“I was lucky to be born into a family where I was not rejected by my parents unlike other people with albinism, who can be seen as monsters by their families.”
When Cécile came across Reine on Instagram, she felt compelled to reach out. “I am very interested in the so-called atypical profiles. I look for singularity in the people I photograph.”
Acting on a feeling, Cécile struck up a conversation, and for over six months, the two forged a close friendship online. Once COVID allowed, the photographer invited Reine to her hometown in Nantes. “I don’t approach my subjects in a conscious way; they impose themselves on me. I’m drawn to themes of femininity, gentleness and strength.”
In their gorgeous collaborative photoshoot, Reine is iconic. But not in an overt way, rather the opposite. Thanks to stunning cosmetology from Antoine Lermite and Alban Pasteau, Reine literally glows–there’s an aura about her. Drenched in soft tones, she appears as an empress or oracle. Shot delicately on a Mamiya RZ 67 medium format film camera, the images leap out of the frame. Cécile does an excellent job of allowing Reine’s personality to shine through, her infectious grin juxtaposed with strong gazes and almost meditative states.
