649: Vincent Peters – The Courage to Stop Imitating and Start Seeing with Your Photography

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Vincent Peters of www.vincentpetersstudio.com doesn’t just capture moments — he reveals something deeper about the people we think we already know.

He's a German-born photographer, artist, and visual storyteller whose images have graced the pages of Vogue, GQ, and Harper’s Bazaar, and whose work for fashion houses like Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, and Nike has helped shape modern photography.

What sets Vincent apart isn’t just the magazines or the brands — it’s how he sees his subjects.

He doesn’t just shoot models or celebrities — he treats them as actors in a story, using light, shadow and composition to find something deeper.

His cinematic style — inspired by the classic films of Hollywood’s golden age — gives his photographs a timeless, almost quality that feels less like fashion photography and more like poetry in image form.

He believes every photograph should be felt before it’s fully seen. And that goes for his portraits, fashion spreads, or his limited-edition prints.

In this interview, Vincent shares how slowing down, trusting intuition, and embracing imperfection are the only ways photography can still mean something in a world obsessed with speed and surface.

Following this conversation, will you have the courage to stop imitating and start seeing with your photography?

Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:

• How Vincent Peters’ cinematic, Hollywood-inspired style proves that powerful photography starts with emotion — using light, shadow and composition to make images felt before they’re seen.
• Why slowing down your creative process matters — and how treating shoots like long-form ideas, not quick jobs, leads to more meaningful and distinctive photographic work.
• The overlooked importance of authorship in photography — and how developing a clear personal vision helps you stand out in a crowded, fast-changing industry.
• Why being true to your creative identity attracts the right clients — and how alignment beats chasing every opportunity that comes your way.
• How the shift from traditional publishing models to today’s open market has reshaped photography businesses — and why adaptability is now a core professional skill.
• Why AI and advanced technology should support, not replace, creative control — and how imperfection and restraint often produce more human, memorable images.
• The creative advantage of mistakes — and how embracing unpredictability, especially with film and continuous light, adds depth and authenticity to your work.
• How deeper emotional connection with your subject transforms portraits — moving beyond direction to reveal unconscious reactions and genuine human presence.
• Why technical mastery alone isn’t enough — and how balancing skill, intuition and artistic vision is what ultimately creates photographs that resonate and endure.

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

If you’re on the fence about becoming a premium member, join with the $1 trial today and get access to the FULL interviews each week, a fantastic back catalogue of interviews, and have ALL future interviews delivered automatically to your phone or tablet. Plus, special member-only interviews.

Most people are other people. Their thoughts are somebody else's opinions. Their life is a mimicry, and their passion is a quotation. And that's very true, you know. And most photographers are other photographers. – Vincent Peters

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online. Seriously, that's not all.

Think about your work as a different media. Think about it. Look, if you think about your work, for example, if you think about your pictures as music, what instrument would it be? Would it be more than one instrument? Would it have a rhythm, or would it just be a melody? – Vincent Peters

In addition to everything above, you'll get access to instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable, and help you build friendships with other pro photographers with motives similar to yours—to build a more successful photography business.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Vincent shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business based on what you heard in today's episode.

The shot you take is not the person. The shot you take is that particular moment and the way he's reflecting the light at that moment back to you. And that is also something AI can never do. It's not a monolog, it's a constant dialog. – Vincent Peters

If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Vincent, or a way to thank her for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

You want people to hold attention because you want people to listen to your story, and there again, you with form and content…If you don't have a content, you just shoot a pretty picture of a pretty person. That might work, that works for a lot of people but that is not necessarily something that's going to remain but if you reveal something in that content, and if you reveal something that shows not a person of them, but that has, you know, to use a bigger word, that reminds people of the human condition, suddenly there's something. – Vincent Peters

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons. Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome! Secondly, iTunes and Google are the most significant podcast search engines, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.

Suddenly you have to be yourself, and that is actually one of the hardest things to be in life. – Vincent Peters

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google. You can leave some honest feedback and a rating, which will help me and the show. I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name. Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast. Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them.

You cannot make people feel something if you don't feel it. – Vincent Peters

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.​

Here is the latest review:

★★★★★  The depth and honesty of the interviews are outstanding!

Via Google Reviews by Adelaide family photographer, Carolina Roennau, in Australia on December 23rd, 2025.

I really want to say how impressed I am with PhotoBizX. The depth and honesty of the interviews are outstanding, and it is very clear how much care and thought goes into the work you do.

I have genuinely valued what I have listened to so far, and it has been very inspiring!

Vincent Peters Website

Vincent Peters on Instagram