Photographers

Dejan & Per

Thanks to their shared interests, this photographer duo has found its niche in the industry by working as a team – together with all the people on set and the challenges that come with an assignment. Always with the aim of finding the best solution and creating a positive collaboration.

The Sturgheons: Guys, please tell us a little bit about yourself? Who are you both, where are you from, what do you do? How did you actually get to know each other? And how did your collaboration begin?

Per: We’re two fellow Swedes with a shared interest in cars and photography. Dejan’s background is in website/design, while mine goes from having started out as a model taking interest in photography and later on came into the automotive space after having done fashion photography and Art Direction for years. We came to meet through a mutual client and our first real shoot together was for Ferrari Magazine – shot in STHLM “all run and gun” style. We realized we had a great vibe together and that as a team we could conquer anything. I’ve always been rather crappy at retouching which has had me perfect my skills with getting “one shots to shine” while Dejan’s always had an amazing talent for Post/pro and retouching meaning also in this way we complement each other.

In the world of photography you meet more and more photographer teams. What would you say sets you apart from them? How do you complement each other? What are your different strengths? And what do you particularly appreciate about each other?

Per: Well, when we started as a duo, the only duo around was The Curtets (Patrick and Marlene). So somehow we were part of setting the trend. I don’t think it works for everyone and we never came into this with an idea of finding “the perfect shooting partner”. It just happened organically. I think it’s an incredible thing really – meeting like we did. It takes so much to find someone that shares the same visions, has the same aesthetical preferences, doesn’t have to big of an ego (as most photographers are used to all the spotlight on themselves) and so on. But, in these days clients ask for more and more output and to not cut back on quality the only thing to do is to make quicker decisions, to cover more angles at the same time… And in general just to be more effective. It’s really important to note that being on a job for 2 days might be okay even if you’re not a tight team on also a personal level – but surviving over a decade together and being on shoots up to 6 weeks and more it is clear just like any other family/relationship we’ve managed to stand the test of time.
I am the one mostly in control of business. In short I am all things pre-shoot. Dejan all things post-shoot. I do casting, styling and Art Direction. I am an entrepreneur in short. Dejan’s skills are being more patient than I am also working on a project for months on end where I tend to love starting up but then getting onto another creative outlet. That’s a great balance. We are both calm and grounded. Thinking of personality where I still tend to be much more “now now now” and Dejan “ah, it can wait”. Also here together we find the right balance. I also find both of us to be very positive and happy – easy going. However I am much more the struggling artist soul (Pisces) who never thinks my work is 10/10 (good enough sure, but I CAN do better) where Dejan is better at being content and certain about things.

Dejan, you are living in Sweden. And Per your life takes place in Los Angeles. You are both also on the road a lot. How do you manage to stay in touch and to choose a job? What criteria do you have to say yes or no to a creative brief?

Per: So, fortunately it seems our work is pretty much 50/50 USA/EU for what we shoot as a duo. There’s also quite a bit of work that we’ll work on where I am the photographer and Dejan’s the retouching artist. As Dejan has got 3 kids and a wife it’s ofc harder for him to be away 365 days in a year where I am more flexible for travels and so on. We talk to each other everyday either on the phone or over messenger. And, as for creative briefs I feel it’s the same as with “how do we manage as a duo”. It’s rare that I’d love a brief that Dejan would hate and vice versa. Usually we are aligned. (smiles)

Do you have photographic role models? Maybe from other genres?

Per: Growing up and getting into photography my biggest source of inspiration was Dave LaChapelle. I’ve always loved colorful things where “more is more”. How can less be more? (sounds very un-Scandinavian but still). These days I don’t’ really have anyone I idolize in the photographic space but I do love going to photographic exhibitions and look at the classic work of Peter Lindberg etc. I am more inspired by people- and fashion photography than car photography to be honest. I also feel I get more inspiration from movies, documentaries and interior design than actual automovie imagery.

Dejan: I feel like it’s the same for me, too. In the beginning, when automotive photography was just a hobby, I remember the days when posting images on DeviantArt.com and other forums. Then at the time Ruji Wynn was a really great automotive photographer and I really wanted to be able to shoot cool cars like he did. Now we do just that! (smiles) Also think music is probably the #1 inspiration to get creative and especially visiting really great locations and areas. For example nowadays whenever going on vacation and seeing the absolutely amazing nature we have in our world, that’s then letting the creative flow and get excited. Lanzarote for example – family trip with my wife and kids – I was excited by the amazing roads and volcano-scenery, the family and kids. We’re excited by the hotel and pool…

What originally drew you into the world of automotive and lifestyle photography and how do you hope to make your mark on it?

Per: It’s funny. We have to give a shout out to The Curtets. A friend of mine was also a fashion model and did a shoot with them. Both me and Dejan admired their work (some 10 years or more ago) while at the same time we thought “this is amazing work – but in between the two of us we can also totally get the same result”. So, as they were sort of pioneering that car/lifestyle photography boom we started doing shoots on our own in our way – inspired by them. Now we have the same European agent, bid on the same jobs… we win some – they win others. The summary is that we set out on a journey together and with hard work comes success. To be honest though, the joy of doing what we love is what really paved way for our success. 100%... 

Can you share a particularly challenging or unique experience you’ve had photographing cars and how did you overcome it?

Per: For me the most challenging is not nerves or the pressure. It’s dealing with “whatever is thrown at us” when shooting on location. Heat or Cold. I can’t really pinpoint any particular situation but remember shooting a secret car for KIA in Lappland/Sweden for 5 days in minus 30 degreeish temperatures as vividly as doing a similar code red shoot for Toyota but on an Airstrip in Death Valley with plus 40 degree temps and blistering sun. It’s key to like any successful person, no matter what field you are in, to stay in both physical and mental shape to pull this off. Also, a lot of time time pressure and management is what separates failure and success. We always have to know when to get things done or else we might lose a shot and not complete a clients shotlist… (smiles)

Dejan: I agree, it’s not so much the nerves or pressure here either, but thinking about it maybe we should be more nervous. Think of it, we’re shooting and have the general grip on creating a global campaign for example Audi – their new A3 model. It is a huge project and very important for Audi for it to become good and successful. But we are also usually and mostly surrounded by people like us, the people at the ad-agency are usually very similar characters as us and we all share the ”pressure” together and come up with good solutions. There will always be challenges that we need to overcome and create or find a solution for. I think the most important is that together as a team (not only me and Per) we find these solutions and make the best out of it. Our manager in EU, Christian (Christian Severin from severinwendeler) is also a helping us very much with leading us in the right path.

Are there certain aesthetics or design elements of cars that you find particularly inspiring or challenging to capture in your work?

Per: Like with anything, it’s easier to photograph what you can relate to from a personal preference. But we take pride in understanding each clients design language and thought process. After all, cars sell in incredible volumes so each model for sure serves its own purpose. Our mission is to navigate with that compass as well as portraying our take on the design created by the design-team. Chrome is always a challenge as it’s shooting a mirror… Black cars are really only good to shoot in really low light. Those are two challenges that’ll always be present. I can’t think of anything else really!

Dejan: Every car has its personal touch and design that a whole design-team have been working so hard of creating. Our job is to enhance this and ”read the designers mind” of what we also really love about that specific design. Usually that ends up really well and maybe it’s also because we are so car-interested ourselves. We appreciate a good design, nice wheels, nice shapes. It just sits in our DNA and interest I think.
That’s for angles of the car. But also, sometimes client already have a ”client-approved” angle-study which the designers themselves have created of their best-of. That’s then great but will of course lead to less creative angles that maybe us would find. Sometimes or usually it’s actually the opposite, we have free hands to find that perfect lens for a front 3/4 angle, height and dynamicness. In any way – marrying a car with a specific location or mood is very important. Will it fit the scene, the story, the overall feeling a viewer will get. A RS3 driving on epic curvy roads in a beautiful scenery or driving it in downtown in trafic-jams… The first option is much more fun and a better selling-point! (smiles)

Cars and lifestyle motifs have been photographed almost everywhere in the world. In which unseen place would you like to do a photo shoot?

Per: Oh! That’s a good one. Mabye an offroad vehicle that’s made it to Machu Picchu? That’d be wild. I’ve been there and it’s one of the most amazing places in the world. The energy is just something different.

Dejan: For me it’s always been areas where something cool or epic is happening, I mean… something like ”un-natural world” such as Iceland, volcano islands like Lanzarote and such. It’s just the feeling of non man-made locations that kind of draws my eye the most.

If you could collaborate with one famous artist, dead or alive, to create a series of car and/or lifestyle photographs, who would it be and what style would you aim for?

Per: Wow. Maybe with Rembrandt? Who knows what that’d turn out like… Or, even more out there. Picasso! But thinking that’s too wild of an idea to even phantom I’d say Peter Lindberg. He pioneered the modern day Fashion Editorial in a lot of ways and I love his bombastic sets and incredible story telling. I’d love to shoot with him to create a coffee table book! (For the highest bidding client *lol*).

Photography has developed steadily since its beginnings in the 19th century. From analog to digital photography, from simple shots to complex compositions – technological progress has had a significant impact on the craft of photography. Today, in the age of artificial intelligence (AI), we are on the cusp of another revolution. 
What influence does AI already have on your work? And, if so, in which areas are you already using it today?

Per: AI will have an impact on so much more than photography let’s start by saying that out loud. For us we’re already implementing it in creating storyboards and sometimes asking Chat GPT for ideas on our scripts. We’ve also already used AI for replacing hair and wardrobe on talent… I’m sure we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. It’s all about getting on this train or being left behind that’s all I can say – and we’re set on staying in the industry for many years still. (smiling again)

Are you afraid that artificial intelligence could replace photographers in the future?

Per: Not really. I think it will to a certain level but like we still have record players and analogue cameras there’s always a reaction to the initial action. People love what’s real too.

Dejan: I have to agree, I think there will always be a demand for photography, CGI and creativeness and not be totally replaced by AI. Some things will definitely be replaced, no doubt! I think we all have to ”learn” to use AI in our workflows here and there. I personally use it sometimes in Photoshop and it’s helping out a lot, but the resolution is not quite there yet for professional usage or high-res usage.

Clients regulate photographers, agencies and creatives in their work. Is there anything that you would you like from your clients to perform better or work in a smoother process or feel more the spirit of togetherness and teamwork; anything like that?

Per: Usually on this level clients are a dream to work with. Highly talented people that make our assets look great as we team up to form the shots with our joint efforts. I think where it really shines the most is when the shot list leaves room for interpretation though. The process is so much better when there’s suggestions on a board rather than “copy paste and deliver”. The lack of creativity forces the team to sometimes lock up and to not get what the moment really provides – the best circumstances. That’s somewhat limiting.

Imagine you were only allowed to own one car – already existing or futuristic. Describe, which one it would it be, how it looks like and its special features? And in what kind of scenery and weather conditions would you shoot your car?

Per: I love the design language of classic cars but the tech of new cars. I could never go back to a petrol/combustion engine. I am too aware of climate change and too much into what the world needs to act on to change. But, I love cars from my youth as they are related to so many memories. So my choice would be a BMW E30 (maybe M3?) with the drivetrain from a Tesla Model 3 performance or possibly same brand – i4 M50 with all the suspension and tech too included. What a sweet ride! (I’ve actually asked for a quote already from a custom speed shop that do EV conversions but it’s about 200,000 Euro so need to save up.).

Dejan: And I, if only able to own one car, I have to think about the family. Wife and 3 kids. It needs to be big. I honestly think I have the best family-car right now, for the price and performance it offers. The Tesla Model Y Performance. It’s ideal in many ways. But, I think if I could dream, it would maybe be like a Porsche SUV with great performance and electric drivetrain. Macan?! (happily smiling) But – I would reallllly love to also own at least one petrol engine. I don’t know. Like a weekend-car. A fabulous V8 or V10 sportswear. Audi R8 GT V10, an old Porsche 911, a Lambo…

What are your next projects (you are allowed to talk about)?

Per: We are always under NDA for projects so we can’t go into detail but we are stoked to see all the assets being released from our longest shoot ever with Audi. A3 in all shapes and forms. So proud of the shoot, the team and the production.
As for right now, we’re on one shoot in the USA with a client from Japan with stills and a TVC. After that we’re back to Europe for a shoot with an American brand to launch a new vehicle in Europe next year… Wish I could tell more…

Dejan: As you say Per, we are under NDA but we have shot quite a lot lately so that’s so thankful, we need to continue in same pace. And I think with the help of the release of our Audi assets this will help open up the eyes for more car brands to hire us. It was a bit the same feeling when we shot all Maserati assets for their MY19 program, it was a great gateway onto getting new clients for us.

Dejan and Per are represented in Europe by www.severinwendeler.de

Explore more work of Dejan and Per on https://dejanandper.com/ and on https://www.youtube.com/@dejanandper/featured

Los Angeles and Sweden, June 2024. | Interview by The Sturgheons with Dejan and Per. | All pictures and films by Dejan and Per. Making-of portraits of Dejan and Per by Darek.