David and Dolly Baddiel

This shoot with David Baddiel and his Daughter Dolly was to support an article in the Guardian Saturday Magazine about social media and its addictive qualities.  David had made a documentary for the BBC talking about the issues.  His daughter gives the view of a young person and also someone whom has suffered from anorexia and other self esteem issues, fuelled by the pressures caused by social media.

Although we played with a shadowy representation of social media in these images, it was the more simple portraits that appealed to me the most.  It was evident that David and Dolly were very close and it was a pleasure to be a witness to the closeness between them.

Shot for The Guardian Saturday Magazine

Rob Brydon

My first shoot with Rob Brydon was way back when he played the taxi driver Keith Barrett. Since then I have been commissioned by several different publications to photograph him, I’ve shot a live DVD cover with Rob and the poster to his live standup tour. This shoot was promoting a youtube podcast series where he interviews other comedians and celebrities. The show is a result of Covid, and is an entertaining and fun podcast with Rob having a banter with close celebrity friends, comedians and actors he has worked with and knows well.  The beauty with Rob is that his comedy is not loud and in your face.  Working with him is like having a relaxed banter amongst friends with his sharp whit injected into the conversations.  He is a normal family dad, talking of his love for Bruce Springsteen and comedy films such as Daddy’s Home.  He doesn’t keep this part of his life separate from his comedy but incorporates it, and makes it flow as natural as it can be.  No point in taking yourself too serious, as that would only allow for you to be ridiculed by subtle comments perfectly placed.  Always a pleasure working with Rob and I can only hope I will do so many more times in the future. 

Shot for Observer Magazine

Jo Whiley

This shoot with Jo was for Specsavers. It seems Jo and I have something in common, apart from the love of music. Jo suffers from tinnitus. Specsavers are not only the savers of specs but it seems they can help with any hearing issues too.

Of course having tinnitus for Jo is probably a little worse than it is for me. Jo presents music programs and is constantly introducing the UK to new acts and great music. Going to see gigs and listening to music is what she does, and tinnitus must be a little like me having cataract.

Jo was as expected; funny, nice and full of smiles. She took a few stabs at my lingo as I gave it all with my photography speak (show me ‘optimism’ was one of the commands that slipped out of me as I was pressing the shutter…) If you don't think that sounds too stupid then just give it a try. Visually portraying optimism in a single expression is maybe harder than I had once thought and may leave the sitter with an expression of confusion instead….

Thomasz Schafenaker

This shoot with Tomasz Schafernaker, UK’s handsomest weather reporter, took some time to set up. After a few interruptions, (such as hurricane in the US which he had to report from,) we finally managed to arrange a time and date.

The first idea was ‘Singing in the Rain’ followed by the more cartoon like ‘followed by a dark cloud’. It was obvious that we needed a location with water outlet and so my allotment and neighbourhood was chosen as a backdrop. Tomasz had just returned on a redeye flight from the USA, tired but up for anything. I was at first unsure how he would take to the cold spray of a garden hose, but this is a man who’s used to standing in the eye of the storm and report back to us all who sit in the warm comfort of our houses. He was up for anything!!!!

The shoot took a little imagination to create and the dark street (on a sunny day) took a good dose of flash to make it look right. No day is the same and this was particularly fun challenge.

Shot for the Observer Magazine

Graham Norton

Graham Norton is definitely a national treasure. Or, as he’s Irish, international treasure. He is perhaps currently most known for The Graham Norton show. It’s the show where all the biggest names turn up for a chat with the man himself. Graham is that very likeable guy that everyone confides in and everyone drops their guard and allow themselves to have fun. Graham is able to relate to most people. You know that if you don’t get along with Graham, then that’s not due to him, but rather because there is something wrong with you.

Graham is also the presenter of the Eurovision Song contest. He’s the natural successor to the great Sir Terry Wogan. And much like Sir Terry, Graham is able to find the fun, bizarre and tacky in most of the acts and is able to comment on it freely.

The man I photographed was as warm and welcoming as the man we see on TV. He rocked upon at the studio on a chain-less bike. Maybe he was a little more modest than I had expected, but modesty is a character trait I think we should all have more of. Graham is also perhaps one of the few men who would allow us to go for a full red pallet on a shoot without batting an eye. A brave move some may say, but it is a colour that hides the modesty and suits the man.

Shot for The Observer Magazine

Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson has released a new book. Her book is about simple but good home cooking and is called At My Table. This shoot for Waitrose Food was aimed at toning it down and keeping it real. So real that we even had the luxury of including a tray of small home grown red apples. (The type of apples I spent many of my younger years scrumping. - Sorry old neighbours…) A linen table cloth and a casually dressed Nigella - all spell out home cooking as far as I am concerned. Nigella is the queen of cook books and this new book will be like having the queen herself in your own home, in a kitchen sharing all her home-cooking secrets, (without the corgis).

Shot for Waitrose Food Magazine

Russel Brand

Russell Brand is hard to summarise in one sentence. He is a comedian for sure, but his opinions, writings, podcasts extend far beyond the comedy. The issues he deals with often have a comedy angle to them but the undertone has a more serious message. He exposes his personal life, problems, addictions and fears along side his political views and social conscious.Never are the issues dealt with in a subtle and diplomatic way, but his opinions are blatantly clear and he gets his messages across using comedy.

I turned up to the shoot expecting a man who’s personality would make be hard to control during a shoot. Russell has a very big presence. Big hair, tall and a highly visible presence. I remember seeing him at an exhibition opening a few years ago and you could easily spot him across the room. Everyone looked around the room, and as they glanced towards where he was standing, everyone raised their head as if their glance was passing some speed bump (his head) towering over everybody else’s), to avoid glancing right at him, trying to pretend not to look in order to allow him his personal space.

The initial introduction was met with a firm handshake and a direct eye contact with a very polite and well mannered introduction, not forced, but a genuine ‘a pleasure to meet you’. The rest of the shoot I experienced a relaxed and fun Russell who seemed genuinely interested in everybody around him. It is not hard to see how this man can get everyone around him to feel relaxed.

Russell has a new book out now dealing with his addictions, ’Recovery, Freedom from our addictions’. I am sure this will be an honest, hard hitting read, using humour with a few words thrown in, that may be hard to digest for the faint hearted.

Cat Deeley

I have worked with Cat Deeley before and I remember back then, that her presence in the room was like a sunshine-whirlwind, if any such thing exists. Her presence in the room is so noticeable, a total uplifting and fun contribution to any professional environment. She invites everyone in the room to join in, treats everyone with respect and is contagious and generous with her positivity. Saying that, she is also 100% professional and photographs like a dream. The last shoot I did with Cat was in a studio but this time we had the great backdrop of a traditional London Caff’! A long way from LA, where Cat has resided for about 10 years now, Cat is now back on British screens! And we wanted to make sure there was no doubt, so apart from the Caff we included a good portion of Sausage, bacon and chips in the pics.