Venus Girl of the Month: Emily Sheffer

Her pictures deserve more than a thousand words.

By Siera Cerny
Published: March 19th, 2010 | 4:50pm

This 17-year-old knows how to take a photograph! Our new Reader of the Week has a unique eye for nature and human expression, capturing images full of emotion, movement and dreamlike beauty. Her photos have a subtlety that is as inspiring as it is impressive. From teleportation to jamming out to Animal Collective, here's a peek inside the dark and graceful photographic world of Emily Sheffer.

Your body of work is impressive, especially since you are so young. When did you start taking pictures?
In eighth grade, my good friend Cassidy discovered photography. We would go on shoots with our best friend as the model. That is when I said to myself, "This may be what I want to do with my life!"

How would you describe your photographic style? How has it changed or developed over time?
Most of my photos develop this kind of graceful darkness. I like to keep it classy; not too gruesome, but still ironically morbid in a way. The most dramatic change that I have seen in my work is an improvement in the quality and concepts.

From conception to development, what is your artistic process in capturing/creating a photograph that satisfies you?
I like to have an idea in mind before I go into a shoot. The conceptual developments of my photos come from every aspect of my life. My most recent photograph was inspired by The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath.

My gorgeous friend, Lauren, stars in many of my photos. It's great that I can work with someone I've been close with for eleven years. While shooting we listen to loud music by Animal Collective and Gossip. This relaxed atmosphere keeps the photography fresh and fun.

Are there any photos that have a backstory?
There is this one photo that I took of the town in which my dad grew up in. It means a lot to me because a blown-up version of it was presented to him after he gave a speech in that town, and now it hangs in his office at work. I'm very proud that so many people can enjoy something that I created.

What other photographers and/or artists inspire you?
I get a lot of my inspiration from photographers around my age who are very talented and successful. I'm kind of a "groupie" of a few of the superstar photographers on Flickr, like Rosie Hardy and Chrissie White. Both of these women are around my age and create beautiful images. This gives me hope that young adults can be taken seriously in the photography industry.

What is your favorite thing about taking photos?
My favorite thing about photography is the ability to make all of the dream-like images in my head into a beautiful reality.

If you could have a super power, what would it be and why?
Teleportation, hands down. I could visit my sister/best friend, who is living in Egypt for a year, any time I want. Also, I wouldn't have to go to driving school. That would be glorious.