Interviews: Emily Ashcroft
Published on 30 September 2019
Our September guest: photographer based in Manchester, UK
Tell us briefly about yourself and your story as a creative. How did you first get into photography?
I’m a 27 year old fashion & portrait photographer living in the UK and travelling to Tokyo several times a year where I shoot a large portion of my work. I studied photography in college though much of what I do has been self taught, avidly collecting photography books and magazines to feed my passion. I had my first Japanese magazine feature in 2015 and released my first book, Tokyo Girls, earlier this year.
What emotions are most present in your works and why did you choose to portray them?
When it comes to my portrait work, I prefer to shoot one on one, hanging out with my model and choosing styling together. I like to shoot them in their own environments, homes and neighbourhoods, the style they’re into at that point - it’s cool documenting that moment in their lives.
What are your main impulses to take photos? Have you ever got the inspiration from some unexpected places and what are them if so?
I am constantly thinking of where and who i want to shoot next. I find a lot of inspiration in movies, photography books and 90’s magazines, and of course from some of the girl culture greats like Hiromix, Mika Ninagawa, Valerie Philips, Sofia Coppola, Pamela Hanson etc..
What qualities do you look for and/or admire in the people you work with?
Girls who want to hang out and have fun, those with strong personalities and rebel attitudes.
What are your most characteristic traits and how does it come to expression in your creative process?
My subjects are always girls, I can relate and always find inspiration in them. I’ve always used film since I first started photographing and i shoot mostly on location, I like places that the model can interact with and interpret before even arriving.
How did you choose your models? Who is your dream person to take a photo of?
Girls with cool style and attitude I usually find online. There are so many dream girls I’d love to shoot; Brody Dalle, Chiaki Kuriyama, Grace Hartzel, Kiko Mizuhara etc..
What is your favorite project of yours?
This year I released my first book, Tokyo Girls. It’s a collection of some of my favourite shoots I have ever done. I never set out with the intention of making it into a book, but after several years of visiting Tokyo and shooting so many cool and beautiful girls, it seemed like the perfect tribute.
Who do you love to follow on Instagram?
@casperkenty @i_am_kiko @corinnedayofficial @mcqueen_vault @tofupupper
What do you think needs to change in the photo industry?
Each year, several lines of film gets discontinued, I do worry about the future of accessible and affordable film photography for everyone - if it becomes too niche and too expensive, fewer and fewer new young photographers will try it and it will eventually die out. We need to find a viable way to keep film photography sustainable for decades to come.
Who do you see yourself collaborating with from within the visual arts and fashion spheres?
I love working alongside my boyfriend, Casper, who is also a photographer - and hope to do publish collaborative projects together in the future. Hopefully one day I’d like to have worked with many of my favourite models, brands and magazines too.
Any bits of advice for beginners in photography?
Shoot with film, you will value appreciate each shot so much more. Master your own camera and don’t be concerned with what others shoot with. Enjoy it for yourself, forget about the likes.
What can we expect from you in the future? Your No1 goal for the rest of 2019?
I hope to dedicate more time to shooting portraits in the UK and Japan and work towards living and working in Tokyo more permanently, one day shooting cover work for magazines like Numero and Nylon.
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