Martina Wärenfeldt

Martina Wärenfeldt's fine art portraiture stems from her childhood dream of becoming an artist. "I wanted to do paintings and pictures, but I had no talent and couldn't get anything onto paper or canvas," she says. "Somehow the stars aligned and from necessity, I got to become an artist through the way I shoot. My childhood dream has sort of come true."

Born in Växjö, Sweden, Martina moved to California, USA, aged 18, unsure of the direction she wanted her career to take. "My mum found me a position as a nanny just north of Los Angeles, and said, 'Why don't you go and do it for a year?'" she explains. "I'm sure she regretted it when I was gone for eight!"

While studying, Martina began shooting headshots for friends, mostly models and singers, renting equipment and working at the college as a lab assistant to gain access to its darkroom. After graduating, she moved back to her hometown in Sweden. She'd had a taste of the music industry in the USA, shooting stills for videos and PR images for upcoming artists. Even though her main focus has always been portraits, she has also worked with fashion, weddings and newborns.

Martina had never given up on realising her childhood dream, though, and in 2014 she began to evolve her fine art portraiture style, inspired by her love of styling and a desire to expand her business. At her studio in Sweden, she now shoots classic portraits and fine art images of everyday people, as well as business portraits for professionals. Her work is often inspired by the oil painting techniques used by the Old Masters. "I have always been drawn to art, mostly the Baroque and Rococo styles and their 'joy of life' feel – it talks to my spirit," she says. "I'm inspired by the lavish clothing and the often romantic settings in these paintings. I like some of that in my personal home decor as well – I like velvet curtains, Rococo pattern on a lounge chair, and large flower setups."

Martine continues: "When I started as a portrait photographer, I always wanted to have a say about styling. I could see that by balancing the clothing and the backdrop it was possible to create harmony in the pictures. I remember clients coming in with all kinds of clothing that was, in my eyes, terrible for portraits, and it killed my creative spirit. I have always been driven by colour and aesthetics, so I shaped my process to show my clients the 'right' styling. With fine art portraits, I can use my creativity to elevate my pictures."

What do you hope is the lasting impact of your work when people are photographed by you?

"To gain a huge amount of self-worth, see themselves in a new light and realise they can look amazing – and that they are worth the luxury of giving themselves that experience. I would like my clients to have that confidence boost, and lasting memories of a moment in time."

What do props add to your photos? Why do you like shooting with books so much?

"Props introduce interest to a fine art portrait, adding to the story. Books have become a favourite because of their beauty. They are stories themselves, so it becomes a story within a story."

What has been key in terms of evolving your photographic business?

"Grit, persistence and being able to analyse the situation and my work throughout the journey. I've always been flexible and not afraid to take responsibility for my actions – or the lack of them."

What advice would you give to people who are considering entering photography competitions?

"Study the level of successful images. Study the techniques and artistry used and try to analyse what made them successful. Practise, and then practise some more. Putting your work out there to be judged is a brave thing to do, but you need to be able to take criticism and grow from it."

"If you can think it, you can achieve it. I have a strong sense that knowledge is power, so if I see somebody doing what I want to do, I might not know where to start but I'll find out and then, step-by-step, make it work. If they can do it, so can I. It's just a matter of figuring it out. Believe in yourself."

Facebook: @Mstudio, fotograf Martina Wärenfeldt

Instagram: @martina_Wärenfeldt

Website: wärenfeldt.com