  total freedom to be myself, Guy Bourdin, long walks at 3am, my beautiful humble woman, activities that have no meaning, bad weather, complete confidence without cockiness, being with people who do before they think, Very Small Towns and Villages, just doing shit that’s out of the ordinary.”

It seems to work for him, because his work is quite fantastic. Jason’s work has been featured in publications such as Lush, Tokion, Celeste, Clay, Baby Baby Baby, Soma, Paper, Thrasher, Vice, Pep, blisss, LA milk, Soko and more.

Here’s some of it (edit: now with video!)