Interview With Fashion Photographer Lara Jade

January 6, 2012 @ 6:12PM

Interview With Fashion Photographer Lara Jade

Lara talks about her DVD "Shoot-off" with Joey L

By Eric Reichbaum

Be sure to check out Part 1: DVD Review of Lara Jade v. Joey L

Here, the extremely talented Lara Jade was kind enough to take some time to answer some questions for me in this interview:

Eric Reichbaum: How did you come up with the idea of a "shoot-off" style DVD?

Lara Jade: Well me & my archrival Joey have known each other for a few years now - one of Joey's trips to London we decided to collaborate on a shoot together. What we found interesting is that even with the same set up and model our results were very different. A few years later the conversation came up again and we decided to put the idea into light. However, we wanted to make it fun, so that's where the rivalry came in!

ER: You seem to be very comfortable with your models while you're shooting, how important is it during your photo shoots to build that rapport?

LJ: I think that comes partly from shooting for so long and also knowing exactly how I approach certain things My models know exactly what I want from them at the start of the day and how to act in front of the camera - casting is very important, and I think it shows in the final results. If you get a great girl, cast well and they know what you want on the day you're going to be one step ahead.

ER: This DVD covers a lot of technical aspects of photography, but can you talk a little bit about the business side of the industry? Being successful at such a young age must mean you have a good business sense as well as a great photographic eye.

LJ: Of course! I think this is something that has come with time. Any fashion photographers reading this will understand me when I say this is a hard industry, especially in this current market. Editorial work is very low-budget or rarely pays and advertising work is few and far between so you need to look at other ways to pay your way. I've come to realise that photography is a journey, you have to give so much to get so much back - I invest a lot of my time and finances into my portfolio so that I am keeping up with trends and producing fresh material to show potential clients.

ER: What has been your biggest hurdle photographically and how did you overcome it?

LJ: I think the biggest thing is getting clients to trust you, especially at a young age. I realised that some of my earlier portfolio meetings were difficult because they'd just see a teenager with a camera and they wouldn't want to look past that, it's only natural to assume someone young hasn't got that much experience... However, I am glad that my opportunities happened at a later age because I know a lot more now than I did then!

ER: Watching Joey's scenes on the DVD, and working with him, what is the biggest thing you've taken away or learned from watching him?

LJ: Joey approaches his photography in what I would call a 'fine-art manner', everything is structured and clearly thought out. Fashion photography is somewhat the opposite - you have to think quickly, you're trying to get a number of looks in a certain amount of hours and you don't have time to set up several light set ups for each look, plus you're working with a high amount of people on set. It was inspiring to watch him strip back from all the madness and focus purely on the subject without any distraction and take time to set up his lights. The results that came from that were amazing - you can feel the emotion from the subject and the connection between photographer and model.

ER: What do you think he has learned from you?

LJ: I would hope something! (haha). I think Joey likes to watch the process of a fashion shoot because it's a new idea for him. He learnt a few of my retouching techniques which I would hope he is putting into practice, too!

Thanks Lara!