Dorothée Thomson is a French photographer based in Paris, known for her minimalist approach and evocative use of muted tones and desaturated colours. Through careful attention to light, colour, and narrative, she creates images heavy with atmosphere, where every detail carries emotion. At the core of her art lies a deep interest in humanity & women empowerment. Her work moves between portraiture, still life, and documentary-style fashion editorials, blending poetic elements with a refined, cinematic aesthetic.
Q:Where are you at the moment, and what has been inspiring you lately?
Right now, I’m in Paris. Lately, I’ve been inspired by quiet, in-between moments. My daughter Ilona is a great inspiration to my work. I love exploring motherhood, childhood with those fragments of stillness or chaos that often go unnoticed. I try to capture that tension or calm in my work.
Q:What are your favorite places in Paris? Tell us how you would spend an ideal day there.
My ideal day would start waking up early, walking through the Luxembourg garden or Palais Royal with a camera in hand, capturing quiet streets before the city wakes. Then, maybe an hour at Café Quartier Vavin to journal, eating lunch at Rosebakery on rue des Martyrs then going to Hune book shop in St Germain, sunset by the river, and ending the day editing my photographs and listening to music.
Q: What’s a habit or routine that’s important to you?
Every morning, coffee first, then I take time to walk no phone, no camera. Just me observing. It resets my mind, my vision and reminds me to see, not just look.
Q: Among all your influences, is there one you return to often someone or something that keeps your creativity alive?
That’s a hard question as there are so many that inspire me. To name a few: Cara Mand, Noa N’guyen, Lisa Sorgini, Charlotte Lapalus, Elise Toïdé… and definitely music, I build playlists that match the mood of the photo series I’m working on it helps shape the emotional tone.
Q: What’s something people often misunderstand about you?
People think I’m straightforward, but really, I’m the kind of mystery even I’m still trying to figure out. What you see is who I am the rest just isn’t important to me.
Q: What do you secretly wish people noticed about you without you having to say it?
People usually just see what’s easy to notice and that’s okay. I don’t expect anyone to look deeper. But if someone ever did, without me having to say a word… well, that’d just be a rare kind of alignment, not something I need, just something I’d quietly respect.
Q: As you look ahead, what projects or ideas are you most excited about?
I’m working on a photo essay that explores the theme of “absence.” Empty spaces, overlooked corners, objects left behind. It’s deeply personal, and I’m excited (and a bit terrified) to put it out into the world.