We had the good fortune of connecting with Yoan Mollemeyer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yoan, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?

I didn’t pursue a creative career; the creative career pursued me, haha! A “run-of-the-mill” managerial career with no major issues and real vacations sounded appealing to me. But I always drew to escape the boredom of classes, made music to break free from the routine of a “traditional” job, and created videos or took photos. Each of my projects has grown so much every time! I had to take it seriously and truly dedicate myself to bringing to life what I have in mind!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The journey has been long, and it’s not over yet. Being an entrepreneur is like being at a poker table all the time—you can win or lose a lot in each round, and you need to have the composure and strong nerves not to leave the table!

Over time, I’ve “connected the dots” (cf. Steve Jobs). Since childhood, I’ve enjoyed creating and telling stories. I come from France, appreciate romance and elegance, and now live in the United States. As I connected the dots over time, the picture became clearer— I capture love! I am a wedding photographer in the US. There’s no coincidence!

That’s precisely what sets “Cliché” images apart. I’ve always been inspired by the aesthetics of French luxury brand advertisements (like perfumes) and the romance of American movies such as “The Bridges of Madison County,” “Legends of the Fall,” or “Pride and Prejudice” (whose lead actress, by the way, became the face of one of those luxury brands). So, photographing lovers in the USA ultimately makes sense.

I am rewarded every time people notice the details of this story in “Cliché.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
It’s planned! I’ll take them to catch a college football game – what a spectacular show, I love it! We’ll explore downtown Raleigh, where I live, and then venture into the charming towns in the back country. The architecture of those old buildings is incredible, evoking movie scenes at every street corner. We’ll also visit Wilmington, the backdrop of the romantic series that defined our adolescence, like “Dawson’s Creek” and “One Tree Hill.” As for dining, there are so many great burger joints here!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My father has to be credited for a part of it. He has a good eye for imagery, and he always had photo and video equipment around. Film cameras, Super 8, the early digital ones, and so on. When I was a child, we did a short film workshop together. It gave me the basics of video, composition, storytelling, and more.

As for the rest… entrepreneurship is a long journey that one walks alone, and sometimes, you come across someone who encourages you along the way. Like my former manager “David” when I was a project manager in a large company. I loved working with him, but he could see my frustration at not being able to change things enough in this huge corporation. When I shared my ideas/projects with him, he said, “Don’t stay here, it’s a waste, get out! You will succeed for sure!” – best advice ever –

Finally, my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, who themselves run several businesses, have enabled, through their advice and investment, the continuation of the adventures.

Website: www.cliche-photography.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/cliche_nc/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cliche.nc

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