Xavi, please tell us a little bit about yourself to begin with. (How old are you, Where were you born and where do you live now, What is your profession and do you have other besides photography?
I am Xavi Carol, but cause of my photos I am using the pseudonym "L’Alquimista". I was born in Barcelona, Spain. About 7 years ago I moved to a quiet and small town located in the Penedés area. I dedicate a weekly 80 hours work in my 2 professions and passions in life, analyst-programmer and photographer. It is the highlight of my ability to learn and transmit knowledge.
 
Have you been involved in the arts in some form other than photography?
My family always has placed great emphasis on painting, sculpture and music. So i think, that i was favored by the perspective of a viewer, who was always surrounded by good taste.

Seeing your remarkable work, I am curious where your creativity comes from?
It's all very random ... I see images in my dreams or maybe a news story ... a movie .... most of the times I find inspiration in clothes. I learned to find a symbiosis between the evolution of fashion collections, makeup and hairdressing.

Could you share with us how you first became interested in photography?
With the age of 18 years i was watching some photos taken by my grandfather in the 50s. I was totally attracted. I started making photos with slide film, since i had no money to buy a digital SLR camera. Even the digital revolution just began in that time, I stopped for a long time to take pictures, but was always informed of improvements in software and compact camera. It was about 5 years ago, that I took up the hobby and just over 3 years ago I discovered my passion for fashion. Since then I have been a sponge acquiring all knowledge that crossed my path.

What equipment are you using now and with what did you get started? what is your favorite lens?
I started in photography with a Canon AE-1 Program-second hand, a fully analog camera. Currently I do my  fashion works with a Canon EOS 5D Mark II.

As lens i'm using a sigma 70-200mm f2.8. I believe that the lenses influence everything. There are a number of conditions that determine which I'll use .... for example, to beauty I like to use the Tamron SP 90mm f2.8 macro.

Can you tell us about your work flow from the point until you showcase the developed picture?
When inspiration comes, it is always as a "raw material" to be developed, so whenever I have an idea, the filter for several views .... aesthetic psychology of the viewer, resources and costs ...

Once I have the idea refined as a concept and meet mandatory requirements, I write a document as a creative direction. This document is a sketch, written and graphic examples of all the requirements and concepts. This is, what the team gets ... clients ... etc ... to start the technical development.

The team, providing its professional experience, and enrich the concept with their point of view, finalizes to the lowest level of detail.

The shoot is the topping on the cake, hard work previously done, so the team knows, what to do this day. So this day is usually fun, as most problems have been resolved earlier, and the risks are minimal.

Having obtained the photos in RAW format, initially i process it in LightRoom, choosing a global processing that respects the concept, even that enhances aesthetic .... the details of the processing performed later by PhotoShop, after which I have the results ready to publish.

Do you see a particular influence, be it a photographer or school on your work? Any subject that attracts you?
I try my work to not have a definite influence on a style. You can find projects with a similar style to that of Man Ray or Chas Ray Krider ...... or similar with cinematic styles ... but not something as standard or preference. It is something that is implicit in the project. I like a style defined not associate with my work.

What would you say characterizes your work in comparison to other photographers?
Someone once gave me the advice not to compare myself with other photographers, either for better or for worse, to seek my way and make my photographs. That said, I like to think and make a photograph communicative and is not tied to a style or technique that defines me. For me the techniques and resources used are tools.

Among your works, which is your favorite and why?
My favorite is always the work I am developing as it is a new challenge and always creates new illusions.

Tell us your funniest or most awkward photography story.
I remember a session I did for a personal book on top of one of the slopes of "Pont Nou", a historic aqueduct in the town where I live. It was a little cloudy that day and i decided to plant a foot with a strobist and a small translucent umbrella ...... There was a time that the wind blew a little .... Imagine that, the contraption flew in the style of Mary Poppins and I had to run downhill to reach it!
 
What would you tell a newcomer who asks for your advice on how to start?
The same, who people gave me at that time:

• Make your photos and do not compare yourself with another photographer, for better or for worse.
• Do not be afraid to replace photos in your portfolio.
• Patience and perseverance, which are the key to gain experience and knowledge.
  

Benoit, please tell us a little bit about yourself to begin with. (How old are you, Where were you born and where do you live now, What is your profession and do you have other besides photography? 
Waow ! When I received the contact message I tought it was a joke. But no I’m there! My name is Benoit Vandenkieboom. I was born in Liège (Belgium) 48 years ago.  I spent my early years in the beautiful Herve plateau. In the countryside among the fruit trees and animals especially cows ... I left these beautiful landscapes for the city to make my computer studies. The Job I made then 28 years now. Just a few years ago I left the city to return to the quiet of the countryside and have a daughter, now 12 years old.
Now I live near Liège Airport in an old renovated farmhouse in the small village of Roloux.  I started table tennis because we must keep the form lol
My other passion is the theater. I am an actor (as amateur too) for over 20 years. I play comedy, street theater, cabaret ... An other form of art in some kind…

 
Have you been involved in the arts in some form other than photography?
After my studies I needed to express ideas, perhaps to leave a record of my passage on earth as prehistoric men (we can dream no ?). At this time I had hesitated between photography and illustration (artistic design). I chosed the second but quickly my friends sent me to the theater. They felt that my place was on stage to make humorous show. I did it and had a lot of fun all around the world, playing in many countries meeting a lot of interesting people of different cultures.

Could you share with us how you first became interested in photography? 
As I said earlier, it tempted me for a while but I got finally got there a year and a half. I took the basics with training on the net. After that, I joined the groups and did some workshops. I started at my computer, watching youtube for hours. I posted the photos, received criticism (good or bad) and then tried to apply them ... again and again.  Now I joined a club with good photographers, it’ll help I hope.
 
What equipment are you using now and with what did you get started? what is your favorite lens?
I replaced my canon 1000d that I bought when my daughter was born, for a 70D. I wanted a reflex with a value for money, because I did not know if I would use it or not. I did it ! After I bought the Canon 50mm 1.4 and a Sigma 105mm macro 2.8, because initially I thought to do macro photography only but !  Just a few months ago I bought a Tamron 24-70 2.8.  I prefer the fixed lens as this will make me move around to find the desired image.
 
Can you tell us about your work flow from the point until you showcase the developed picture?
I do not prepare much to tell the truth and that's where I'd like to change. As I said above is intuitive, by chance if I can say ...  inspired by the model. The main thing is to have fun !
After I work on my computer, a lot with Affinity photo and try to have the best result.  I'm almost never satisfied but I try to do my best and hope that future will be better ;-)
 
Do you see a particular influence, be it a photographer or school on your work? Any subject that attracts you?
Not especially. There are a lot of beautiful photos circulating on networks. Obviously some are references but for me the work is still long. This is certainly due to lack of experience but I am not discouraged.
 
What would you say characterizes your work in comparison to other photographers?
What differentiates my work is probably that I'm in search of what I would be in your photography. I have not yet found a particular style. I have some ideas and I’m working on.
 

The shootings are always very interesting because it is very often beautiful meetings. Often we end with a drink, a pizza or something else.  It’s the funniest part of this job.
The most unpleasant, as I often work with amateur models, are the withdrawals. As I do not have much time available, it is always complicated to replace models at the last moment. So I can not always do as much as I would like ...
 
What would you tell a newcomer who asks for your advice on how to start?
Being a newcomer myself it's difficult to give advice. That said, I could tell you must observe, try, take slaps, try again. Sometimes you get discouraged and one day a better picture comes and goes again until the next slap. ;-)   Just take pictures and pictures again…