Интервю с фотографката AUDREY DUJARDIN

We meet in Munich a week and a half ago. I am almost dead of so much travelling, she is in a cheerful Friday mood. Maybe you don’t know who Audrey Dujardin is, but if you are interested in such things, then you’ve certainly come across some of her works. She works for some of the largest companies in the world and has photographed (and continues to do it) one of the most iconic images of modern metal scene. We talk more about metal in photography, not photography in metal- as it may be expected to be the thing you’d talk about with a professional photographer. Audrey’s famous with her friendly mood that infects other people. The rest I learned about her-in the following lines.

So..let’s start with introducing yourself. To those who haven’t seen your work or haven’t heard of you.. 🙂
Oh, that’s a.. long one. I started doing radio when I was 15 years old- that was 17 years ago 😀 And then I was offered a job in a Swedish magazine and i became the boss of the magazine after few years. And after that i moved to Germany I started my own photo buisness and after a little while some magazines saw my work and liked it so Metal Hammer Germany hired me five years ago, maybe six. And Terrorizer in the UK hired me also, think it was even a year before that. So now both of those magazines are working with me all the time. And bands and record labels from all over the world are hiring me regularly and I work with any magazine that wants to work with me.Yeah it’s hard to explain in two words because I’ve been doing a lot of things- I have a radio show- it’s actually in France but I do it over the phone from Germany. I did radio in London, I did radio in France..yeah, I work a lot. I work a lot in Greece, in Finland…

You’re a very busy woman!
Yeah, very very busy! Now I also work outside metal because I work for some big German universities and for some other companies. When it comes to photo it’s not just music- other industries have asked me to work too.  I am also starting in fashion, product photography and events. 

And you travel a lot..
You’re lucky I’m here because I’m never here! 😀

So..how did it all start?
Friends of mine went to a radio show and i went with them and they hired me because nobody spoke English and French and they needed somebody to do the interviews. So i started interviewing bands like Dimmu borgir, Dark funeral, ten years ago. Then i moved to the United states and there i met Napalm death and their singer is the one who recommended me that i should work for a music magazine- so he got me in touch with some magazine people and I started working in a Swedish magazine and as i said, afterwards i started taking pictures. I became the editor of the magazine and at the end I just got a better camera because I needed to take better pictures for the articles. Meanwhile I was living in Helsinki for a while. And when I moved to Germany, I started my own company and so on. 
My first photosession was with the producer of Children of bodom and I was scared because I never did a photosession before. But it worked out very well. They paid me with apple cider 😀

I must congratulate you about all these awesome photos we see everywhere. But especially the new Tyr ones! Awesome!
Oh, thank you! I know those guys for years! Many years ago I used to date Wintersun’s bassist for a long time, that’s why I was living in Finland. They toured with Tyr, so I met them there and they became really good friends of mine. So they hired me this time and we did the photosession and it was really fun. I remember when we were in Copenhagen and the other boys wanted to stay in the hotel, Heri and I went to a club and all Copenhagen metalheads were there and everybody knew who they were. For me they’re just my friends and I don’t think of them that they’re really in a band. And when I go to a bar and people come to see my friends and wanting pictures with them and I’m like “Oh yeah, you’re in a band”.

I guess it’s the same with Sami (Ensiferum) , and Olli (Turisas) and others..
Oh yeah, Sami. I had a big birthday party and Sami was awesome! Everybody was supposed to dress up in a suit. It was super funny because Sami was wearing this really nice suit but he has this huge beard and long hair so he kinda looked like a body guard, haha. It was so cool. He’s so nice, one of the best people I’ve ever met! They’re gonna be touring Europe now with Turisas and I’m going to be on some dates.

Heidenfest?
Yeah, I can’t wait. I’m going to Paris also, and my brother lives there.

It’s really cool that you have this opportunity to travel the world, meet your friends and so many new people. I live in a small country and every show here is a big thing.
You know, not all people I work with are my friends. When I lived in Finland, these people were like my neighbours. If you live in the same town, you meet ’em every day. For me they’re not clients , they’re people I know. And there are other bands like Blind guardian or Symphony X that we know each other but we just work together. It depends. Of course, it helps when you work with people you know and they know who you are. When I was on Summer breeze last week there were a lot of people who knew who I am and I had no idea who were they. There was a guy who said “ I saw you on this show and that show, and I know your name and I know where you’re living”. Oh my God.

Can you tell us an interesting or funny story from shoots? We all see the pictures, but what happens behind the scenes?
I can tell you an interesting story about the Tyr shoot. They hired a lady, she’s a boob model, she’s actually a boob model! I never shot a naked girl before and when she came into the studio, she just took off her clothes. I wasn’t ready. I’ve shot other girls in bands but absolutely didn’t know what to do. She had fake boobs and they were like (showing how bid they were).. I can’t even explain. She was fine and nice but I was “What I’m gonna do with this?” I don’t know, I was just distracted ny her huuge boobs.

Are those photos suppose to be on the CD?
They were supposed to be on the CD but I have no idea if the band’s gonna use them. The idea was to be on the booklet and on the artwork, but now it’s up to the band’s management. I also took some endorsement pictures of Heri and Terji with her and the guitars.

Like..private?
No, it’s not that they’re private, I just don’t know what they’re gonna to with…that. Other fun stories..give me a band and I’ll give you a story.

Well, I don’t know. Let’s say Mayan or Turisas.
Mayan… we did all their promo shoots in Mark’s house. He was till living in his parents’ house and the interesting thing is that we did the shooting in the living room.
Turisas..I’ve been touring with them since 2008 so I was on every single tour they did. I probably shouldn’t tell you anyting. No, just kidding. Mathias is really enjoying working, he’s very professional. Most of the people who hire me have no idea what they want so you have to decide for them. Mathias always knows what ,how and when he wants. Olli is really the funniest guy ever. The last time I saw them – two months and a half ago- they had these new band members, I’ve never met them before. Both the new drummer and bass player are from band that don’t play metal.

What do you do when you’re not shooting?
I’m working in a big multinational company as a manager, that’s my other job.

What do you like shooting despite metal?
I bought a neutral density filter so I can shoot waterfalls, nature and stuff. I shoot a lot of landscapes when I’m not doing bands. I did a lots of live painting last year.. But most of the time I don’t really have the time to do anything else. Even when I go to Greece next week I’m gonna work again – with my band. But one of my best friends, the bass player from Suicidal Angels, has a house on the beach in Athens. So during the day I go to the studio with my band, then I go back to the beach, so it’s nice. It’s really great to work with Greek people, they’re so friendly.

And you have friends all over the world and always have a place to go to..
Yeah, even in Turkey. But my friend from Bulgaria lives in Austria now, if I come to Sofia, she’s not there anymore..

But I am, so.. 🙂
Yeah. If somebody hire me..why not.

I saw a photo of you on stage with Kivimetsan druidi. Were you singing?
No, I was just hosting a festival. I was just announcing the bands. I go on stage with Alestorm sometimes. And also have been with Emilie Autumn.

Oh, I tought you were singing. You know, because they have a female vocalist..
So..tell me more about yourself. You’re French, half American.. How many languages do you speak?!
French, English, German, Spanish and a little bit of Finnish, Greek and Hebrew – but I had to because I spend a lot of time in Israel, and also in Greece, I used to live in Finland too, so..

And do you have some other hobbies?
Yes, I do yoga, i’m an amateur instructor.

How long have you been into it?
Not very long. I started at the beginning of the year, but when I start something I do it like it’s a n obsession, I learn it all by myself.

When did you start teaching yoga?
I started six weeks ago. 😀 I love canyoning, and horse riding, I do paragliding, I did krav maga..

Do you play some kind of instrument?
Not anymore. I used to sing in a band and used to play guitar, piano and flute but I’m really bad. I did piano for 10 years but I ‘m not good. I still have a guitar. It’s really embarassing because I work with musicians all the time and I don’t wanna take a guitar because I look like an idiot. They’re so much better than me. But I sing sometimes with Alestorm, I did the vocal coach for Therion’s new album, also did for Indica. I like to sing but I don’t want you to be listening to me.

You’re very talanted! When you want to get into something you just do it..
Yeah, it’s called an obsession. It depends. There are things I hate like accounting, that’s why I have an accountant because I hate do it myself. I hate paperwork too. But if I like something, I just love to do it.

So I guess you hated math at school?
Yeah, really hated it. But you need it, sad but true.

What was your favourite subject then?
I really enjoyed marketing, languages. My favourite class is geopolitics because I find it really interesting.

You have a favourite book?
Yeah, actually I have one favourite novel – “Neverwhere” by Neil Gaiman, my favourite tragedy ever is “Hamlet” by Shakespeare and I really really really love that play.

Do you have a favourite quote?
Let’s think..That’s a hard one, I’m not ready for this question. “Karma is a bitch” That’s true because whatever you do, it always comes back. If you’re an asshole, it’s gonna take time but it’s gonna come back. If you did something wrong you’re gonna pay for it sometime.

What about your favourite song or at least a one that describes your mood right now?
My mood ..“King of Brooklyn” by Devil doll, it’s a song about karma, about a boy that dissapoints a girl. My favourite song is maybe “Matkan lopuss” by Moonsorrow, I love that song.

If you have to describe metal in one album, which one would it be?
Samael- Passage. Which is funny because they have electronic drums but I still love it.

Let me ask you about you favourite food.
That’s hard. I loooove food. You can’t even imagine, it’s my favourite thing in the world.

Have you tried Bulgarian? It’s very delicious!
No. But I’m sure. I’m excited because when I come to Bulgaria, I’d try everything. The funny thing is that when I go to a new country, I go to Starbucks (if there is any) and buy a cup. I collect Starbucks city mugs. I think my favourite food in general is French.

This kinda reminds me of Matt Heafy from Trivium. He’s a great food lover and wherever he goes, he tries the local food. He even said that Bulgarian one’s in his top 3, haha.
Oh, if he likes food, he’s gotta be my friend. Then he’s a cool person.

*Now I tell her about typical Bulgarian dishes* – Now I’m excited and getting hungry. 🙂

And your final words to our readers? 🙂
Send me food! Haha. You know I really really love to travel and this year I went to 3 countries that I’ve never been before and hopefully I will come to Bulgaria. I’d love to come over and visit, I’m interested in the history and as I said- the geopolitics too. I find other Balkan countries fascinating because every big war has started from there, it shows that it’s a very active area. Hopefully one day I can come to a show and see what is it all about, I’ve heard so much about it so I’m really curious.
When I come to Bulgaria make sure I’m gonna eat all the Bulgarian food!

Thank you very much!
You’re welcome! 🙂

This is officially the hardest work I’ve done so far, had to write this whole thing at least few times. Thanks that you read it all.