Hello Maria! First of all, could you introduce yourself to our readers? Who are you, where do you come from, where do you live now? Tell us a little bit about your personal background!
Hello, my name is Maria Geithner (@maryloo_berlin), I was born in Berlin, and I live with my family in the beautiful, idyllic north of Berlin. Apart from my studies in Dresden, I have spent my whole life in this exciting capital city and feel at home here. I love travelling and have always been creative since I was a child. I have always loved drawing, painting, crafting, writing, dancing, designing, but I've probably stuck with photography the most.
PICKMOTION is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and we've had the great pleasure of working with you for many years already, too! How have you seen Instagram evolve over the past 10 years?
I also really enjoy working with you and I'm delighted that you've been so successful with your products for 10 years and what great ideas have come out of this photo app.
Instagram has changed a lot in that time. Not only in terms of the quality of the images, but also in terms of its much stronger social media and advertising focus, as well as its informational nature. I remember when I first signed up in 2012, just wanting to enhance my mobile phone photos with a small selection of filters. It was more about the fun of sharing your photos and snaps with others, getting nice feedback and being inspired by other photos or exciting places. The community was small and familiar.
Today, Instagram feels bigger, more colourful and louder. It's a bit of a curse and a blessing. I think it's a shame that the original focus on photography has been pushed so far into the background, that videos are getting more attention and that many people are only driven by the commercial aspects. Many posts on Instagram seem inauthentic and artificial. I am also very critical of the distorted and unrealistic ideals of beauty. This has taken away some of the original lightness of Instagram.
Nevertheless, it's still one of my favourite apps because I follow a lot of great, selected profiles, both small and large, that are run very lovingly and share very inspiring, authentic and educational content for me personally. I also like to be 'influenced' from time to time (laughs).
I'm also very happy that I am still following some of the people I enjoyed chatting with at the very beginning of my Instagram time.
Your hometown is Berlin and you always share lots of beautiful perspectives from our wonderful capital city. What makes Berlin so special for you?
No two corners of Berlin look the same. Berlin has so many different faces and facets. Every district is different. You will discover a mix of the old and the new, the familiar and the new.
You can observe the lively and sometimes rowdy hustle and bustle of people and suddenly find a very quiet and idyllic corner 2-3 streets away or the feeling of village life on the outskirts of the city.
Even as a native Berliner, I only know a fraction of this city and still enjoy exploring new and unfamiliar corners.
In addition to snapshots from Berlin, there are also many other beautiful places to discover on your account: from the ocean to the Alps. Where do you prefer to go on holiday?
Over the past few years, one of my favourite places to wind down and find peace has definitely been the North Sea Island Amrum. The landscape has also been very impressive to me from a photographic perspective. I love to take photographs on holiday and find the variety of urban subjects, architecture and beautiful landscapes very appealing. Whether in Germany, Europe or anywhere else in the world.
Your pictures always have a special calm about them - probably because there are (almost) never people in them. That must be difficult, especially in Berlin. How do you manage it and what tips do you have for other urban photographers?
I research what I am interested in beforehand and think about a possible route. But I always keep my eyes open in the neighbourhood, observe a lot and then let myself drift spontaneously through smaller side streets, which are often less crowded. Sometimes you need a little patience or a quieter time of day to capture deserted motifs. It's definitely worth getting up early when the city is still asleep and, with a bit of luck, the soft morning light will help you find your subject.
What equipment do you use for your pictures and how do you edit them?
For Instagram, I shoot exclusively with my smartphone (currently iPhone 14 Pro) and edit the images using the VSCO app, as well as the filters and editing features in the Instagram app.
Otherwise, I've always enjoyed taking portraits with my Canon SLR or some old analogue cameras like my Pentacon Six. Unfortunately, my work and family life mean that I don't get to do this as much these days, as photo editing is so much quicker and easier on a smartphone.
What inspires you and why?
Life itself, good conversations, going out with friends, art and photography, but also spontaneously going where the mood takes me and simply keeping my eyes open for what I encounter and find inspiring along the way.
From a photographic point of view, I always find motifs or exciting snapshots very inspiring when they allow me to think about a story behind. That's probably why I like photographing old houses that have seen a bit of history and show traces of the past. But I also like the new and timeless with an aesthetic or minimalist design. In the end, it's the mix that makes it varied and interesting.
Do you have a favourite picture that you have taken? Can you tell us the story behind it?
I have several of them, but one of them is definitely also the first one that was chosen as a postcard by Pickmotion. I was on my way to a World Cup match with my friend Linda (@lindaberlin) , we were in a bit of a hurry and late to get a good seat at the public viewing. I passed an old Citroen in front of a colourful house and spontaneously decided to go back a few steps to take 2-3 pictures of it. It is still one of my top sellers at Pickmotion. It was definitely a very good decision to capture this motif again!
Do you still like writing postcards yourself?
Oh yes. I almost always send postcards from my holidays to my family and friends. For birthdays, holidays, etc. I also design all the cards myself now, cutting the paper, stamping, punching, embossing, gluing or watercolouring the designs and I love writing on them myself and making them personalised for the occasion and the person. Handwritten words that you can hold in your own hands still make most people the happiest, and a card or postcard is so much more appreciated than a text or email.
Do you have a favourite Pickmotion product?
Hard to say since there are so many amazing products now. I think the postcards remain my all-time favourites, but the magnets and calendars also have a permanent place in my home now.
Finally, would you like to share a little story or anecdote with us? Feel free to tell us anything!
Whenever I'm out and about and see a Pickmotion display in a shop, I just HAVE to look through the cards and magnets. It makes me even happier when I discover my own designs. Recently I even found my cards and magnets in a small souvenir shop on the island of Amrum, which made me really proud. THANK YOU PICKMOTION! Here's to the next 10 years! Keep up the good work!
ZG-1535-DE, B-0180, B-0137
We are delighted to have already designed so many amazing products with Maria! By the way, you can always spot her designs on the back of our products by looking for her Instagram name @maryloo_berlin. Don't forget to follow her on Instagram as well to discover many more beautiful snapshots of her!
