Interview with photographer Vince Perraud
Secret Classics as an exclusive marketplace and digital showroom always looks out for very special themes and subjects, persons and things from the classic car scene. After our first interview with photo artist Bill Pack, we now introduce to you the lifestyle and automotive photographer Vince Perraud from France. We had a nice little conversation and now we can introduce him and his incredible work to you.
Secret Classics: „Vincent, we’re glad to have you here for a couple of questions. Please tell us shortly who you are and what you’re doing/working on at the moment.“
Vince Perraud: „Hey, cheers! I’m a French photographer. I started taking pictures at extreme sports events, so I shot BMX and skaters for almost 10 years, but now I evolved into lifestyle and car related stuff, just trying to have fun everyday. At the moment, I just came back from a massive trip around the whole country, where I did a few exhibitions and shot my first love BMX with my colleague Matthias Dandois, who’s the best in BMX flatland. But I’m always working on many projects, so no time to chill.“
SC: „Talk us through your beginnings in photography. When did it start?“
VP: „I started photography about 15 years ago. I was passionate about BMX, but not really good at it myself. At that time I broke my knee ligaments and was not able to ride for a year. So I had to find something else to stay with the crew in the streets, so I grabbed my first analogue camera. I never wanted to be a photographer. I can’t believe it now. It’s unreal and it feels like I’m living the dream.“
SC: „While scrolling through your Instagram feed, we quickly realized your certain kind of style. It combines passion, desire and emotionality for a specific way of life. How would you describe your own photography style? What are your influences?“
VP: „Oh, thanks! I keep searching for my own style and just get on insane projects and I also try to document my life. It’s a good mix of work and lifestyle. For my influences, I would say I’m lucky to have super creative and talented friends. So I learn a lot from them, but for photography I try to get influences from everything, arts, sports, architecture, fashion… Of course I also look at other peoples work. Good or bad, there is always something to take. You learn everyday.“
SC: „Speaking of which, what role does Instagram play for you? Blessing or curse?“
VP: „I feel like I have a love-hate relation with Instagram. You know, when I started back in the days, there was no social media (maybe Myspace) and you had to be really good to get your work published in magazines. Now, kids don’t care about magazines any more. It’s all about YouTube, Instagram and so on. But I think it’s a great platform to show your work and get connected to people, clients and other parties. It’s insane, because you can get so many inspiration everyday, but nowadays everybody thinks he/she is a photographer.“
“It’s insane, because you can get so many inspiration everyday, but nowadays everybody thinks he/she is a photographer.”
VP: „Yeah, it seems that I like them, but I don’t really know why. Just look at them, they are so cute and sexy! If you see one in the street, you immediately know it is a real sports car and it’s even better to drive it. Most times it is just pure pleasure. First I just wanted to shoot a series with a model and a car. All of a sudden, many people contacted me to say it was really cool and more people offered me to shoot their car and also cruise in it! For me it’s just awesome to meet new people.“
SC: „Where does your passion for classic cars come from and how does it fit in your lifestyle of surfing, BMX, skateboarding etc.?“
VP: „I just got influenced by what surrounds me, for example my friends. It just came to me naturally. Some of my friends started skateboarding or BMX, but when you get older you just slide into motorcycles or cars. Nothing was really planned, I just try to have fun.“
SC: „If you could pick any car in the world at any location, what and where would you shoot?“
VP: „That is a very good question! Two years ago I had the extreme luck to borrow one of Magnus Walker’s cars in Los Angeles for a couple of days. It was just so crazy to drive a race car in California! But now I would say, I’d love to cruise my own Porsche 912 (under restoration) and explore the South West of France and visit friends. I can’t wait to make this happen!“
SC: „You’re also shooting a bunch of analogue images. Why? What makes analogue different from digital photography?“
VP: „I started to be ‘old school‘, you know? I started with analogue photography! I try to keep this real, but I have to be alright on the setup to shoot analogue. With modern digital cameras it is quite easy and also nearly everybody shoots with their phones (quality has improved massively in the last years), but I just try to make things different and it’s more some sort of art this way.“
SC: „If you could speak to your younger self. Are there any tips you would give him in regards of photography?“
VP: „Oh, this one is hard. I did a lot of mistakes in my life and still struggle with a bunch of stuff, but you learn more from mistakes than from pure success, so I wouldn‘t be here without my background. I would never have met so many interesting people, friends and so on. I just try to follow my instincts, even if I know it could end bad. So I would say: Just follow your dreams, trust your instincts and have fun! And that’s what I’m trying to do every day.“
SC: „What’s next on the agenda for you? Any trips planned?“
VP: „A bunch of projects are cooking at the moment, but my next big deal is to move to Biarritz this week and start a new life there.“
SC: „Thank you very much for your time and effort, Vince. We‘re looking forward to more nice pictures of yours. Merry Christmas and have a good start in Biarritz.“
VP: „Thanks. And also Merry Christmas to all the readers of Secret Classics!“
If you would like to see more pictures of Vince Perraud, you can follow the link down below or click right here for his Instagram account @vinceperraud.
Images: Vince Perraud
