Shaw & Shaw
So, tell us what does a day in the life of a photographer look like?
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No two days are the same. Our work is so varied and not tied to a specific location so we never know what we’re going to be from one week to the next. Day to day our time is divided between pre-production, location shoots and then processing and re-touching. Planning and post production take a greater quantity of time than actual shoot days so a lot of time is spent on a screen at our home office.
Along with the professional work you do, do you find time for your independent projects?
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We always try to find time for our own work between commissioned shoots, this is a really important part of our practice as it helps us to stay inspired and in turn hopefully inspires those who commission us. Much of the advertising work we get is commissioned on the strength of our personal portfolio of work, art buyers and producers are always looking for new ideas so the more original non-commissioned work we have the better. It can sometimes feel like an arduous task when ideas don’t flow but that’s all part of the creative process and is worth just pushing on through to reap the rewards.
Where do you feel most of your inspiration for new concepts comes from?
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Inspiration comes from various sources, from cinema - the likes of Wes Anderson, David Lynch and Jean-Luc Godard to scrolling through Instagram. Blogs like Lens Culture, Dezeen and It’s Nice That are all great for a curated view on the best in photography and design which is always so inspiring. We try and make time for trips to museums and art galleries which are always good for the soul. We love the Whitworth art gallery and gardens in Manchester, it’s a very inspiring and stimulating place to visit, the power of great architecture and design can have an inspiring and uplifting effect. Sometimes just wandering the streets is enough to stimulate ideas, visiting the paths less trodden and seeking out the quirks of life.
Are there other artists or photographers that have influenced your practice over the years?
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We’re very much inspired by the American photographers of the 1970’s such as William Egglestone, Stephen Shore and Joel Sternfeld. These photographers established colour photography as an art form at a time when black and white images dominated. Their subject matter was usually the mundane and everyday - American highways, motels, urban landscapes, even the contents of fridges and shoes under the bed were subject to their gaze - their vivid use of colour always elevating the subject to another level. We find ourselves often looking back to these wonderful images for inspiration be it for subject matter or the colour palette or precise compositions. Another favourite photographer is Vivian Maier who worked as a nanny in the 1950’s in the affluent suburbs of Chicago, she’d visit the edgier areas of the city where she fearlessly captured raw, gritty urban life. She squirrelled her work away in storage until it resurfaced when sold in blind lots when Maier failed to keep up the storage payments, over 100,000 negatives were discovered. It’s a remarkable body of work which serves as a reminder to keep working on something you love.
Other influences over the years include Alec Soth, Cindy Sherman, Wim Wenders, David Hockney, Jessica Backhaus, Julian Germain, Rineke Dijkstra, Robert Frank, Weegee, Martin Parr and Laura Pannack.
As we know your subjects are very varied, from furniture to fashion and lots in-between! Do you have a favourite style of photography?
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We don’t have a favourite style but whatever the subject, from interiors to still life advertising we always aim to make things look real which can involve working hard on the lighting to create a realistically lit looking scene. Colour plays a very important part in our work, pops of colour pastel palettes and are what we’re known for whether that’s applied to a location furniture shoot or a studio portrait the application of our style can be seen throughout.
We enjoy collaboration and are happiest when the projects we’re involved with allow for our creative input from the start. Working with other creatives is really inspiring. There’s a great creative team at Allermuir and having worked together for many years we feel able to bring ideas to the table and have a collaborative approach to shoots.
Are there any galleries or magazines you would recommend people that are interested in photography to explore?
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Unfortunately, there aren’t many dedicated photography galleries in the UK, photography still isn’t taken as seriously here as it is in the rest of Europe or the US. Probably the best sources for exploration are magazines or online journals. Magma bookshops have a vast array of contemporary photography magazines and books, we often go in to browse and occasionally buy something!
Photography has become much more popular over the last 10 years, from photojournalism, bloggers and even the selfie! Do you think this has changed/shaped the industry?
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Very much so, in good and bad ways. Images are consumed and created like never before and the process is open to everyone. Initially this felt like a huge threat to the photographic industry but in many ways, it has invigorated the industry and created a new aesthetic informed by social media and the zeitgeist. Moving image has become woven into our digital visual world. Responding to and keeping up with these changing times is vital for us as photographers and whilst it often feels like a steep learning curve it keeps things fresh and interesting.
And finally, what would your top tips be for perfecting a shot with no experience or equipment?
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Good light is absolutely key. Go out on a clear morning, shortly after sunrise or just before sunset and take advantage of the ‘magic hour’ it’s difficult to take a bad shot of anything in this gorgeous light.
Why not head over and view some of Shaw & Shaw's amazing work on their site here.
Enjoy.
Go to Senator or The Senator Group
