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.

A person stands next to the skyline of lower Manhattan on the opening day the Edge NYC, an outdoor observation deck on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards on March 11, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

In this Sunday, June 27, 2010 file photo two men compete in an ostrich race at Highgate ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn, South Africa. Clambering onto an ostrich for a ride used to be popular among tourists in a South African town of Oudtshoorn known of as the “ostrich capital of the world”. Not so much anymore. Two major ostrich farms in Oudtshoorn have stopped offering ostrich rides to tourists, responding to concerns about the birds’ welfare. A third farm is sticking with the feature, saying it is regulated and that ostriches do not experience discomfort. The Highgate farm, however, continues to offer ostrich rides. (Photo by Shuji Kajiyama/AP Photo)

Groups of youngsters are still heading out on the lash in Newcastle’s city centre on October 3, 2020 despite being just minutes away from the UK’s largest single Covid outbreak – Northumbria University confirms 770 cases among students. (Photo by North News and Pictures/The Sun)

A woman hangs red chillies to dry outside her house at Khokana village on the outskirts of Kathmandu on August 5, 2020. (Photo by Prakash Mathema/AFP Photo)

Miss Alaska Emma Broyles, center, reacts after being crowned Miss America at Mohegan Sun, Thursday, December 16, 2021, in Uncasville, Conn. (Photo by Jessica Hill/AP Photo)

A Sri Lankan traditional dancer performs during a Gini Madu Shanthikarmaya, a traditional Sinhalese ritual in Batuwatta, Sri Lanka, on August 14, 2022. The Gini Madu Shanthikarmaya, is a ritual tradition that invokes the blessings of the goddess Pattini and lasts up to 12 hours. (Photo by Sanka Vidanagama/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Pakistani Hindu girls with their brother celebrate the Hindu festival 'Raksha Bandhan' at a temple in Karachi on August 30, 2023. (Photo by Rizwan Tabassum/AFP Photo)