emma and anna: there isn't a one-size fits all
Anna and Emma are the two women behind Ocean Productions, a company that helps brands find their way creatively - both in terms of guidance and by producing content for them. We met them both when we worked on a project together and we were quickly drawn to their warm, friendly and honest energy. The two of them have known each other since they were born and it’s clear that it has fostered a relationship full of trust.
They are so talented at capturing raw and honest moments - and show their beauty. We wish we were all better at finding beauty in the small, everyday moments - and we don’t mean the kind od beauty we’ve gotten to know through glossy magazines and retouched photos. No, there’s beauty everywhere, we just need to watch and listen for it… because as Anna and Emma put so wisely: curiosity isn’t always loud. Make sure you follow Anna here, Emma here and their company Ocean Productions here.
Hi Anna and Emma, could you start by telling us a bit about yourself and how Ocean Productions became a reality?
We are childhood friends, growing up in the countryside on each of our farms, and as we like to say “with only a field in between”. We have been close for most of our lives, shaping each other in interests and dreams.
The idea of being self employed and starting a company in this field have followed both of us for many years. In 2020 Ocean Productions became a reality. With different backgrounds in fashion we eventually came to work together as a team at Mads Nørgaard for a year. This year became, unintentionally, a test for our ability to become work partners. The covid-19 pandemic changed a lot for most of the world, and also, from our experience, the way of working in fashion and the way we usually produce photo and video material. An ability to snap up new currents or to change direction quickly was more relevant than ever. We saw a need for being able to produce close to the deadline and to create an honest image of people.
We love the photos you’ve taken for sitre - could you explain to us how you approach work and what kind of photography and campaigns you think the world needs more of?
We approach our work very differently, because we do very different jobs. Each client and project is different, and that’s the joy of it! There really isn’t a one-size fits all.
With that being said, we think the world needs more honest campaigns. We see the same type of person, body, age etc. too often. It has become better, but it needs to be done with honesty. We try to encourage the people we work with to stop ticking a checkbox when casting. It’s a process that needs attention, and we try to be better all the time in our work.
Do you think the world is ready for a more authentic take on intimacy, the body and pleasure?
We are ready! Although the world is a big place, we hope to see our society move in a more authentic direction. We might be able to inspire others to move with us.
We thank you, Sitre, for being a Copenhagen-based front-runner to make the rest of the world realize that they should be ready. There is so much to be said and to be learnt.
You don’t just work together, you are childhood friends too. As friends, do you find it natural to talk about intimacy?
We have periods in which we share and find it more natural to talk about intimacy than others. It is a continuous process, we practice to get better at sharing all the time and when we do, we get a feeling of getting closer. In the end it always feels good to confide in your best friend.
What role do you think friendship has played in your understanding of what intimacy can be?
Being friends for so long means that we often don’t have to use many words to explain our thoughts and feelings, we read each other's minds a lot. This fundamental understanding of each other, our story and personality feels very intimate.
Do you think your understanding of pleasure has changed with age?
It has indeed. Age and the experiences that come with it, in all aspects of life, have given a deeper understanding of intimacy. We wish we had this knowledge in our earlier ages. We can only dream of how wise we’ll become in the 10, 20, 30 years to come!
Is it enough to talk to a partner about your desires or does your friendship also bring something important to the topic?
Friendship brings a lot to the topic and not to say the least it also normalizes topics and feelings that we have a tendency to imagine that others don’t have. We aren’t alone with feelings whether they are good or less good, and it feels relieving to share with persons close to your heart.
Do you have any tips if someone finds it hard to talk to friends about intimacy?
Always know that no one goes through life with a feeling of having it all figured out for themselves.
Most people find it honorable to be the one that you confide in. We all need and depend on each other, and it feels good to be in both positions.
Finally, what changes would you like to see within sex wellness?
We hope to see a continuous openness and honesty about sexuality, intimacy and sex wellness.
Sex wellness has definitely changed over the past years in a positive direction, but that being said we also hope to see an acceptance of the fact that being less public and out-spoken about the topic doesn’t necessarily mean being less intimate, less curious or less self-loving. In our opinion we feel Sitre has created an aesthetic and community that allows both ways, out-spoken or not, to feel included.
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