Local Voice: Jeanette Seflin, Photographer
In our series Local Voices, we’ll be introducing you to locals and some of their favourite things to do in Stockholm.
All photos by Lola Akinmade Åkerström
Meet portrait and travel photographer Jeanette Seflin who also happens to be a makeup artist. When not shooting business portraits for high profile Swedish publications and newspapers, she’s traveling the world and documenting it through gorgeous photography on her blog.
Tell us a bit about your background
I grew up in a small town in the north of Sweden with my father who was a sailor for 25 years and my mother that used to work for KLM. I always heard amazing stories from my dad from his time at the sea. Stories like when he was partying with Roger Moore in Hawaii or that he had a monkey as a pet on the boat and all the weird stories from when he got his sailor tattoos.
So as soon as I graduated from school when I was 19, my friend and I packed our bags and traveled the world for six months.
That was when I turned into somewhat of a nomad. I used to live less than a year in cities like Barcelona, Paris and Oslo; jumping between cities and finding work wherever I could.
As the restless person I am, I decided to travel around the world again and went for almost a year. It was a year filled with drinking vodka in Siberia, riding horses in the Gobi dessert, sky diving over Capetown and swimming with wild dolphins.
I guess the traveling gene is in my blood.
How long have you been based here in Stockholm and what drew you to the city?
I have been living in Stockholm for three years now. All along the way during my travels, I discovered that I really liked taking photos.
In 2012, I was shortlisted in one of the categories in the international photo competition Travel Photographer of the Year. That really got me thinking that it could be possible for me to make photography my career.
I moved here when I got accepted into the photography school Fotoskolan Stockholm. I graduated school last year and have since then started my own company as a photographer and makeup artist) and created my travel blog.
I now have Stockholm as my base while still traveling a lot.
Tell us more about your work as a portrait photographer.
After working as a makeup artist for a couple of years, I discovered that I wanted to do more than just makeup. Countless of hours being up close to people’s faces, I started to combine those two: photography and makeup.
Today, my portraits are published in ads and articles for Swedish newspapers like Dagens nyheter and Dagens industri. I love the fact that the camera can open up doors and let you meet people that I wouldn’t be able to without the camera.
You’re also a makeup artist. Can you share more?
I moved to Paris when I was 20 for makeup studies and stayed for almost a year. So I celebrate 10 years as an makeup artist this year.
It’s something I have been working with in different countries I’ve lived in. That’s the beauty of it; that you can do it from everywhere. When I started out, it was for a French sports channel doing makeup on male TV presenters.
Today, I’m more into fashion editorials and fashion shows. It suits me better since it lets me be more creative and play around more.
Where are some offbeat beauty stores and boutiques you would recommend for travelers to Stockholm
I do most of my makeup shopping at Åhlens city and Sephora at Östermalmstorg. They have a wide range of brands that I like.
For a more offbeat beauty store, I would say Smink och Perukmakar’n where you can find everything you need from wigs and theater makeup to fun eyelashes.
What are three of your own personal favorite things to do in Stockholm.
Since I have a travel blog, I always want to discover new places in Stockholm but there are some places I always return to.
The public gardens like Rosendals trädgård and Bergianska trädgården where you can find my favorite cafes in town. Gamla Orangeriet and Rosendals Trädgårds Kafe which are both located in old greenhouses at the gardens.
Sitting on Skinnarviksberget with my friends during a sunset gazing out on the the best view of Stockholm.
Exploring the Stockholm archipelago. I had never been there until last summer when my boyfriend who has a summer house there showed me around. I fell in love with both the islands and him.
Follow Jeanette on her blog, Instagram, and Twitter.
Do you know any local voices you’d love us to spotlight or would you love to share your voice and your Stockholm with us? Please get in touch.
