The best office in the world.

If you have spent any time on the beaches in Cap d’Antibes during the high season then you have probably spotted Leah or one of her team.

Leah works as a freelance photographer for Instantfort, a local photography company based in Juan les Pins. Every summer they employ a team of photographers on a freelance basis. The team spend their days visiting all the beaches here offering people the oppotunity of having a professional photo taken in a beautiful location and free of charge. You then have the option to purchase the pictures taken at a later date directly from the shop and at your leisure. There is  no obligation to order anything so if you are feeling photogenic why not give it a go next time one of them approaches you.

I bumped into Leah a couple of weeks ago on Plage de la Garoupe so I stopped to ask her a couple of questions about her work.

How long have you been working as a Photographer here?

I have been doing this work for 8 years now.  I spend the summer season on the Cote d’Azur working with Instantfort and then I used to work in Savoie doing the same thing in the winter. Now I just work the Summer season.

I work mainly in Juan les Pins and here on Plage Garoupe.

I like this job a lot and also I have the most beautiful office in the world. Sometimes it can be difficult because, these days, everyone has a phone. They take their own pictures so it’s hard to convince them to have a professional photo taken, even when it’s free.

I spend my days speaking to people on the beaches so for that you need patience. Not everyone wants to be photographed so sometimes I need to spend a lot of time speaking to people before I find a family or couple who lets me take their photo.

How do people get to see the pictures you have taken?

The shoot itself is free, afterwards I give the client a card with a number on it. They can then go into the shop in Juan les Pins at their leisure to see the pictures I have taken and hopefully they will order some.

I get paid by commission only so if clients do not order pictures after the shoot then I don’t get paid.

Are you from Antibes?

No. I live in La Seyne sur Mer but while I am working here in the summer I live in Juan les Pins with my colleagues. We are 6 people in our team.

I see that there are a few other companies doing the same thing you do now, has that had an effect on your work?

Actually Instantfort were the first people to do this kind of photography on the beaches here. They started the service  about 15 years ago but yes now there are many companies offering the same service. It hasn’t changed the amount of clients I get though really. There seems to be enough work for everyone.

What do you like to do when you are not working?

When I am not working I love to go into old Antibes and I love to come here to the Cap too. There is lots to do and to see here and of course it’s incredibly beautiful. It really is a great place to work and also to spend the summer which is why I have been coming back for 8 years.

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