Behind the Lens with Dylan Perlot
Art tends to speak for itself. For fashion photographer and videographer Dylan Perlot, his work needs no introduction.
Photographer Dylan Perlot in studio.
Twenty-five-year old French photographer and videographer Dylan Perlot is a one-of-a-kind artist. Born and raised in France, Perlot’s interest in the arts started at an early age. Getting crafty with self-made films and improvised photoshoots, Perlot’s creative nature on paper was impeccable. After listening to the voices in his head, Perlot made the conscious decision to pursue his creative career in Los Angeles. Since embarking on that journey, Perlot has become a leading fashion photographer and filmmaker. Published in a plethora of legendary fashion publications, from Vogue Italia, Cosmopolitan, L’Officiel, V Magazine, Numéro and many more, Perlot’s recognition has reached every facet of the globe and he has no plans of slowing down. What started as a passion project, Perlot’s art of combining people, fashion and world-traveling together, has allowed the artist to articulate compelling stories. “I’ve always been into art since a little kid, I would shoot short films with my friends, or do photoshoots with them where I would pose everyone. I didn’t know at that time that it could be more than just a fun thing to do when I was off school. Growing up made me pursue that passion,” says Perlot. His exposure to mixed art forms throughout childhood has allowed him to take on the fashion industry with a fresh perspective. “I think I was born enjoying those things and didn’t need to explore any other directions before choosing it as a career. It’s not always easy to take that step and do something completely different than your high school friends do, but I don’t regret taking it. It was and still is an amazing experience,” says Perlot.
A self-proclaimed fan of contemporary fine art and influential fashion photographer Steven Klein, Perlot’s praise of Klein’s work was also the main reason for his developing love of photographic storytelling. “I’ve always been a huge fan of Steven Klein’s work since I started photography. His photographs speak for themselves. You can understand a profound story in just one picture,” says Perlot. There is always a message in a photograph. Since Perlot’s permanence in the States, the photographer seems to have developed a different approach to photography. Whether it is based on his culture, his background, or his inspirations, “I love learning from others or watching other artists create. It’s interesting to see how an artist’s style is influenced by where it is from,” says Perlot. Living in California, Perlot welcomes Los Angeles’s creative environment. “Coming here made me feel welcomed to express myself as an artist. The things I once thought could be weird about myself because I wasn’t born in such a creative environment are the things I use to make art with every day now,” shares Perlot. Though a Frenchman by birth, Perlot’s observation of culture and art is what differentiates his work from countless others in the industry. “Every country and continent has its differences in fashion photography and that is what’s amazing about it. Every photographer’s culture and their background will influence their work and make them different from a photographer from a different country,” says Perlot.
Today’s take on differentiating oneself starts with social media branding. Having shot for singer Sinéad Harnett, actress and singer Jules Aurora, model and designer Amanda Steele among many others, Perlot’s captivating sharp imagery makes him one of the most sought-after photographers. With over 20,000 Instagram followers, Perlot’s use of social media’s prominence as his new-age digital portfolio is just one way for the photographer to get big names flooding his DMs. “I like that we’re able to have an online portfolio through Instagram. Being able to chat with other people from anywhere in the world we would never meet daily is amazing too. It makes everything more known and viewed by the world,” says Perlot. What looks to be the best outlet for creatives, more and more users are publicly addressing his addictiveness with mindless scrolling and constant mental awareness and self-comparison. “You could get a lot worse or mean comments, for example. It also makes the industry even more competitive as everyone is trying to use social media to make their way up, which could be a good thing but that also makes it more saturated and challenging for someone to step away from the crowd,” added Perlot. His self-awareness of the platform’s negative aspects, Perlot states his actions to challenge himself to not succumb to negativity but spread love and support within the industry — even for those just starting. Perlot’s favorite part of social media: finding inspiration. With countless creatives on the platform, it is nearly impossible to not be inspired. “I get inspired a lot by people, fashion, places, films, and music. I would say my most meaningful art always comes from my inner self,” reveals Perlot. Intertwining both fashion and photography, Perlot’s creative direction celebrates both heavily. “They’re both art forms and express something meaningful to the viewer or the person wearing that piece of clothing. Therefore mixed, they can make some amazing masterpieces, and I think that’s what I love about fashion photography. The power a picture of a model wearing something unique is just mesmerizing to me,” heartens Perlot. When the photographer is not scrolling through Instagram, Perlot can be found attending fashion shows in Los Angeles, New York City, and around the world. With fashion week getting started across the pond in London, Perlot is noting what is hitting the runway for this year’s inspiration for a new creative direction. “[Attending shows or watching from home] It brings a lot of inspiration. It does influence what I create at the moment or my future projects as it brings something new to my initial vision.”
Fashion photography is just one form of art in the industry of storytelling, and this is Perlot’s way of telling his own stories.
