Val Shaff is a photographer who worked for years in New York. We already knew each other in our private lives, and had shared long conversations about the creative process — how projects begin, the questions that lead them forward, the idea of finding our voice, building a body of work, the doubts… When I imagined this series, I knew right away I wanted to sit down with her.

When I sent my first round of invitations to artists, Val booked the very first slot. That’s exactly who she is: efficient, spontaneous, always ready to dive in — generous, forgiving. Beginning with her felt like a relief.

The first time I visited her studio, I was struck by the light in the space, and by how everything seemed set with intention — archive files, a big island table in the middle so she could flow around and spread the work, a dedicated area for her computer and professional scanner. I remember thinking: If I were a photographer, this is exactly the kind of space I would dream of.

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