Mary Ruffinoni - Photographer and WhiteWall Ambassador

MARY RUFFINONI - Vika Babskaya - 2019, Paris.

How did you start your career as a photographer?

It was somehow by chance that I got into photography when I was at school with my friends. At that time, it was just a hobby. After having obtained degrees in photography and marketing, my passion for photography was still growing, especially thanks to the countless fashion magazines that I collected. Also, when social media was born, I discovered new fashion photographers who inspired me a lot. It was therefore a very natural choice to do photography for a living.

MARY RUFFINONI - Delaney - 2019, Parc Monceau Paris.

MARY RUFFINONI - Vivianne - 2020, Paris.

What are your sources of inspiration for your picture ideas?

I am a very curious person and I love traveling. I get inspired in many ways: by a photo in a magazine, by a car passing by on the street, by a plant, by a documentary, by a clothing item, by light, by photos on social media: inspiration has no limit!

MARY RUFFINONI - Aude-Jane - 2020, Paris / - Tiffany - 2019, San Francisco.

Which camera do you use?

Since the age of 15, I have been a faithful user of Nikon, and my first camera was a gift from my parents. Today I work with a Nikon D850. Daylight is my preferred source of light, and this camera has an impressive ISO exposure that is very useful when there is not enough light for certain shootings. I mainly use the Nikkor 24-70mm /2.8 lens and also a Nikkor 70-200mm /2.8 and a Nikkor 50mm /1.4. Also, I own 3 D1 Profoto flashes for studio sessions.

MARY RUFFINONI - Mily - 2020, Faust Magazine / - Flora - 2020, Paris.

Especially in the fashion world, there are often more male photographers than female. As a woman, was it more difficult to assert yourself in this industry and, on the other hand, what were your advantages of photographing women in particular from a woman's point of view?

Although there are many more men in photography, I have never felt uncomfortable in this environment. Nowadays, a growing number of women have become accomplished professional photographers – an encouraging trend!

MARY RUFFINONI - Stéphanie - 2020, Besançon.

I like to photograph women for many reasons. In particular, I like their dramatic expression, their body, hair, makeup, clothes, and the energy that flows when I am with them. I have a much more refined perception of the vibe that women radiate through the photos and I find them more mysterious. Women have long fought for gender equality and therefore it is important to me to show self-confident protagonists in front of my camera.

MARY RUFFINONI - Plume - 2019, Roussillon.

Where can you be found when you are not behind a camera?

When I am not taking photos you can find me on the phone or in front of my computer. I love creating and posting new content on social media. Nowadays, I find it essential to be present and active there as a creative professional, and I love it! But apart from technology, I enjoy spending time outdoors and with my loved ones.

MARY RUFFINONI - Fatou - 2020, Vogue Italy.

I heard about WhiteWall’s excellent reputation from other professionals and I was keen on testing them. First of all, they have a very large selection of printing papers, which I particularly like due to the fact that I am working on different projects. When I received my photos, I was really impressed by the quality of the prints and the material finishes as well by the reproduction of colors – which was exactly what I wanted. I absolutely trust WhiteWall, winner of the best photo lab worldwide award.

Product Recommendation: LightJet Print On Ilford Baryta Paper

The black-and-white photo print on Baryta paper. The rendering is incredible.