On becoming a stylist

Growing up in the 70’s was wonderful in lots of ways.  It did not prepare me well for life in the twothousands.  I was a creative child, much like I was a creative teenager, but discerning adults at that time didn’t generally have the experience or courage to push kids in directions that weren’t the norm.  Had I come from a more privileged background, or had I been placed in a more progressive school, things may have been different.

Through  vague meanderings and many adventures I started out my professional life as a photographer.  I loved taking pictures and was fascinated by the magic that made a great photograph a great photograph.  I would photograph friends and family and spend hours making self portraits.  I processed and printed film for other photographers.  I shot weddings, celebrity events, catwalk shows, theatre, pr events and all manner of other bread and butter. I languished in imagery. However, on a job I was always stressed.   The technicalities  got in my way. The equipment got in my way.  I couldn’t figure out, if I loved the medium so much, why I was so uncomfortable in my skin?  I love images – what’s wrong with me?

I moved to America.  Started assisting at a huge catalogue studio learning digital. What a world the corporate photo studio is. It’s a factory.  It’s production.  The merchandise team are the linchpin of operations, without them the rest of the crew are tadpoles.  Ideas are the realm of the other people.  The other people are the ones who exist outside of the realm of the studio.  

I moved from there to smaller more independent studios, all the while realising I was still swimming against my own tide.  

Then my father died.  I left Chicago and moved to a small town in southwestern Michigan, opened a shop selling vintage and designer clothing, left photography altogether.  

In my quiet moments I began to think again about my talent in and love for photography.  There was one commercial photo studio in town. I went to them with a small portfolio and said, “I’m a stylist, can you give me some work?”

I’ve been working as a stylist now for some years.  My tendency is towards food. Funny that, seeing as I spent so many years at the stove with mother and time hence throwing dinners for friends a plenty.  We move through life not always paying attention at the time to what drives us.  It is only on the backside sometimes that we realise who we are.

I am a stylist.  

Martin Lowe and Marianne Brannan helped me get here.