Timeless Elegance

Photographer Sonia Szóstak Collaborates With Brahman’s Home To Create a Timeless Editorial

At just 24 years of age, fashion photographer Sonia Szóstak has already gathered a number of accolades, working with Levis, H&M, TOPSHOP, Rolling Stone Magazine, and Poland Fashion Week. Having began photography at a young age, she told The Plus “my story begins when I was just shooting close friends and family. It was only when I got accepted to the Leon Schiller National Higher School of Film, Television and Theatre that I began to think seriously about photography as a way of life.” Her most recent collaboration comes in the form of an editorial for exclusive furniture and interior design elements brand, Brahman’s Home from her country Poland.

Sonia’s campaign was set in the beautiful Chateau de Gudanes castle, located at the foot of the French Pyrenees Mountains. She recalls, “It was one of the most magical places I’ve ever seen in my life!” Built in the mid-eighteenth century, the property has a staggering 99 rooms. Parisian architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel is behind the building, being the architect who also designed famous structures such as Le Petit Trianon and the Place de la Concorde.

The photo series from Sonia invokes a range of emotions, as the refined, haute couture aesthetic of both the models and the setting shine through, telling a mysterious story and thought provoking story.

We caught up with Sonia about her life in Poland and the series of striking images.

TP: We love your recent work for Brahman’s home. Where did the inspiration come for the photo series and did you decide on the location for the shoot?
Sonia Szóstak: This place had a lot of luck. We went to the owner as Karina Waters and her husband Craig Waters, they decided they wanted the palace on the agenda, but didn’t want to restore it to the state it was 250 years ago.

The palace has to be a place where you can see the passage of time and the influence of history on beauty. And it’s exactly that. Timeless.

For Brahman’s home, they are characterised by classical forms and high-quality materials and the interior harmony that results from a connection of the five elements, consisting of stone, wood, leather, glass and metal.
We wanted to mix the elegance of haute couture high fashion with designed furniture and frozen in time, beautiful interiors.

TP: How was the collaboration process?
SS: The brand’s creative director, Wojciech Łanecki from the Sir Henry Studio was open for my ideas and also he gave me a lot of great tips on the set. We worked together on the concept of session. After such cooperation, not only we have great effects but also I feel that learned a lot.

TP: You often depict images that represent purity and beauty, is this deliberate?
SS: I am quite inspired by the classical arts. I always try to set the mood by natural light; working with natural light always brings extraordinary results! I also have very classic kind of beauty. I love feminine, sensual women, like a pre-Raphaelite’s type of beauty.

TP: It’s inspiring that you have achieved so much with your photography at a young age!
SS: I don’t feel that I’ve done so much. I think that everything is still yet to happen. I want to work more in fashion! Till now, more often I undress my models than I dress them [haha]. I think that I do have a really strong work ethic. I love what I do and I care to do it very professionally.

TP: Are there any projects you are working on at the moment?
SS: Sure, I’m always working on new projects. Last month I produced my first book. Now I’m planning to go to Iceland for my new “nude series”. Then I really want to go to New York to show my portfolio there. We will see what will happen. For now I know that I still need to develop myself and invest in my own projects because they always bring me some great jobs. I have a head full of ideas!

Styling: Ewelina Gralak
Hair: Gor Duryan
Make-up: Marianna Yurkiewicz