Raw Portraits: Betty Krag

Playing cool in Copenhagen


Born and raised in Copenhagen, Betty Krag got fascinated by photography when she was a young teenager having fun with friends. Having recently finished her photography degree, and already working in the fashion industry, she loves documenting her loved ones and the world around her as a way to collect memories from her everyday life.

Raw Portraits: Betty Krag

Raw Portraits: Betty Krag

Playing cool in Copenhagen


Raw Portraits: Betty Krag

Born and raised in Copenhagen, Betty Krag got fascinated by photography when she was a young teenager having fun with friends. Having recently finished her photography degree, and already working in the fashion industry, she loves documenting her loved ones and the world around her as a way to collect memories from her everyday life.


ROWSE

1. Hi Betty, could you tell us a bit about yourself?

BETTY
I was born and raised in Copenhagen, and I do photography. My everyday life contains many bike rides, where taking photos and seeking new inspiration plays a big role, either from exhibitions, or best of all - from my friends. They inspire me the most, and some of my friends have been my muses for years.

ROWSE

2. Can you share about your childhood and how it influenced your creative path?

BETTY
When I was around 13 years old, my best friend and I started making videos that we filmed and edited on our iPads. We were dancing with statues in the parks, eating ice creams, and making the most fun out of nothing, literally. Then, I started working at Holly Golightly (a Danish clothing store with a curated selection). Being surrounded by grownups, working with beautiful objects, and my mom also there as a window decorator, drew a perfect picture for me of how fun the fashion and creative industry was. I started taking photos for Holly Golightly after school once a week. That was my first job. I’m currently finishing my four-year degree in photography, and I recently discovered that the only thing I’ve ever worked with is making photos and videos.

ROWSE

3. What are the defining characteristics of your work? What do you love most and find most challenging about it?

BETTY
I'm aiming for my work to speak for itself, to make images and create a storytelling that makes noise. I love to document people doing stuff, which sometimes has no other message to it than keeping the memory: a friend opening the fridge to grab the 5-tier birthday cake, or my best friend biking beside me. I keep annual diaries on my hard drive to keep all the small and big moments in. One day I will revisit those folders, and it will be a blast from the past.
The challenging part about this industry is definitely technology taking over creativity. I wish we could take it slower, I wish for time and modern development to slow down. 

ROWSE

4. How do you foster and nurture your creativity?

BETTY
By going away, whether far or close to home. Being in a different setting gives me ideas and makes me remember that there are so many other ways to live a life. I'm lucky to visit Paris often, and I'm always overwhelmed by the architecture and the energy on the streets. It brings me a lot of ideas. I'm always writing them down when I get them because I'm afraid to forget. I sometimes have to stop on my bike because of an idea coming to mind.

ROWSE

5. In what ways does Copenhagen influence your style?

BETTY
I get a lot of inspiration from working with friends and seeing them work too. Getting together and celebrating a piece of work a friend or a friend's friend has created gives me new energy to do more myself. I think there's a very unique bond in Copenhagen supporting and learning from each other.

ROWSE

6. How did you come across ROWSE? What do you appreciate the most about it?

BETTY
I've used ROWSE for a long time now –it suits my skin type and meets my wishes for glow and hydration. And back in May 2024, I met Nuria [ROWSE co-founder and creative director] at the Cecilie Bahnsen x ROWSE dinner. It was so lovely! We had great talks about the products I used, her idea for the brand, and the future path for ROWSE.

ROWSE

7. Could you describe your morning and nighttime skincare routines?

BETTY
I start the day washing my face with cold water and the Tangerine Cleansing Balm, then the Pre & Probiotics Booster and the All-Day Moisturizer, finishing off with Skin Food from Weleda, especially in winter. Last but not least, a clear eyebrow gel from Kenny Brows, and Lip & Cheek Balm for my cheeks. I make sure to keep the Rose Water and the Lip & Cheek Balm in my bag always!In the evening, I cleanse with the Tangerine Cleansing Balm again, a spray of Rose Water, Pre & Probiotics Booster, then change to Purify Night Serum, followed by oil. For oil, I love the Organic Hemp Oil as it’s so good for calming irritation and redness. Sometimes I feel more like using a cream. Right now I'm using Pestle & Mortar face cream that I find in the best little store in my neighborhood called My Favourite Things, which sells all-natural skincare and I like to support. The last step before bed is the Eye Contour Serum to cool my under-eyes.

ROWSE

8. Are there any other daily routines you follow?

BETTY
Going to my laundry mat, and biking from place to place. I have call times from quite early in the morning nearly every day, so I get to bike in the empty morning hours. I feel like I'm getting the first sight of the day, the temperature and I see people walking their dogs before work. When the streets are all white, I love to be the first to make a mark. Also, I love to swim, which I do in the ocean in the summertime, and in the public swimming pool in the late evening after work where there are no people around. I don’t do this daily, but I wish to.

ROWSE

9. What does beauty mean to you?

BETTY
As for taking photos, beauty means a lot. But funny enough, sometimes I want it to mean nothing. By seeking beauty in my everyday life, I find myself often liking what others would categorize as ugly. Meeting beauty for me can happen in many odd situations. At a specific time in a certain situation – it's very magical and can be very vulnerable.

ROWSE

10. What are your upcoming plans? Any exciting projects for next year?

BETTY
Next year I’m planning on fulfilling my dream of going to Japan and Korea! I want to go on a long trip, to learn and document my discoveries. Hopefully, I will make it down to Fukuoka, so I can ride the ferry to Busan and go to Seoul.

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