ALASDAIR MCLELLAN

BACKGROUND RESEARCH

Alasdair McLellan is a British photographer and director renowned for his sensitive approach to photography. His work displays a range of emotion whether it's through fashion, portrait, landscape or documentary. He embraces references high and low, classical and pop and continues to reflect contemporary conversations around gender, sexuality and identity. His photography has been featured in celebrated advertising campaigns and editorials across the international spectrum. He has published 3 books; Ultimate Clothing Company, Ceremony and The Palace. In 2016/17 he directed music videos for The XX. His work has been exhibited at ICA, Somerset House, National Portrait Gallery and Phillips. 

PROPOSED QUESTIONS

• How did you get into your career?
• Who was the most interesting person to work with?
• Do you edit your photos yourself?
• Which medium of photography do you prefer; photos or film?
• Do your photoshoots require lots of equipment and crew? 

QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN LECTURE

• Alasdair is continually inspired by where he grew up - the north 
• What is your biggest achievement? - publishing his books, getting creative freedom/ acknowledgement which has allowed him to be able to shoot wherever/ whoever he wants without the fear of being looked down on (getting his voice across and being listened to by others)
• Did you begin your career up north or move to London? - he did move to London but began his career up north where he went to Nottingham university but moved to London as there are much more opportunities there e.g more magazines. He still however has an emotional connection with Yorkshire and has kept his roots with his upbringing throughout his career 
• What was your most personally rewarding job you have done? - shooting the British army at a royal event for the royal family before they went to war in Afghanistan, he found it very moving and inspiring as well as aesthetically pleasing being able to shoot the soldiers in their uniforms 
• He aims to get his emotions across in all of his work as he is a romantic person 
• Fashion photography involves lots of team work from the stylists, make up artists etc so it is harder than just shooting on his own. If one person lets them down then the photo is ruined e.g. bad hair 
• What was your first 'big break'? - early in his career, working on a shoot for an Italian magazine in Doncaster with a respectable/ influential stylists (I didn't catch his name) who others in the industry look up to, allow him to gain more recognition 
• Is there anyone you'd like to work with in the future? -  he is always looking for people, couldn't think of anyone in particular except David Lynch. He likes to continually work with the same people over and over as he likes to build friendships and rapports as they result in better photos 
• How important is it to capture the models personality in a shoot? - it totally depends on the objectives of the shoot/ photographer/ stylist ect. Sometimes you want them, to be themselves and sometimes you don't, it depends on what the story is behind the shoot. A good model understands the visions of the photographer. He thinks it must be hard to interpret someone else's vision but a good model does it well 
• Do you think they'll always be a place for craft (old school) aesthetic in photography or will digital override? - He personally doesn't get digital and much prefers craft. In digital, models focus on a monitor and not a subject so the personal connection isn't there. He likes to focus on film, which more and more directors are going back to using as a nicer aesthetically outcome is achieved. There are some pros to digital e.g its more sustainable and quicker to work with but there are more beauty and brains to working with pixels. Although, he noted that it doesn't really matter how an image as made was long as its good but he personally can't get his head around it 
• Did you always know you wanted to be a photographer? - No. He originally wanted to be a music producer when he was 14 but his GCSE English teacher (who Alasdair admired) saw his potential in photography and encouraged him to pursue it. He said he was lazy at school but he liked art because he was good at it and it was fun 
• Whats a typical week like for you? - There is no typical week. He travels a lot (last week he was in Greece shooting for Vogue). Sometimes it depends on the weather. Being freelance, some weeks are. very busy and some weeks not so much. Usually though he is either shooting or editing
• Social media - He worries that it causes some people to not buy the magazines as they have already seen the pictures on social media but sometimes it makes the magazine sell well if it is hyped up on social media 
• Advice - find your own voice, do what you're good at over and over so that people can see you and work you out. Devote yourself to it 
• Sustainable brands - some brands and increasingly pushing sustainability. Everyone is trying to do their bit. Some brands are really changing to become more sustainable. He thinks that high street brands cause more problems than high end as people are more likely to throwaway cheap clothing whereas they are more likely to keep and cherish expensive products