A photograph of the couple

Maud Chalard and Théo Gosselin are an artist couple with a shared passion for photography. Their creative work is strongly influenced by the bohemian lifestyle they share. In recent years, their work has been inspired by the couple's road trip around the United States, a place that Théo considers a major source of inspiration. Their modern love for each other is reflected in their photographic expression, as you can see in this interview which denotes a love also for that of freedom. If their work is united in the expression of free-spiritedness, Theo's work has more of a "rock n roll" air to it whilst Maud's is centered in romance. Their young and free love is so intoxicating and beautiful, that we feel honored to observe it in this interview.

1. Hello! Can you tell us about yourself and how you both met?

We are Maud Chalard and Théo Gosselin, two French photographers aged 32 and 31 respectively. We are a very close couple and share a lot in life as in our photography. We are driven by a love of photography, going on the road, adventure, music, friends and nature. We live our lives with a close connection to the notions of freedom and love in mind. We try to build our personal and artistic life around these elements. We met through our photography and our common passions.

2. What is your definition of love ?

To love is to feel your heart truly burn for someone. It's wanting to spend your life next to that person, waking up every morning next to them and realizing how lucky you are. It's loving the smallest details about him or her, from his or her slightly protruding ear to the baby hairs on the neck. It's giving the other person all the best you have, looking at him/her with admiration and doing your best to make him/her reveal the best of him/herself to the world. It is about feeling safe when you are with the other person, no matter where. Finally, to love someone is to want to grow with this person, to help him/her to bloom and to realize that nothing on earth is more beautiful and precious than this love.

3. You are both photographers, who are both in love but also photograph the subject matter. From which perspective do you like to represent this love ?

We love sincere, sweet and utopian love. In our images we represent love as scenes from a movie, full of tenderness and emotions, just like what we have been sharing for 9 years; a love as strong as in the beginning and which pushes us to realize our dreams. Love is also found in the photos of our loved ones and in the photographic universe we have built around us.

On the left : Photograph by Maud Chalard / On the right : Photograph by Théo Gosselin

4. Do you share a studio, and if so, do you work collaboratively? How do you use the space together?

We live together in a house in the woods we bought 6 months ago, we finally have the space to have a real creative outlook, we have a large office / workshop that we share but we are often each on our respective side. Sometimes we do professional jobs together, especially in advertising, but we also often support each other in each other's personal projects, either with physical or even moral support. It's a luxury to share life with someone who fully understands the other's career. The profession of a photographer can be quite lonely, having a shoulder to lean on is really a blessing.

5. When you have a new idea, do you share it with each other? Or is it a more of an individualistic process?

Most of the time we have very similar tastes and desires, we don't really talk about our new ideas because sometimes photography can take up too much space in our relationship. The process is often kept separate so as to not frustrate the other or to create a competitive atmosphere. That being said, ours processes take a different turn when we are traveling, the notion of freedom that accompanies the trip is more conducive to exchanges and a real sharing work environment.

À gauche : photographie de Théo Gosselin / À droite : White Horse, 2016 de Maud Chalard, disponible sur Artsper

6. Quelles sont vos principales inspirations ?

Le cinéma et la musique font partie intégrante de notre travail : les films indépendants américains, la musique folk et rock... Nous aimons l'esprit contestataire et plein de promesses de libertés de la fin des années 60. Nous partageons aussi un amour profond pour les grands espaces et les road trip américains.

7. Votre relation a-t-elle influencée votre pratique artistique ? Si oui, comment ?

Je pense que notre relation nous a influencés et permis de créer des images remplies d'amour. Le fait d'être heureux et amoureux se ressent dans nos photos. Inconsciemment, nos images transmettent nos émotions et l'amour que l'on porte l'un pour l'autre. Nous avons envie de donner de l'espoir à travers ces photos et de montrer que l'amour véritable existe et qu'il faut y croire.

8. Pensez-vous que votre passion commune a joué un grand rôle dans la création de votre relation amoureuse ?

Oh que oui ! Déjà notre rencontre s'est faite via la photographie. Je (Maud) suivais le travail de Théo et suis tombée en admiration devant ce qu'il faisait et ce qu'il dégageait. J'ai alors commencé à lui parler en ligne, nous avons tout de suite accroché, nous partagions énormément de choses que l'on aimait. Nous avons fini par nous rencontrer et sommes tombés amoureux, c'était une évidence. La photo est un lien très fort entre nous deux, qui nous permet de partager nos passions ( voyages, inspirations, rencontres, etc). Ce lien consolide notre complicité.

9. Quels sont vos projets pour l'année 2022 ? Vous en avez peut-être en commun ?

Notre plus gros projet commun pour 2022 est de re voyager, reprendre la route. Les deux années de covid ont été très dures car elles nous ont privés de voyage. C'est pourtant une part très importante de notre vie, tant sur le plan personnel que professionnel. Nous avons besoin de partir sur la route, d'explorer, de se sentir libre de faire des photos sans contrainte. Nous avons besoin de la route pour se sentir vivants et s'exprimer exactement comme on le veut, exprimer notre sensibilité et nous révéler.

Sur le plan personnel, Maud a également pour projet de sortir un nouveau livre dans un an ou deux et aimerait s'y consacrer autant qu'elle le peut cette année. Quant à lui, Théo vient de sortir son livre « Roll » qui sera réédité aux éditions Fisheye.