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If you don’t follow the hunky Million Dollar Listing New York star Fredrik Eklund on Instagram you probably should because not only does he know how to sell real estate but he knows what it takes to snap a gorgeous picture. I was lucky enough to sit down with Fredrik while he was in Los Angeles a few weeks ago and find out all about his photography.

ADAM: First question! What inspires your photography?

FREDRIK: I just love beautiful things. I don’t know if you follow me on Instagram and see all the photos that I post. My favorite things are like the sun behind clouds, reflections in the water, and contrasting colors. I guess just beautiful things. You know, I’d take a picture of a drip of orange juice on a leaf or reflections of glass on a skyscraper. Not so much people now, that I think about it, it’s more just things in the now. I don’t plan it, it’s not like I go to Central park to take pictures. I just happen to be in my car and see something on Park Avenue, jump out of my car and stop traffic just to take a picture. I love it, I just get this rush.

How long have you been taking pictures?

My whole life. My Dad gave me a Canon camera when I was either 5 or 6. And I would develop my own film in high school.
So do you still develop film yourself?

No, It’s a digital world now! Which fits my personality. I’m very instant, I have a bad case of A.D.D. and I’m always on the run. Then you add a layer of responsiveness from your followers and I think that’s really interesting because within literally 30 seconds I’ve seen the situation, I’ve snapped the photo, I’ve “developed” it by adding filters, posted it, and have hundreds of likes or comments and feedback within that 30 seconds. It’s a real rush!

Can you describe your photography?

I’ve heard from people that like my photography that it’s all in the now. Very instantaneous, very spontaneous, it’s whatever I see. I don’t want to sound too philosophical, maybe this should be over a bottle of wine, but there’s this song by Robyn [who Fredrik went to school with in Sweden], “Every Heartbeat.” It’s like since life passes so fast it’s like every heartbeat, every moment, there is beauty and there’s something  to be captured. And when I start looking at it like that, I’m so glad that with my iPhone I can now capture all those moments because otherwise it just passes so fast and it’s all over.

Have you shown anyone your photography before Instagram?

I’ve always shown my photos! I used to have photo albums that I would show my friends when they would come visit. Then before Instagram I would post my photos on Facebook. But professional photos or exhibitions, no. But I have a feeling that I’ll do more of that later.

If you could photograph anyone or anything what or who would it be?

Well, that’s another thing, I feel so stressed out because the world is so big. I’ve traveled a lot but I’ve seen so little. I mean, I have this vision that I’m going to go to Mount Picchu and Tibet and photograph major landscape and then Africa to photograph all the lions and animals! I just really want to photograph more.

Have you taken any photography classes?

Yeah, I took a lot of classes, like back in the day. Swedish school is good like that, because you have to take a bunch of those creative classes.

One last question, do you take your own photos for your listings?

No, but I’m very overpowering and bitchy and will move the camera around to get the best angle. Photographers hate when real estate agents touch their cameras. But I pick the angles, I’ll move things, I’ll basically refurbish the entire apartment to get the right shot. So basically yes and no I am!

Thank you for taking the time to talk with me! It was so great to meet you. 

It was nice meeting you, too, and thank you for wanting to know more about my photography!

To see more of Fredrik’s photography follow him on Instagram! And make sure tune in tonight at nine on Bravo for an all-new episode of Million Dollar Listing New York. This episode has drama for days, Mary! And you get to see Fredrik’s photography in action!