Dutch Influencer Ella Freya Releases First Printed Photo Book!
Ella is very excited about her first paper-based photo book!
“Dreams have come true~”
On November 15, Ella Freya (27), a Dutch influencer with over 3 million total followers on social media, released her photo book Hyakka Ryoran. To commemorate the release, she held a signing event on November 17 at the Shosen Book Tower in Akihabara. Ella expressed her excitement, saying:
“I was happy when my first digital photo book Ran Ran Ran came out in 2021, but this time, to have a physical photo book made is an indescribable joy. I hoped to be able to release one, but even now, I can’t believe I really have a printed photo book. I would be happy if everyone in Japan likes it.”
While she has released six digital photo books, this is her first printed one, and she has several favorite shots in it.
“We mostly shot in Chiba Prefecture, and I love the photos taken in a flower field with yellow flowers blooming. It’s like the flower-filled landscape of the Netherlands, and I was wearing a pink tight dress surrounded by a variety of flowers. It matches the title Hyakka Ryoran perfectly.”
She also loves the photo on the cover, where she’s wearing a colorful swimsuit by the pool.
“We shot it in early March when it was still chilly outside, and we had a heater by the pool while I wore a down coat. The pool water was warm, and the water was actually warmer than the air. I was worried that I might have goosebumps in the photo book.”
On November 2, at the TOMAKOMAI Cosplay Festa in Tomakomai City, Hokkaido, she added flair to the event by dressing as the heroine Marushiru from Dungeon Meshi.
He sang “New School Leaders” at karaoke!
“I’ve been working hard on both the photo shoot and the talk show. When you think of Hokkaido, it’s a city famous for its delicious seafood, and I love seafood bowls. Everything I ate in Hokkaido was fresh and tasty. I really like salmon roe and salmon.
During the photo shoot, I was close to the sea in Chiba, so I often ate seafood bowls. Salmon roe has become expensive, and I know it’s tough for everyone, but when I think of Japan, I immediately want to eat a seafood bowl, so I went to a sushi restaurant near my house. I also ate sushi in the Netherlands, but the freshness was completely different.”
To prepare for the photo collection, she focused on yoga and dieting. She was careful with her daily meals, trying to avoid excessive calorie intake. For example, when eating rice balls, she only used tuna as the filling.
“As the photo shoot approached, I was very particular about my diet. I ate nuts and fruits, limited my calories for the day, and lived a very strict lifestyle. By doing yoga, I became more aware of where my body’s axis is, so I think my posture has improved.”
Her twin sister and friends in Japan, after seeing the photo collection, praised her saying, “That’s amazing. It’s beautifully taken.”
“I want to bring smiles to everyone in Japan, even if it’s just a little. Since I was able to release a physical photo collection, I want to give back to the people of Japan through various content. I love Japanese culture, and recently I went to karaoke and passionately sang songs by ‘New School Leaders.’ I want to become a person who can deliver smiles and energy to everyone.”
With the long-awaited release of her physical photo collection, even greater success is expected.
Click here to read her photo book, “Currents,” which has finally been released!
Interview and text by: Daisuke Iwasaki PHOTO: Takero Yui