Please introduce and tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Fianna Fluess and I am from the Virgin Islands. I have been living and working in Miami for the past 3 years but am currently venturing out to travel and work from wherever I go next. I have a branding design company, Soleil Creative, and my photography sort of fits into Soleil and spills out into travel and lifestyle photography and personal projects. fiannafluessphotography.com | soleilcreative.com

When did you first pick up a camera and what kept you interested in photography?

My first “real” camera was in high school. We were lucky enough to have a coveted black and white film class that only seniors could take. We even had a dark room which was very cool for such a small school in the Caribbean. I went on to major in photography in college. I switched to design but the camera was never put down. Photography fits perfectly into my design business as most of my clients need photography for the websites and branding we create for them.

How did growing up in the Caribbean shape your photography style or did it?

It absolutely did. It shapes most everything I do. My draw to color and travel are rooted in island life as well as my affinity for shooting any banana bunch I see.

You mention on your website that you love life by the ocean, do you have a favorite memory from growing up by the ocean that still influences your work today?

A common trip here in the Virgin Islands is chartering a catamaran and island hopping between the US and British Virgin Islands for a week or so. It's absolute bliss waking up in a new bay each morning. In high school my friend’s parents took a few of us girls on one of these trips over the Christmas holidays and we took a bunch of disposable waterproof cameras with us. The photos of us on the boat, all of the tiny beach bars and the bright turquoise water look like the old school Roxy surf photos from the early 2000’s - which is probably what we were going for. That trip and those photos are some of my favorite memories. Even then I was trying to emulate these surfer fashion and lifestyle photos with an obsession that is still there for me. 

How has your artistic style developed over time? Are there particular influences that have shaped your work?

My style has stayed true to my main interests I would say: island lifestyle, travel photography, editorial fashion imagery. I would say maybe I have more of a love of luxury now! In terms of where I want to visit and capturing the good life. Maybe that comes with age! Photographers that are influencing me currently are Lucy Laucht, Cameron Hammond, Emily Yates, Natalie Obradovich, Akila Berjaoui, Carley Rudd, Brydie Mack - and many more!

When did you first realize you wanted to pursue photography professionally? Was there a specific moment or image that sparked this decision?

I have always been drawn to capturing beauty through a photograph and then it fit so seamlessly into my design work, I don't think I ever had a choice.

How do you balance your dual careers of photography and brand design? Do you find the two disciplines influencing each other?

Definitely. They go hand in hand but a nice perk is I can focus on either separately if I am coming close to burn out. 

Do you think your experience as a brand designer influences the way you frame and edit your photos?

Yes! I realized recently my unconscious tendency to keep a lot of negative white space in my photos in case someone needs to put text over the image. So I am now practicing taking images way closer in and breaking that habit and getting better at both approaches. 

Your work often features stunning natural landscapes. What has been your most unforgettable destination and why?

Oh gosh, that’s hard. Italy is popular for a reason, it’s so photogenic and just lights me up when I am there. Dominica is just mind blowing and always feels like a step back in time. I did 4 weeks in SE Asia and Laos always plays as a little movie in my mind. I like places that are dense with layers. Cliffs, foliage, winding streets, umbrellas, banana bunches, etc…

You co-own a creative agency called Soleil Creative. Could you share a bit about how it came to be?

Out of college I was working as a freelance graphic designer. Doing all of the jobs that fall under that category for any type of business. Then my now business partner approached me to join her at her company, Soleil Creative. Together we took on bigger clients and really found our niche and favorite types of businesses to work creatively with. We slowly became really good at branding hotels and restaurants and other businesses that care about design, aesthetics, beauty and that typically have a physical space that we can design for them too. Full top to bottom branding. It’s such a fun job and it got really good when we started to find that niche.