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 yourselves 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.

On the left : Photograph by Théo Gosselin  / On the right : White Horse, 2016 by Maud Chalard, available on Artsper

6. What are some of your main inspirations?

Cinema and music are integral parts of our work:  independent American films, folk and rock music... We love the protest spirit and the air of promise of freedom dating back to the late 60s. We also share a deep love for the great outdoors and American road trips.

7. Has your relationship influenced your artistic process? If so, how?

I think our relationship has influenced us to create images filled with love. The fact that we are happy and in love can be felt in our pictures. Unconsciously, our images reflect our emotions and the love we have for each other. We want to give hope through these pictures and show that true love exists and that we must believe in it.

8. Do you think that your common passion for photography has played a significant role in the formation of your relationship?

Yes, I do! We met through photography. I (Maud) was following Theo's work and fell in love with what he was doing. I started talking to him online, we immediately hit it off, we shared a lot of things we liked. We ended up meeting and fell in love, it was simple. Photography is a very strong link between the two of us and allows us to share many things together ( travel, inspirations, the people we meet, etc). This link consolidates our bond.

9. What are your goals for the year 2022? Do you have some that you share?

Our biggest common project for 2022 is to travel again. The two years of covid were very hard because we did not travel. It is a very important part of our lives, both personally and professionally. We need to go on the road, to explore, to feel free to take pictures without constraint. We need the road to feel alive and to express ourselves exactly as we want, to express our sensibility and to reveal our true selves on a journey of self discovery. On a personal level, Maud is planning to publish a new book in a year or two and would like to devote as much time as she can to it this year. As for Theo, he has just released his book "Roll" which will be republished by Fisheye.