Fiona Bruce

It’s not long  since I stopped categorising my newsletters.  One of the reasons I stopped was that some shoots just didn’t fit into my most common subject matter, and therefor got left behind.  For example, I sat on a folder with politicians and topical/political journalists without ever sharing these.  Fiona Bruce was one of those shoots - shot a few months before the Covid pandemic came and changed the world forever.

Fiona came in at the agreed time, full of energy, and settled down in the basement studio under a trendy Haggerston cafe in East London.  I asked if we could get her anything and she had already clocked the pastry in the cafe on the ground floor, wanting it accompanied by a weak tea.  I left her to enjoy a little grooming before the shoot. When she stepped in I started talking to her about her early life, getting a little money from modelling for picture stories in the teenage magazine ‘Jackie’.  I was actually genuinely intrigued as I used to see those picture stories around when I was a kid, and it’s such a thing of the past.  Fiona confided in me that she used to love doing them as she could always get people she fancied in to play the male role.

Shot for Observer New Review

Kate Garraway

Many people have managed to sail through this epidemic without any major loss.  Of course, we have all felt it to some degree, but some of us have really felt the impact.  Kate Garraway is someone who has really suffered from having a loved one contracting Corona virus.  Her husband, diagnosed early on in this epidemic, was in a coma for 11 months and is still suffering from issues related to Covid.  Kate has always been very honest about her experience and shared her story with the world.  In this book Kate talks about her experience watching someone you love suffer from Covid and the terrible effects it can have on people and the family of the effected.  A pleasure working with Kate on this cover, where I was trying to show the vulnerability of Kate as well as her strength and resilience when faced with a terrible personal struggle.

Shot for Penguin Random House

Philippa Perry

I have now worked with Philippa on 5 separate occasions.  I’ve photographed her with her husband Grayson, with her cat Kevin, with tears in her eyes leaving the screening of Toy Story 3 (and who did not shed a tear in that one???) and a couple of times on her own.  I hope Philippa doesn’t mind me saying that working with her is more and more like working with a friend.  Not only has she got her look down to a T with her colourful outfits, grey streak in the hair and colourful, thick framed glasses - but she genuinely just wants a shoot to be fun.  She treats it like a playground, which is a refreshing and welcoming attitude to a shoot that is supposed to be uplifting fun.  

Philippa is the new Agony Aunt for the Observer Magazine.  Taking over after 20 years of advice to the British public from Mariella Frostrup.  I have already sneakily asked Philippa for advice on a few issues when photographing her, and I have to admit, that if I was to write to someone to get advice on personal matters, then Philippa would be one of the first on my list.  Her replies just make sense.  I know that her role as an Agony Aunt for the Observer will be one filled with not only great advice, but also humour where and when appropriate.  In fact - if we all write in and get some advice then I firmly believe that this world will be a little more colourful and brighter, as we all emerge from our homes a little more confident in our own decisions and insecurities.  

So - take pen to hand, dig deep and get writing.  Lets get Philippa working hard for her money!

Shot for Observer Magazine