DRAGON: Stine Heilmann / Botanic Couture

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Stine Heilmann / Botanic Couture

BOTANIC COUTURE

by Stine Heilmann

Stine Heilmann has worked as a freelance photographer for almost 20 years.

1988: She was an intern for 5 years with one of the most successful advertising photographers in Denmark Torsten Graae, who was and still is an expert in light setting and aesthetic motives.

1992: Her final exam won her 3 awards and 4 prices for the best Photographer student that year.

1993: After her exam she went to work in New York for almost 4 years .

Her goal was to educate herself even further among the most famous and talented photographers in the world, many of them being her idols.

-And she succeeded.

She assisted Annie Leibovitz, Richard Avedon, Mary Ellen Mark and finally for 1 ½ year, Mr. Irving Penn. Who became her mentor and good friend until his death in 2009.

Stine says: “Irving Penn is my inspiration every day”.

-”His simple and beautiful lighting, his calm way of instructing people. His graphic way of composing, his amazing still-life, always with a twist of humor. He gave me wisdom.”

Along with the photography, Stine created Botanic Shoes.

Americans saw them, and loved them. Her article in American Vogue gave her so many assignments making botanic shoes, that she had two full-time jobs.

She even created a Calla lily shoe for the First Lady at the time. Mrs. Hillary Clinton.

Today Stine works with all kinds of different clients and Magazines.

She works with fashion, portraits, interior and still-life photography.

Her passion is still botanic beauty. ”I still have a lot of request for the botanic shoots. My shoes have become known in Denmark as well as internationally. They still give me a lot of fun and inspiring assignments.”

Especially her Wonderful Copenhagen assignments twice a year, where she creates the aesthetic motive for the campaign herself.