Muse/Part 1: Eva K. Salvi

This time round on Preen Line Diaries we decided to turn the camera on one of our own favourite photographers and see 'behind the lens.'

Grenoble-born Eva K. Salvi has shot a number of incredible Preen Line shoots for us, as well, of course, establishing herself as a rising star in the fashion industry with recent editorials in Elle, Tatler and Refinery 29 - to name but a few. We caught up with her after her own Preen Line shoot to talk about the crucial difference between creatives and artists, and to find out why she's glad to be a constant perfectionist.

Hi Eva. Tell us a bit about how you became a fashion photographer. 

When I was seventeen I wanted to work in fashion but my parents didn’t think it was a very stable career. So I did Communication Studies then came over here, spent a year on exchange in Wolverhampton. Then I went to Central Saint Martins to study fashion photography. Then my parents started helping me out and they came round to the idea!

What is it you love about fashion photography?

In fashion what I love is making a story that doesn’t have a beginning and an end, it’s just one frame. But you can be as creative as you want.

And you’re enjoying it?

It’s fun, it’s creative. I think a lot of people call themselves artists, but I think of myself as a creative. Artists are people like Picasso, or Monet. Someone who has a huge impact on a generation. That’s not what I’m doing here.

Do you keep your own side projects going too?

Yes I like keeping personal projects ongoing, just for myself. It makes me feel good. In the long run I will probably just continue doing fashion. 

Have you got a favourite shoot to date? A career highlight?

My biggest achievement so far is probably shooting for Elle. It’s nice to have that recognition from people that matter. But I’m also a creative in the sense that I’m never happy. I always think I can do better - it’s a blessing and a curse. The curse of being a perfectionist...I was talking to my mum about an editorial that I shot for Elle, and my mum told me I needed to stop being so hard on myself!

Tell us about your Mum. Did she have a big influence over your style when you were younger? 

My mum always used to take me shopping, and I loved it because she would just suggest things that I might like but always let me decide what I want. Mum knows best!

You seem like someone who’s always known exactly what they want...

I’ve always known exactly what I wanted and what I didn’t like. But it was fun to learn and experiment in that way with her. I was also really lucky that I’m the eldest - so I always got bought what I wanted and didn’t have hand-me-downs!

Check out Eva on instagram @evaksalvi

You can follow the lovely Tabi on Twitter & Instagram @tabijgee

Photography by the very talented @zoelower