Meet erdem akkaya | fashion and portrait photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with erdem akkaya and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi erdem, what are you inspired by?
frankly i can say that almost everything: movies, history, my vacations, music, daily life etc… different cultures and of course my own culture. even when i’m waiting subway i can create something in my mind. i always bring a notebook with me or at least use my smart phone’s voice recorder. for me there is no recipe to catch the inspiration, therefore i am always open to new ideas, taste or feelings.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
my portfolio is dominated by a slew of bold photographs. my choice of unconventional backgrounds and outdoor settings against the popping colors of the apparels lend an appealing contrast to my photographs. you can also find some rather bright photographs, mostly for editorials in the confines of my studio. i like simplicity and day by day i realize that it is the hardest to achieve. but i keep trying and it is worth it even for a second when you get that satisfaction from your work. i still consider myself as a student who would strive forever. i am a student, researcher, teacher, boss, employee etc. so this is a big adventure and was never easy. people always think that photography is a hobby, if you are a fashion photographer it means that you work 2 hours but do party 20 hours , everyday and of course with most beautiful people ( depends on what ) . but this is a really though job , i had many times which i wanted to give up. You must work hard, should have a comprehensive knowledge on anything. and this is not all, your PR, people communication, discipline, delegation ability …and so on. so if you want to be successful in this job , you should be prepared. and even those musts are not enough to be successful. you also need some luck.
I am not the best one but i always make people i work with , happy. i do care, i do give everything i have, i show them the best quality and i finish everything with the best outcome.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
even in my vacations i’ love to walk on the streets without map and try street food or not fancy places to feel the city, the real people in the city. in general i don’t like fancy places. so as a guide i would take my friends o the most complicated, chaotic parts in the city. we would try different food with small portions and of course different bars with great beer varieties. i know it is hard to do now but of course we would go to some clubs , it is berlin. . but regarding to istanbul i would be different. there would be definitely a Raki night with great mezes( turkish tapas) and a long night with warm chat. Before the raki evening i would take them to historical neighborhoods in istanbul but by walk then we would try different local restaurants.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
there has been a lot of people involved in my story with negative or positive affects. for example my family; they always showed a great love which plays a big role to shape my character but also my job is extremely unsafe for them. but it made me work harder and hence i created better works for sure. there were always supporters and critics. the important point is what can you do with this criticism? it gives you different perspectives, broaden you view. But of course there are some bold characters like the photographers i worked with as an assistant first, the photography club at my collage, and my girlfriend; she is my biggest fan and also biggest critic.

Website: https://www.erdemakkaya.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erdemakkaya/