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

Hi Debora, how do you think about risk?
Risk is a tricky thing, It needs a lot of courage to go a risky road but once you get to the end of the road you feel truly amazing!

Risk has been and still is a big part of my life. I risked a lot, leaving my old job at the bank behind me to through myself into photography and fashion, not knowing if I would ever get a job without having any degree in it.
Yet, I did!

Visiting New York this Summer for 5 days, only to go back home to Switzerland, knowing deep down I wanted to quit my job and move to New York to find greener pasture and so I did!
I knew it was super risky, not knowing anybody or anything in New York but I put all my courage together and did it and felt never better. The outcome of this risk taking was incredible.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What makes me different to others?
I like to capture the beauty of different faces and untold Stories through my Work.
It is never just a good looking picture or a nice Outfit, no there is actually so more behind my pictures that you see.

I try to capture the true essence of the subject in the pictures. Put them in Clothing they actually like, in surroundings they actually feel comfortable so you will see and feel the authenticity looking at the pictures.
And I like to play with random facts, mixing ideas that normally dont belong together or make no sense. Eating cereals on a soccer field? Why not!

An exciting recent project I did in New York actually proves this point a lot!

It is an Photo Exhibition I hosted called “Step into the Unknown”
Talking about a young West African model, leaving everything familiar behind to try his Luck in New York.
As soon as I learned about his journey, I knew I wanted to portray his journey through my lens and tell his story!

The photo shooting took place in different places all around New York where he felt like home to showcase the embracing of unfamiliar while staying true to oneself.

The whole concept was created, styled and shot by me and then put into life by being exhibited at an Gallery in New York as well.

It was my first Gallery ever and I was beyond happy to see so many people coming by and supporting and especially admiring the results.

Me and the Model itself, Terry Tyler, we put everything together by ourself within 1 Week, It was definitely not easy but we were both extremely motivated to put these images out there to be seen by so many others and we wanted to share his till then untold story.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
So my Home town Biel in Switzerland is super cute. Very small but still a lot to do!
I would firstly grab a tasty breakfast, then take a walk towards our lake just to lay there a bit, listening to nature and enjoying the sun on our faces and then I would head to this Art Museum which is not far away to check out new exhibitions and while doing that why not getting a bit inspired on the way too!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to the friends, who always motivated me to keep going, to most of the time even see more in me that I do myself.
Shoutout to every stranger I met who made me feel seen and appreciated for the work I do.
And shoutout to my boyfriend who always encouraged me to stay true to myself.

Website: https://www.behance.net/deboralffel

Instagram: amiliayy

Linkedin: Debora Loeffel

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