Cinemagraphs: Living Photos

Cinemagraphs are still photographs, only with a slight and repeated movement and they are all the rage. This new type of media is made by editing photos or videos into a “seamless loop of sequential frames.” Cinemagraphs are in their infancy; they’re new, exciting and even Coca Cola has started featuring them in campaigns.

Since then, other photographers have started to chart this unknown territory. Jessy and Tiago, the duo known as Apricotberlin, are among them. Only 24 and 26 years old, Tiago and Jessy dove head first into the phenomenon about six months ago and they’ve been garnering much deserved attention ever since. They sat down with us to shed light on these living photos taking the internet by storm.

Current residence:

Prenzlauer Berg in Berlin

Strangest habit:

Tiago: I like to hum Jessy's alarm clock melody in the shower. It is very sad, actually.

Jessy: I always ask Tiago to go buy me some chocolate when it´s cold outside. (And I stay in bed, of course) :D

Our 2016 plans:

To continue what we started in 2015. Become the No 1 Studio for high quality cinema graphs.

Three words to describe yourself:

Tiago: restless, determined, clumsy

Jessy: ambitious, vain, trustworthy

Tell us your story, how did you stumble upon your craft?

When Jess and I met again in the summer of 2015 it just clicked and we immediately knew that we would like to do something creative together, something we are passionate about.

We decided to move to Berlin and try our luck as fashion and lifestyle photographers.

To be honest, we were somewhat afraid to enter the saturated photography market at first, but one day we came across cinemagraphs and this medium completely blew our minds as it allowed a unique way of storytelling.

As soon as we got to Berlin, 6 months ago, we started apricotberlin, began shooting and it really has been an interesting and fast-paced adventure.

Cinemagraphs are relatively new. What do you love about creating them?

We love the challenge of creating a cinemagraph that looks like a candid photograph. We try really hard to ensure the viewer thinks he is looking at a photo, only noticing the seamless motion loop at second glance.

This generation is experiencing a huge shift in priorities. We’re becoming increasingly interested in smaller more personable, brands and are shying away from anything mass market. This of course, is something Brathwait values. What are your thoughts on this?

We really think that it is a great change. We are also choosing smaller brands instead of the mass-market. It´s a change in philosophies.

Moving away from the big brands and their unethical and ignorant standards and towards smaller brands entering the market. A broader range of high quality and deeply sophisticated products/ideas emerge, we as consumers, have the choice. And yes, it is still consumerism, but with these smaller brands offering fewer products, the experience feels modest and personal.