Behind the Image is an ongoing MODELS.com series taking a more personal look at both established and emerging creative talent.
Fabien Montique| Courtesy of Home Agency
Fabien Montique, Photographer
Hometown: Barbados
Based: Paris
Representation: Home Agency
How would you describe your work? What’s your trademark?
A study of human emotion, connection, and ease of life.
How did you get into your chosen career?
I am still exploring imaging making and all the realms of that, but I got interested in fashion through an image I saw when I was 15 and living in Barbados. I had no idea how I would get into this world, but I knew then I wanted to create images, so I have done everything from art direction to styling to learning about all the aspects that go into making an image come to life. I’m still learning, so I can’t say my career path is defined fully, but I am on the way.
What have you watched/heard/read lately that has inspired you?
The Turin Horse. Also, that “quantity dilutes quality.” As humanity progresses, we’re moving at an ever-increasing pace. While we can nostalgically recall a slower time, our current reality and its exceptions present a different picture. Today, the rapid visual consumption of data contrasts with earlier, slower content release rhythms, where uniqueness was highly valued. This perspective isn’t absolute, but personally, the abundance of ideas I possess drives a need to express them in various forms. Creatively, this continuous output fosters my growth, challenging the old notion that quantity dilutes quality.
What do you love about what you do?
When everyone on set gets the chills because we are seeing a dream come to life.
“Save your money so you can make your dream editorials live in this life, pull away from heavy referencing and try to show the reality of now, be open to others’ points of view on set, teamwork makes the dream work, listen, watch, grow, try different things. I no longer want to be confined to one aspect of image making.”
What have been the biggest challenges you have faced professionally?
I wouldn’t say challenges, and I think everything comes in time and with hard work. I would say lessons more so than challenges: save your money so you can make your dream editorials live in this life, pull away from heavy referencing and try to show the reality of now, be open to others’ points of view on set, teamwork makes the dream work, listen, watch, grow, and try different things. I no longer want to be confined to one aspect of image making.
What’s one thing outside of your work that you would like people to know about you?
I came from nothing, and sometimes, I look in the mirror to remind myself of how fortunate I am.
Who do you think is one to watch?
The photo/style duo of Ottawa Kwami and Cherif Douamba
Selected Work
Moustapha Luka | Image courtesy of Home Agency
Boy with Flower, 2023
I am always looking forward to shoots, I remember pacing until 5 pm until he arrived, and in the first shot, we had the image.
Mohamadou Diakhité & Cai Cai | Image courtesy of Home Agency
The Dance, 2023
This image plays on my love of movement and color. It also touches on identity and the notion of masculinity as a black man.
Aida Blue | Image courtesy of Home Agency
Seaside, 2022
I am drawn more and more to the seaside to create images. It reminds me of my childhood, and it is the closest thing to a white background/landscape.
Marie-Agnès Diene, Precious, Mayowa | Image courtesy of Home Agency
Move, 2024
This image celebrates the beauty and the diversity in blackness, tones, and body type. Reminds me of the girls at school who would hang together in threes.
Image courtesy of Home Agency
Family, 2023
I love portraiture. Richard Avedon and Irving Penn are heroes of mine, and I did this series of 35 different siblings; this is one of my favourites because there is no pretense of emotions.
