At Studio 1415 with Stian Roenning

© Pamela Wasabi / MFb

I think I wore my shades as I was talking to Stian Roenning. His creative potential just flashed me off during our whole conversation, and might have blinded me if I wasn't. He’s not just a fashion photographer doing with an impressive resume (he's shot for Playboy, MTV, Fuse, Ray Kay and many more). Above it all, Roenning is a down-to-earth artist always willing to lend a hand.

I stopped by his Studio 1415 last week to hear about his amazing journey from Norway to Miami, and everything that's come with it.

What are you wearing today?

I’m wearing self-made spray painted super pink dress, 1920s leather ex-Florsheim shoes [I got] for $12 bucks from [a] vintage shop. Skinny black Levis jeans, [a] red Norwegian spike belt with a gold dagger belt buckle from Recycle Blues thrift store. [And a] Prometheus Spring T-shirt.. Gotta represent, right?

© Pamela Wasabi / MFbWhere do you go shopping in Miami?

Pretty much thrift stores, or Norwegian shops. I try going back home every summer. It has the most amazing weather and music festivals.

When did you realize you were becoming a professional photographer?

I guess when I started working for Playboy doing videos, five years ago.

What was that like?

They have the best photographers, lighting-wise, in the world. They are so amazing with light, and they have to be, they are working with the female body and it is the most complex thing to shoot; because of the shapes and curves and… it’s just so beautiful.  

I went to school for Visual Arts at FIU and they taught me how to work with natural light [and] not studio light, so it was a great learning experience coming to Playboy and working in a studio. I worked closely with Jarmo Pohjaniemi, I was a sponge around him, he pretty much taught me everything I know about studio lighting, he is a bad ass photographer.

How did you get involved with fashion?

My first fashion shoot was here in Miami with Z-Brand – an alternative version of Diesel, also European. We shot at a private jet company in Ft. Lauderdale. It was fun. Then a lot of my friends started doing their clothing brands and I just started helping them out with their shoots.

What’s your interaction with the stylist at a photo shoot?

I think that it all depends of the idea of the shoots, obviously, and also the client, obviously; but usually when it’s my own idea I like to hear what the stylist ideas is over my idea. I like to talk to the stylist. Sometimes I have ideas that are completely overboard and vice versa, we balance the work out. Photo shoots are a collaboration not a power trip.

If you had to choose a stylist to work with the rest of the year, who would it be?

Aban Sonia, the one that I work the most with. She is like a sister to me; I like her view on life, her style. It helps having a great personality, and she does, it balances the work that you have in a team.

Moving images vs. still images, is there any difference between these two outcomes?

It’s both photography...I love both…to do an amazing image and have movement in it – its magic for sure.

What’s the best thing about your job?

My hobby is my job. And, everyday is different.

What’s your view on Miami’s party/events scene?

Miami is a very event-based city. I only wish that video productions and things happened more. So there’ll be more work to shoot, more parties.. What Miami do best? Party its brains out.

Any there projects you're working on for Art Basel?

Yeah, if I have time to do it, me and my friend, we are making a guillotine in a box - like the IKEA concept, you can do it your self! Guillotine in a box, probably to exhibit at AQUA again maybe or Scope - hoping for that one.

Also, a lot of installations I want to apply to, but I don’t know if the city will give me permission to display what I want. And more street art with my friend, Sam Gualtieri, like we did for last year – stencil[ing] doors.