Based in Paris, photographer Ludovic Balay explores still life, interior architecture, fashion, and travel. Formed in the humanities and trained at ENS Louis-Lumière, he has developed a signature approach rooted in soft natural light, precise framing, and timeless color palettes. He regularly shoots for brands and publications such as Tekla, Chanel, Alaïa, Belmond, Toteme, AD magazine or Neptune Papers. Here, he shares the worst advice he’s ever received, where he goes to find peace, and why his forever inspirations span from the minimal lines of John Pawson to the atmospheric sounds of the Cocteau Twins.

What’s the worst recommendation someone’s given you?

To compromise on details for the sake of speed. Quality requires a certain friction, shortcuts always show in the end.

What’s the last film you watched that moved you deeply?

Perhaps not the most recent, but the one that comes to mind: Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun. The story, the unsaid, and that whole final sequence with the music. It really stays with you.

What book have you gifted most?

It’s a tie between Fragments d’un discours amoureux by Roland Barthes and anything by Coco Capitán. It’s either pure emotional dissection or raw, handwritten poetry, depending on how dramatic the friend is.

What’s something you bought under $100 that changed your life?

A pair of earphones. It’s the easiest way to completely mute the world, escape into another universe, and politely avoid small talk.

Where do you go to find peace?

A table in a good bistro with my closest friends. A bottle of wine, honest food, and company that makes you lose track of time.

Who is your forever inspo?

Too many to name. But consistently: John Pawson and Alvar Aalto for their restraint, Duane Michals for his sequences, and the music of Mazzy Star, Björk, and the Cocteau Twins.

Follow Ludovic on Instagram and Cosmos.