French photographer and director Romain Laurent started making portrait-based GIFs as a way to produce work outside his commercial jobs, a spontaneous project that would encourage him to produce consistently for himself rather than clients.

An Iraqi woman attends a festival commemorating the International Day of Peace in Baghdad, September 21, 2015. (Photo by Thaier al-Sudani/Reuters)

A performer dances at a housing exhibition in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, September 27, 2015. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

A woman takes part in a “Brave Run” competition in Minsk October 4, 2015. (Photo by Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)

A person dressed as a pumpkin monster poses at the premiere of the film “Goosebumps”, in Los Angeles, California October 4, 2015. (Photo by Danny Moloshok/Reuters)

American media personality Kim Kardashian seen on February 17, 2019 in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Hollywood To You/Star Max/GC Images)

Daniel Lismore arrives for the Brit Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, February 20, 2019. (Photo by Peter Nicholls/Reuters)

This photo of an elephant seal and Gentoo penguin shot by Andrew James in Yankee Harbour, Antarctica. (Photo by Andrew James/Travel Photographer of the Year)