{"id":16469,"date":"2018-02-12T09:00:28","date_gmt":"2018-02-12T08:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/highxtar.com\/?p=16469"},"modified":"2018-02-12T09:12:18","modified_gmt":"2018-02-12T08:12:18","slug":"talk-w-julien-boudet-bleumode","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/highxtar.com\/en\/talk-w-julien-boudet-bleumode\/","title":{"rendered":"We talk w\/ Julien Boudet | @Bleumode"},"content":{"rendered":"

Born in the south of France, S\u00e8te, with training in Parsons NY and an impressive talent, Julien Boudet<\/strong>, known as Bleu Mode, is one of those photographers who has learned to capture the perfect moment in fashion. In very few, but intense, years in the fashion world, Julien aka @Bleumode<\/strong><\/a> has acquired clients of the stature of Highsnobiety, <\/strong>Hypebeast, CR Fashion Book, Document Journal, W Magazine <\/strong>or Elle US<\/strong>\u00a0in addition to shooting for Thom Browne<\/strong>, Adidas<\/strong><\/em> or Uniqlo<\/em><\/strong> among others.<\/p>\n

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Julien Boudet | \u00a9 Photo: Adam Katz Sinding<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After meeting him at the Fashion Week in Milan, we talked to him about his work, past, present and future. Here are the words we have crossed with the French photographer. #mustfollow<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Highxtar<\/strong>\u00a0(H<\/strong><\/span>) – Julien Boudet Aka @Bleumode<\/strong><\/a>, why did you decide to use that name?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013\u00a0Long story short, I was born and raised by the Mediterranean Sea, in a town called S\u00e8te. Therefore \u201cbleu\u201d obviously comes from there, which has always been a huge inspiration for me. \u201cMode\u201d means fashion in French, I guess I don\u2019t need to explain why I chose to use this term either hahaha.\u00a0Basically Bleu Mode represents my own take on fashion and photography.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

H<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 <\/strong>What should we wear so that your camera is fixed on us?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013 Just wear whatever you wear on a daily basis, and if I like it I will shoot it. I like when people stay true to themselves, not trying to dress up for others or pretend to be someone else just because it\u2019s fashion week. People will know you\u2019re playing a role anyway, it\u2019s too obvious. If you have a cool style even if it\u2019s very basic and simple I will still shoot it, at least for myself if not for my clients.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Julien Boudet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

H<\/span>\u00a0\u2013<\/strong> When you make streetstyle for big media such as Highsnobiety<\/em>… What it’s more important the person who wears the look or the look that the person wears?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013 When I shoot for these big platforms, it\u2019s the same thing than if I were shooting for myself; it\u2019s always about the look, not about the person wearing it. I am not a paparazzi (thanks God), so I look for cool styles\/people when I shoot, regardless of what they do\/who they are.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

H<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 <\/strong>You go through all the fashion weeks that you can… From your point of view… What are the biggest changes that you have observed in the fashion system in recent years?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013To be honest, I haven\u2019t been around for that long (only 4-5 years) but I would say the rise of streetwear is really impressive. Back in 2013 the market wasn\u2019t that big, and just by looking at what Off White became in just about 4 years now (I was at the very first Off White show in a small gallery in Paris), it tells you a lot about this phenomenon. Streetwear is everywhere now and is such an important market that luxury houses like LV need them to reach the youth\u2026 Super fascinating, who would have thought that just 10 years ago?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Julien Boudet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

H<\/span>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/strong>Behind @Bleumode<\/a><\/strong> is Julien. Do you think he would be photographed by Bleu Mode?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013\u00a0Obviously. \u00a0Good question though.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

H<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 <\/strong>What do you not like when you are going to photograph streetstyles?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013 The crowd in front of the shows. It is super annoying and make this job way more difficult when it could be super simple and pleasant.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

H<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 <\/strong>Lately there are a lot of young people who buy Contax and already think they are streetstyle photographers… As a professional… What advice would you give to all these new photographers? and \u00bfWhat do you think is better analogic or digital – ongoing debate-?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013\u00a0I would tell them that they are free to try and do whatever they like to do\u2026We all need to start from somewhere right? It doesn\u2019t bother me if they want to become street photographers or whatever, yet it becomes a bit tricky when they try to steal your jobs asking for less money\/working for free. But at the end of the day we\u2019re all freelancers and we all have to protect our territory – it\u2019s the jungle out there, only the strong (or talented in that case) survive.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As for the analog or digital debate, I would say try both and pick one. Personally I shoot digital for street style but mostly analog for other jobs.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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\u00a9 Julien Boudet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

H<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 <\/strong>What is a fashion week day like at work?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013 Short nights, long days, a lot (too many) of images taken, a lot (too many?) short conversations, a lot of fashionistas, a lot of coffee, and a lot of fun for the most part.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

H<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 <\/strong>You have studied photography at Parsons NY<\/strong><\/a>… What is more importance in your work, education or talent?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013 The most important in my work is practice and education, but mostly practice. I am going to insert a quote from Jacques Brel here: \u201cle talent ca n\u2019existe pas; le talent c\u2019est avoir l\u2019envie de faire quelque chose.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

H<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 <\/strong>Do you think that Blue Mode will always be doing streetstyle or do you think that in the future it will leave the rhythm of Fashion Week to start enjoying a slower and more conceptual photography?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013 Yes definitely. I already took that direction these past two years (slowly but surely) and I am going to push more and more throughout these upcoming years. Street style was just the first step of my career, just like the foundation year at university for instance.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

H<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 <\/strong>Of the current designers… Which are the ones that we may lack in your wardrobe?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013 My favorites are Raf Simons, Dries Van Noten, Haider Ackermann, vintage Lacoste\u2026 This is what I wear most of the time.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

H<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 <\/strong>Of all your streetstyle photos… Which would you highlight?<\/p>\n

Julien<\/span> \u2013 It is a bit difficult to pick right now, I don\u2019t have time to go thru all my pics but among the ones I took last year maybe these:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n