Girls behind the camera vol.1

Photography has always been a natural part of our process—not just as a way of documenting, but as a way of feeling, remembering, and seeing.

In the project Girls of… Girls Behind the Camera, we turn our attention to the women behind the lens—those who shape how we perceive images, often remaining invisible themselves.

For this installment, we invited photographers whose work has accompanied our mood boards for years to share their vision and images with us.

We're starting with Mel.

Mel, known as Vanelli Melli, is a Berlin-based photographer and creator working at the intersection of fashion, personal narrative, and visual storytelling.

Her relationship with photography began early – with a blog and an intuitive need to document everyday life. What initially was a way of capturing friends, places, and fleeting moments, over time evolved into a recognizable visual language, driven by emotion, light, and intuition.

Her photos exist somewhere between memory and the present. They possess a quiet balance of softness, vulnerability, and a distinct sense of aesthetics – intimate shots, often unplanned, impossible to replicate.

Instead of striving for perfection, she follows the atmosphere – allowing light and emotion to shape the image.

Over time, Mel has transitioned from being one of the first distinctive figures in the online fashion world to a multidisciplinary creator, collaborating with brands while remaining true to a very personal and sincere way of seeing.

What is photography to you?

For me, photography is a way of expressing emotions and feelings, capturing aesthetics, and encapsulating moments in an image. I always try to capture a certain "atmosphere" and hope that my photos convey specific emotions. It's a broad spectrum, but at its heart is a longing for the past, as well as sensitivity, beauty, and delicacy. I like to record both extremes — from carefully staged scenes to completely spontaneous moments.

Have you ever taken a photo that changed the way you see the world?

Not one specific one. I think that virtually every photo can have such an impact — especially the unplanned ones. That one shot can never be repeated, so in a way, you capture a moment forever.

When was a moment you wished you had your camera with you but didn't?

I almost always have it with me, so I don't recall a situation I regretted not capturing.

Which photo is the most valuable to you and why?

I don't like choosing favorites, but my first Kodak Kars series will always be special to me. That's when I first felt that my photos could exist as prints — as something that could hang on a wall and function like a work of art.