15 Minutes by Audrey Bardou
'One day I happened upon two beautiful legs wearing stilettos. These legs and their owner stood out proudly on the pavement... Was this chance meeting predestined? It’s possible because that day, I was randomly strolling along the street without purpose. I asked to the owner of these splendid legs for permission to make a picture. Also I omitted to tell you that this woman is a prostitute. Some weeks later, I returned to give her a copy of the image. To my astonishment she proposed to pay me in order to continue to photograph her. Of course I declined this offer of payment. But because of the offer of money the relationship suddenly seemed inverted, I was attracted and fascinated by this unexpected demand. This strange encounter provoked questions such as how could a person work in this way then switch off and go normally to sleep? The curiosity was mutual, she was curious about my world and I hers. Gradually through the process of taking pictures and documenting her life we became accustomed to each other. Aside from her job she leads a normal life, reading books, going to the cinema and to visit art exhibitions. She is also a young grandmother who chooses toys for her grandson. These are aspects I’ve included in my project. This lady is a craftswoman of the oldest profession in the world. It’s a particular individual who is able to earn their living this way. She likes her profession, feels satisfied with her work and is fiercely independent. She is true to herself and knows how to turn down a customer if she feels him not convenient. She has regular customers and with them the empathy is mutual. At the age of 43, she is not ready to retire, because this profession brings her some money and the satisfaction of a job well done. Thanks to her special skills with the masochists she earns more money. She has also the capacity of listening and analysing her customers. She dresses with her "professional's outfit" and goes to work. Little by little I gained an insight into her everyday life. It is this place which allows me to show this woman, neither victim, nor culprit' Text By Audrey Bardou

Audrey Bardou was born in 1975 and lives and works in the south of France. Her photography resembles the humanist and social style. Audrey's approach when she makes a series, is to document other people's lives, to explore both the intimate and the personal. Her previous project which began in 2004, documented the end of her grandfather's life. Then for three years she worked on 15 Minutes. As a result of this work, she was invited to exhibit at the Festival Voix Off and the gallery SFR at Les Rencontres d'Arles 2008. This year Audrey will take a part to the Festival Européen de la photo de nu 2009 in Arles.