SANDRA VON RIEKHOFF: DIVINE DAY



Sandra von Riekhoff is a Canadian-born fashion and wedding photographer, nomadic in spirit. Currently based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, not far from London, Sandra has called Vancouver, Toronto, Tokyo, New York, Amsterdam, and Australia ‘home’ at various stages over the years. Additionally, she has had long stays in both Paris and Los Angeles. Sandra’s background in modelling and fashion shines through her work, which has been featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair, Tatler, Elle, The Lane, The New York Times, People, Brides, and Together Journal. Here, we discuss how Sandra began her career, her fashion and photography influences, plus the favourite aspects of her work…

C&B: “Sandra, photography is one of those careers that allows you to travel and live/work almost anywhere – did you study photography or how did you train?”

SVR: “Photography was in my life from the age of eight; my dad was a decent amateur in the 80’s, I read a lot and frankly the mechanics of an SLR are not that complicated – so when the DSLRs came out in full steam in the early 00’s I already had a decent handle on everything. In 2007 I began shooting fashion and was working a lot with new models too, helping them to learn how to move and get them started with a decent portfolio. I modelled myself for five years, or so, when I was in my teens and early 20’s so it felt pretty natural to guide people this way…”



It was a total joy to work with you and be around your energy. It is a real art to come into people’s lives on their most important day and be a friend while also knowing how to play it. And you did it perfectly. So I truly want to thank you for that, as energies can be so different, and there certainly were a lot that weekend. Looking through the photos has been so much fun and makes us smile from ear to ear. Thank you for capturing so many wonderful moments and special friends.”

HRH Princess Eugenie

C&B: “Was it a natural progression from modelling to photography? What first inspired your career?”

SVR: “I studied fashion design and wound up in the very un-sexy corporate end of fashion – working for LVMH, and then for a well known British designer. At some stage working for someone else became highly unappealing. I took a ‘fake it until you make it’ approach, like most people, and within six months was a featured fashion photographer on a TV series, shooting new modelling recruits in a reality TV show and making just as much as an income as I had in the office job… it was so ridiculous and goes to show you just have to have a bit of steam… education and experience are nearly N/A!”



C&B: “I do understand where you’re coming from! I’m sure your insider knowledge of the fashion industry must have helped. How did you develop your unique style?”

SVR: “It’s still evolving – I grew up collecting Vogue as a kid and spent hours drawing women, glamour and fashion. I have a weakness for the old school glammy-puss photographers like  Cecil Beaton and George Hoyningen-Huene, and then there’s the work by our contemporary mainstreamers which are a part of our collective vernacular, Helmut Newton, Patrick Demarchelier, Slim Aarons, Nick Knight, La Chapelle, David Bailey, Juergen Teller, Tim Walker, Ellen von Unwerth and Annie Leibovitz…”



C&B: “They’re all such brilliant photographers and their influence must have helped create your own unique identity. What would you say is your USP, over and above other photographers?”

SVR: “I wish I had a fabulous answer here; I’m big on collaboration. ‘Brain sex and brain babies’. I like to bounce off my clients’s own ideas and then storyboard something unique to them. I’ve been shooting weddings and events since 2007, so I’ve watched the ‘revolving door’ of styles come and go. My big thing is pre-planning. After so many years making it up as I went along, I now prefer to plan much of what I will capture beforehand…”



C&B: “Do you work alone or do you have a team that follows your lead?”

SVR: “I now have six other lead shooters I know I can count on to capture a wedding on my behalf – NO AI in the editing process. I tried it and you lose half of the art there, so I cull and edit every wedding personally…”

C&B: “Yes, there’s always the temptation to cut corners or get creative using AI but the end result often looks fake. Besides weddings, what type of projects do you typically undertake, and where and how do your clients find you?”

SVR: “Other clients recommend me, planners know me and I’m discovered via Instagram. I only shoot fashion and weddings, circa 25 every year, and this happens ‘all over the map’, but generally within the UK and E.U. with a touch of the U.S. each year…”



C&B: “Where does your work take you and which venues are your favourites, summer and winter?”

SVR: “I LOVE this question! I adore novelty. Most photographers love that their work takes them to new places… this is a career for the adventurous. But I always knee-buckle at being by water – Como, Barbados, Greece. During the winter months, London is pretty fabulous with venues like The Savile Club being decorated like a giant ‘La Duree’ box backdrop!”

C&B: “Besides the travel involved, what would you say you most enjoy about your work?”

SVR: “The novelty is a big draw; I’m really competitive with myself so it’s good fun coming to each shoot with a ‘one up myself approach’. I enjoy that. I am also a mama to three so the weekday flex I have is really helpful…”


Photographing weddings is challenging in every respect – weather, guests, venues – I’d love to head back to shooting fashion full time…it’s much easier! However, I’m always happy to share my knowledge and I’ve an Instagram account, @divinedayworkshops, where you can watch me talk about what I have learned…”

Sandra von Riekhoff, Photographer


WEBSITE: http://www.divineday.uk


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