Playtime

We love immersing ourselves in the visual universes of different members from our community. Each with their own unique perspective of childhood, they capture the beauty and magic of it in their own way. Join us as we step into the universe of Chloé Simon, the mother of two and photographer behind the Instagram @klowai. Having visited Playtime Paris for the first time this winter, she discovered some incredible brands that she used to create a beautiful editorial exclusively for us. Let’s learn more about Chloé, her family, and how she began photographing campaign images for kidswear brands before discovering some of her latest work!

A word from Chloé…

“Hi Playtime community! My name is Chloé, I live in the South of France in a town called Hyeres with my partner and our two daughters, Rose and Alba. I’ve been doing photography for about 15 years, but it started taking a more important place in my life about three years ago when I decided to stop working full time to spend more time with my family and develop this passion.

I’ve always been interested in fashion, but today children’s fashion is the center of my universe. My partner is a professor, which enables us all to spend a lot of time together and travel whenever possible. Since the days of MySpace, I’ve enjoyed sharing my vision and favorite things like music or my time living in Australia on social media. After the birth of my first daughter, everything took on a different dimension. I had always had a preference for spontaneous images, but I started capturing more photos of everyday life. My content naturally evolved towards something more personal centered around family and childhood.”

Chloé and her daughters, Rose and Alba

“Since my first film camera, I’ve loved the more manual side of photography. I love the raw, handmade quality that feels more lively with its tonalities and unique sensibility. Sometimes my images turn out imperfect, but that’s exactly what I love about them. With this “old school” aesthetic I capture everyday moments of childhood that we all have memories of.

About three years ago I was contacted by a Canadian brand to do a photoshoot, and that’s when I started working with brands. Now I create a number of projects for brands that I incorporate into our life. I never speak about it in terms of a photoshoot to my girls. Above all I want to maintain their spontaneity and sincerity. I imagine contexts, places, activities, and ambiances that can really be lived in, which allows for natural movements and real emotions. This authenticity is at the heart of my work.

I never leave home without my camera, even though it’s a bit heavy sometimes! I love testing different kinds of cameras, especially old models that I adapt to achieve unique renderings.”