Cecilia Austin grew up in the Philippines, used to live in Brussels (Belgium), and is now based out of San Francisco. The different cultures and impressions have definitely influenced her, and the travels were actually her door into photography: “- I have always had a fascination with photography. My first camera was an Olympus film given to me by my Grandfather when I was 11. Apart from documenting our family travels, I also took photos of family events. Much later on, I started doing street photography and experimented with “fashion” photography with my sister, who has impeccable taste in putting together quirky yet fashionable outfits. In late 2008, my husband gave me my first digital SLR. This allowed me take “proper” portraits of people rather than sneakily capturing moments of strangers. It also made me realize that I truly enjoy coming up with inspired concepts and seeing it unfold through planned shoots.”

Now her work has been featured in publications such as CHAOS, ALARM, and Ballad Of. She says inspiration comes to her in many different forms, and points out a few: “- films, music, paintings, memories… and I’d like to add that it’s the details in these that allow me to dream of what I can manifest in the “reality” that is in my photography. I love getting lost when watching films; paying the closest attention to details like wallpapers, furniture, outfits, the colors schemes and tones, the moments (I love the last scene in that film Lost in Translation), and the spaces in between moments (in reference to a very simple yet powerful film like 23 Quai du Commerce), and I feel changed when I hear lines like “In the old days, if someone had a secret they didn’t want to share… they went up a mountain, found a tree, carved a hole in it, and whispered the secret into the hole. Then they covered it with mud. And leave the secret there forever.” – Wong Kar Wai’s In The Mood for Love. All these propel me to conjure my own take on what I can share to hopefully infect someone else to dream and smile.”

Here’s some of her work:

Check out her portfolio here.