Club DJ for many years, Ian Cole shares his very special moments on his career as a fashion photographer
I’ve been taking pictures all of my life, but I’ve only been shooting with the intent of being an industry photographer for three years. I have a background in art direction, graphics and PR, where I had many high-points, but it was always pretty misguided. I was also a club DJ for many years. Music was my first love and photography is my passion now. I don’t ever look at another photographers work and wish I could do that, I just do my own thing, no matter what that turns out like. I love to create things from scratch, using primitive things – whether that be unconventional lighting or using a piece of broken glass as a filter. I never lose confidence in my work, I just see everything as a new challenge. Much of my work gets described as vintage, but I like to think of it as timeless. It could be from the future or the past.
The digital era: more quality and tecnology for the photographers?
Yes, but I most admire photographers who shoot on film – they are the true photographers. I use digital, but I shoot like I am on film. By that, I mean that I try to get everything right on camera on the day – lighting, exposure, framing, etc. if I don’t like a shot, I delete it right after I’ve taken it. I am not keen on photographers who point, shoot and then deal with everything in photoshop. I don’t see them as photographers, to me they are photoshop wizards, and the difference is about vision and patience. A great photographer is very patient.
World Economic Crisis really affected the fashion photography?
Well I have been fortunate during these bad times. I think if you have something that people want, the market will always be there. I see that the major fashion houses are keeping hold of their cash, but recessions come and go throughout history. The market will pick up during the next couple of years and be strong again.
Special moments, special models, funny moments: bringing out the real passion and emotion
I find this happens when a relationship has been built up with the model over a period of time. I prefer to meet or shoot a model before embarking on major projects. When they know how I work and what I expect, it gives them a confidence that brings out the real passion and emotion. I think emotion is very important in creating magical images.
I’ve found, trained and helped many models get signed to major agencies and go onto great heights. I enjoy helping like minded people and I believe that this creates great positivity in life and career. I have a very strong work ethic and it concerns me when I hear horror stories where new models have had bad experiences with non-pro and sleazy photographers. I look out for new models as much as I can and try to make them aware of the bad side of the industry. A bit of experience and knowledge can go a long way in helping new faces to work in a safer and more productive environment.
This is a really busy time for me right now, shooting many agency models. I have been working closely with D1 Models in London, who are one of the most inspiring teams. I have just completed several editorials, which are being published over the coming months and I couldn’t be happier with the models I’ve been working with. As well as agency models, I have discovered many new talents, who I’ve referred on to get signed to major agencies. Working with them has been really enjoyable and it’s great to see them go on to great success, I couldn’t be happier for them. I’ve been featured in most of the online magazines, blogs and several print mags during the past few months. I have work in the #57 issue of refresh magazine with a very talented actor/model – Tom Bott.
Once, me and a model stumbled onto RAF (Royal Air Force) land during a long shoot and were promptly chased off by an enormous and very loud military helicopter. Scary at the time, but funny to look back at – we were miles from anywhere!
Ian by Ian
Cool places for a shooting:
London’s Royal Parks Hyde Park/Lancaster Gate: World famous and a special place to shoot – always full of energy, interesting people and great spots to shoot. Also St James Park and Regent Park
London’s Brick Lane: I don’t know anybody who doesn’t like Brick Lane and I don’t think there is anywhere in the world quite like it.
Formby Point on the North West coast of the UK. This is a nature reserve covering miles and miles with an enormous beach, sand dunes and thousands of acres of forest. Every time I shoot there, the environment changes, and it always has an amazing effect on the models I shoot there – they love it.
Lake District, Cumbria, UK: a very special place for me, I always feel recharged when I visit the place. I am looking forward to planning a number of shoots there in 2010.
Hotels: I LOVE hotels, always have done, always will do. I’ve shot in many hotels and have great relationships with managers and events teams at several hotels, who regularly offer me space to shoot. It’s easy to create an interesting story at a hotel, and I think it tends to remind the viewer of holiday and dirty weekends lol. I’ve been handed the keys to swanky suites and penthouses with free reign to shoot. You will see this in my new work
IMAGE worth a THOUSAND WORDS?
I think a good b/w portrait of an interesting person is worth a thousand words – again, it’s the emotion that fuels the outcome. I’ve been fortunate to capture a number of images that I think are worth a thousand words.
The Projects
I shooted my first feature for Topman in London mid-August, which I am very excited about. I am also working with several amazing fashion designers on look book projects, editorials and some advertising. I have donated prints to charity events being auctioned in the US and I am currently working on my first photobook. I head out to New York in September for fashion week, where I have several exciting projects lined up. I continue to seek out new faces for my work.
Main motto: You can’t sell CRAP by calling it ART. Crap is crap, even in disguise.
