Anthony Seklaoui’s Life Changed When He Picked Up A Camera

Behind the Image is an ongoing MODELS.com series taking a more personal look at both established and emerging creative talent.

Anthony Seklaoui, Photographer

Hometown: Nice, France
Based: Paris, France
Representation: Art + Commerce

How would you describe your work? What’s your trademark?
I would describe my work as quite real, without any tricks, and most of all instinctive.

How did you first discover your passion for photography, and what led you specifically into the world of image-making?
Thanks to my best friend, Jérémy! I was in my 20s, in the south of France, studying computer science, and Jérémy used to take pictures with an analog camera. I was obsessed with the result. Then, I remembered my dad also had an analog camera. It is going to sound cliché, but my passion started as soon as I put my eye on the viewfinder and turned the focus ring. It was so strong. That moment changed my life, definitely. I quit what I was doing and decided to study cinema. I wanted to make images. I was obsessed.

Having captured the viral Gucci ‘Valigeria’ Travel 2023 Campaign featuring Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny, your collaboration with the brand has remained steadfast. Could you elaborate on your experiences working alongside creative director Sabato De Sarno?
Yes, that was my first job with Gucci – And what a job! I’ve been very lucky to work alongside Sabato and his team. Sabato trusted me straight away. This campaign was the starting point of our collaboration. It was a success, and I believe that was what gave him the desire to continue the collaboration; it has continued to grow ever since. Sabato knows what he wants, but most of all what he doesn’t, haha. So it’s actually straight to the point most of the time.

What other jobs have you had?
I’ve had many jobs: a waiter, like many people, I suppose, and I also worked at Mango, which was actually my first job in fashion.

What inspires your creative process and influences your artistic vision?
I like to look at references when I’m working on a project until I find the one. Then I’m good to go. I just need one picture to develop the idea later, but I also like to improvise a lot. I don’t dig too far into references, as I don’t want to be influenced. It’s important for me to feel the picture is a big part of myself. If I take pictures for myself, in a random country, or in the street, I just listen to music and follow my instinct.

What have you watched/heard/read lately that has inspired you?
I listen to podcasts a lot, mainly about people’s lives. So many of them would deserve a feature film to accompany the podcasts.

What have been the biggest challenges you have faced professionally?
The biggest challenges? Hmm. I don’t know. Every project has its own set of challenges. Having 50 people on set behind you, watching and trusting yourself to make the right decisions for everyone to be happy is what it comes down to. That’s the thrill and the challenge every time.

What’s one thing outside of your work that you would like people to know about you?
I love video games; join me on Warzone, folks.

Who do you think is one to watch?
Tarek Cassim.

Selected Work

Alaïa S/S 22 Show
This was my first time working with Pieter Mulier for his first show. This was the starting point of something major. I’m still there today, collaborating with Alaïa. I feel so lucky and grateful to work for such a house. I don’t have the words to express what I feel about Pieter’s work. But he knows :)

J.W. Anderson
This is a still I took from some videos I made for J.W. Anderson a few years ago. This picture is an important one for me as I’m very intentional about incorporating my cinema background into my work in the fashion industry. I want to keep pushing in this direction.

Vogue France April 2022 Cover
My first Vogue cover. Always an achievement, I had to mention this one.

Gucci ‘Valigeria’ Travel 2023 Campaign
This one is really important to me. It was my first big campaign for such a prestigious and iconic brand with such huge and amazing talents. It was the perfect project for me and for my approach to fashion photography. I really loved doing this one.

Personal Project
That was a very fun one. I love to recreate moments of life for fashion but in a very real way. I invited 38 friends to my parent’s house in the south of France. I told them it would be a real party with food and drinks, only they would be dressed by stylist Ally Macrae, who did an amazing job, and I took the pictures. I asked them to have fun and live their lives. I chose two friends as the bride and the groom, bought them a wedding cake, and took pictures all night long.

Le Gout du Monde March 2024 Cover Story
I love this picture of Mica. This picture tells how important casting is in my process. Having someone like Mica is pure happiness for me. She inspires me so much that I can just follow my instinct and find the good picture with her, literally on the go. It’s like playing a game.