Advent 2020
After a bit of a turbulent year, I wanted to end on a high and celebrate all the things that I love so much about my job. Without question the most important thing about my day-to-day is the people I work with, so I decided to tap into my network and bring a bit of festive cheer by shooting the portraits of 24 people who I find inspirational in the menswear world. These are people who I have worked with, some who I would like to work with and all of them inspire me or have inspired my photography journey in one way or another.
Advent 1 - Richard Biedul @richardbiedul
Richard has been a huge inspiration to my work for so many years. I first shot him a few years back on the streets of London Fashion week and since then I have admired his content, his impeccable style and his fashion journey from afar. Richard doesn’t know this but back then I said to myself “when I shoot with Richard Biedul, I’ll know I’m making my way in the menswear fashion world” and guess what ... that shoot happened today !! I had the pleasure of shooting a couple of looks with Richard, who seems to know every shop owner and every well dressed person walking around Savile Row. His energy, his style and his outlook on life was exactly as I had expected and it’s no wonder that he has made such a big impact in the menswear scene. Thanks for being a constant inspiration to so many people Richard, and here’s to many more projects to come ...
Advent 2 - Oliver Cross @oliverdcross
If any of you have ever had the pleasure of meeting or working with Oli then you know exactly what I am about to say... He is without a doubt one of the nicest, funniest and most humble men in the suiting world. I haven’t (yet) had the experience of Oli tailoring a suit for me, but if his word of mouth reviews are anything to go by then it sounds like there is no better man for the job. I had the joy of photographing Oli for my advent project, it felt more like I was hanging out with a long time friend, rather then being there to do a job. Thanks for making London smile Oli... even through Covid times !
Advent 3 - Mathias & Ciinderella @mathiaslefevre @ciinderellabalthazar
If you’ve not stumbled across images of the power couple that is Mathias and Ciinderella, where have you been ?? These two ooze everything a fashion couple aspires to be - Photogenic, stylish, business minded ... whilst at the same time being some of the nicest people to work with on set. I have had the pleasure of shooting with both Mathias and Ciinderella at many fashion weeks where photographers are crowding round them fighting for the best shot, as well as a couple of brand collaborations. At such a young age they have achieved so much, and it’s amazing to watch them crush the fashion world one collaboration at a time.
Advent 4- Chris Modoo- @chrismodoo
I first met Chris less than a month ago, and I already feel like I have known him throughout my whole photography career. I mean, I wish I had. Chris is one of the best connected guys in the menswear world, it seems you can’t go anywhere without someone tapping him on the shoulder and saying “Alright mate”. It’s probably because Chris is not only hilarious but he is also incredibly generous with his time, he put’s out into the world what he wants to get back in return - and that my friends is how life is supposed to be lived. In the short amount of time I have known Chris, he has introduced me to a wealth of people and I couldn’t be more grateful for him being my number one fan on Instagram and also giving me a confidence in my work that I never had before.
Advent 5 - Gurj Sohanpal @singhgentry
I knew Gurj was going to be lovely before I even met him because whenever I mentioned his name the return comment was consistent- “Gurj is such a great guy”… and I can confirm, he really is ! I would describe Gurj as a real gentleman with a very kind presence and unassuming confidence. His style is impeccable and somehow we always end up talking about the most random topics and putting the world to rights within the space of 20 minutes. If you’re looking for inspiration on how to add a simple elegance to your wardrobe, go check out his page, thanks for being such a gent Gurj, it’s a pleasure to have you as a friend.
Advent 6 - Solomon Ian-Sangala @iansangala
Solomon is not only an incredibly humble guy, but he is also one of the biggest influencers around town right now. With collaborations coming out of his ears this year, he knows how to grow a following, and more importantly, keep them engaged. When I met Solomon for this shoot in London (without any persuasion from my side) he told me his favourite photo anyone has ever taken of him was a shot I took on our first shoot together !! From a man with many a photo of himself ... I think that’s a huge compliment !! We have some exciting shoots coming up together and I can’t wait to keep creating that beautiful content.
Advent 7 - Ricki Hall @rickisamhall
Ricki was one of my earliest photography inspirations. Many of you will know that I used to live and work in New York and it was here I first heard the name Ricki Hall. I lived in brooklyn, photography was only a hobby, and it was around the time the beards and tattoo look became popular. I was still trying to figure out how a DSLR worked, and Ricki was on billboards around the City and in campaigns of brands I would only dream of working for. I turned to my friend @saxoncampbell and said- I’m going to shoot with him one day, and no surprises - I did. On my return to London one of my earliest jobs was to shoot some images for @pandco with the model Ricki Hall. It’s strange how paths cross in life and it’s always nice to remember moments like this to measure how far you’ve come. I now class Ricki as my friend - if only I knew that I’d be able to say that 8 years ago in New York.
Advent 8 - Dominic Sebag Montefiore @dmontefiore
My most recent shoot with Dom was by far my most favourite time working with him. Dom is the creative director at @edwardsexton and creative he most certainly is. The passion, energy and love for his work is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced on set and everything I now want every time I shoot. It was all about the feeling. Dom wasn’t focussed on how the models looked in the products ... he was focused on how wearing the product made them feel... Because at the end of the day “people won’t remember what you said or did, but they will always remember how you made them feel”... thank you for that lesson Dom, I’ll take that with me for the rest of my career.
Advent 9 - Caroline Andrew @carolineandrewlondon
Caroline is the face behind Caroline Andrew London. She is also a female killing it in a predominantly men’s field. After struggling to be taken seriously by many old fashioned menswear tailors Caroline started her own tailoring business... and look at her now. She not only boasts a client list of very impressive names but she also occupies a workspace in the heart of central London. This shoot was the first time I had met Caroline and I could tell from the first moment why she has been such a success. Her passion for her craft along with her friendly, warm and welcoming persona was the perfect combination of characteristics. I have no doubt that Caroline is many of her clients first female tailor - A true inspiration for us girls. Never let someone tell you no... just do it your own way.
Advent 10- Efe Efeturi @efe.efeturi
I have had the pleasure of shooting with Efe a couple of times and he is always the perfect gentleman with lovely manners and, needless to say, impeccable style. His talent for pairing high street with high end is very impressive and he is also a big ambassador for “ageless dressing”, which if you go to his feed you can see he does very well. I could spend a long time just chatting about the world with Efe, and listening to his charitable ways makes me want to be a better person and give back to the community, just as he does. As well as being a Fashion and Lifestyle influencer Efe is also a filmmaker shooting for many big name brands. I guess you could say that this guy is an all rounder, and with that smile, he makes it impossible to hate him for it.
Advent 11- Rikesh @rkzuk
Rikesh. What a guy. I first met Rik at fashion week a few years back when I stopped him for a street style snap, and since then we have taken a number of photos together, and also become very good mates too. My favourite project I’ve worked on with Rik was when he asked me to shoot the images in his article for mental health charity CALM. We took to the streets of London with a number of industry names, and Rik wrote a very eloquent piece all about mental health - he still contributes to the charity today, which to me says a lot about how caring he is to others. Naturally I can’t write this piece without mentioning the recent reel Rik and I shot together. Not sure if you heard but it reached the dizzy heights of 1 million views !!! Rik has been a huge supporter of my work over the years and a real inspiration on how to navigate this industry with a smile, whilst making friends along the way.
Advent 12- Kit Stickland @thomasfarthing.store
I have been shooting regular street style for the menswear platform @threadformen for a few years now. It’s a job I really value, not only for the relationship I am constantly building with Thread, but also for the networking opportunity which comes hand-in-hand. Kit is a perfect example of how a quick street style snap can lead onto something exciting. Kit is the store manager at Thomas Farthing, a brand I have admired for a long time. After stopping Kit in London for a photo,it was evident from the way he was dressed that he worked somewhere in the fashion industry, and after a few emails we met up to shoot for this advent series. I had a great time with Kit, hearing about his journey to London and his role at Thomas Farthing. It’s clear that Kit is a very genuine, passionate and kind person, and I hope that we can be on set together again in the future. Watch this space.
Advent 13- Scott Fraser Simpson @scottfrasersimpson
I have been an admirer of Scott’s style for a while, and have learned about his fashion journey through reading about him in publications, and being a follower of his brand Scott Fraser Collection @scottfrasercollection . This project was the perfect excuse for me to reach out to the man himself and hear his story first-hand. Scott invited me to meet him at his Shoreditch studio, which he has turned into a beautifully curated room with rails of clothes that look too perfectly arranged to touch, but that you are desperate to try on. His style is evidently reflected in his work- a mixture of niche vintage pieces that he has personally curated, and his own expertly tailored garments. Effortless, yet considered. Rare, yet accessible. It was a pleasure spending time with Scott and taking these shots, he is a very humble, sincere and admirable man who is clearly very connected to his work. Credit to Scott for nailing the Christmas brief too - styling that festive red to perfection.
Advent 14- Carl Thompson @carlthompson
Carl is an absolute diamond, and he makes the best homemade oat flat white I’ve ever tasted. Fact. You’ll probably already know that I’m a huge dog person, and with Carl comes Charlie ( @itscharliethefrenchie ),his four legged French bulldog side kick. The relationship they have is adorable, and after spending a moment with the pair, you’ll see Carl’s tough Instagram persona turn into mush, with one glance from his Frenchie. We never fail to have a laugh every time we shoot together, probably because Carl is such a genuine character, and refreshingly, always his true self. He’s always keen to connect you with people and for that I am very grateful. Basically, Carl is the dream to work with, and I am looking forward to all the future projects we take on together- I’m glad to call him my mate.
Advent 15- Aleksandar Cvetkovic @aleks_cvetkovic
If you are yet to hear the name Aleksandar Cvetkovic, then where have you been hiding?? Like the stitches in your suit, Aleks is woven into the menswear world. I can’t actually remember how I first found the @handcutradio Podcast, but this is where I first heard the name Aleksandar Cvetkovic. After flicking through the impressive list of names that Aleks has interviewed in the men's fashion world, and hearing the smooth talking, eloquent Mr.Cvetkovic talk, I was invested, and I don’t think I have come up for air since. Based on the time and energy Aleks puts into the podcast, you could be fooled into believing that podcasting was Aleks’ one and only job, but you’d be mistaken. He is also a journalist- writing for publications including The Financial Times AND the founder of HandCut Studio, a content studio that empowers independent brands to communicate effectively. Yup, this man is extremely busy. When we shot these photos Aleks was running between various meetings, but even though rushed off his feet, Aleks continued to be the gentleman everyone knows him to be and asked if I had time for a coffee and a catch up. A man who has no time at all, but makes you feel as if he has all the time for you. It’s a goal of mine to be in the hot seat at The Hand Cut Radio, I need to get a few more years in the industry under my belt first, but I would like to think that one day Aleks will be asking me how I started as a photographer in the menswear world.
Advent 16- Brett Staniland @twinbrett & Scott Staniland @twinscott
Here we have double trouble. I feel like I’ve known Scott and Brett for far longer than I actually have. The boys can correct me if I’m wrong here, but I think we first met at a Fashion Week where I stopped them for a street style snap, and since then I can happily call them my friends. (Another priceless connection made, and friendship started from Fashion Week. It’s hitting home how important this week was / is for me) These boys are the best. So genuine, so easy to get on with, and not just pretty faces either. As well as being models, influencers and faces of the menswear industry, Scott is a consultant for sustainable fashion and Brett has a PhD in public health- not too shabby, hey! I could sit and chat to the boys for way too long, as we did when taking these shots. With double the social power, the boys are a force to be reckoned with, and I’m waiting in anticipation for our next project we can work on together !
Advent 17- James Sleater @jamessleater
Have you ever walked down Savile Row and admired how wonderful the store fronts are, but always been too intimidated to actually step foot in any of the tailoring houses? Me too. Enter James Sleater - Co-founder of bespoke tailoring house @cadandthedandy , and the brains behind the new hang out spot for the sartorialist’s of London @theservicelondon . One coffee at a time James is changing the accessibility of Savile Row, providing clients, and workers alike, with an elegant space in which to meet and shop, an update that Savile Row has been craving for a long time. The thing I love most about The Service is Collective nature. I am a firm believer that what goes around comes around and if you share other peoples work, and stories, they will in turn share yours, and James definitely works with this same ethos. Not only does The Service stock the latest ready to wear collection from Cad & The Dandy, but it also shows off a curated collection of items from other brands with stores on the row, making the “Savile Row shopping experience” a whole lot easier and accessible to everyone. After spending some time chatting with James, it’s no surprise that his career has been a huge success. His laid back demeanour, and funny sense of humour kept me very entertained and if you ever want to grab a coffee with me, the reply from now on will most likely be “I’ll meet you at The Service”.
Advent 18- Melissa Jane Tarling @melissajanetarling
I thought I had my styling nailed ... and then I met Mel. This is Melissa Jane Tarling, a fellow lover of the oversized suit and neutral colour palette. I am an admirer of Mel’s simple aesthetic, and I hugely appreciate the curated feed that she displays on Instagram. Her love for simple details and neutral tones is everything I want my life/ home/ style to be, and she exudes it with so much casual sophistication. This suit for instance, just look at this suit. Mel has a superpower. Her ability to effortlessly throw something on, walk out the door with wet hair, and still look this great. No surprises here but Mel is an art director and stylist, and you can clearly see those roles leaking into her everyday life. Spending time shooting these portraits with Mel was a joy, and when the bars open their doors again, you’ll find us with a bottle of wine, dressed in beige and talking about oversized clothes.
Advent 19- Samuel Darcy @mrsamueldarcy & Catherine Darcy @mrscatherinedarcy
Here we have the brains and the beauty behind @sergedenimes ... oh, and also Sam. Hehe, only joking. Serge De Nimes was quite literally my first ever real client, and I’m still shooting with them regularly 4 years down the line. I owe them a lot. I am ever so grateful for @proudlock and the Serge team taking a punt on a very young, very inexperienced photographer, and I’m even more grateful for them treating me like part of the Serge family for the last 4 years. Sam is an idea a minute kind of guy, you’ll never be stuck for work when he’s around. His drive and passion is like nothing I’ve ever seen before and his commitment to making Serge De Nimes a success is what creates the buzz around the brand. Catherine has a very rare talent of leading from behind. Her nurturing, kind nature makes her a dream to work with, and because she says everything so thoughtfully and kindly, it’s never a hassle, always a pleasure. We have shared many great times together, and I am so pleased to call them both my close friends. I hope we have another 4 years ahead of us working so closely, and if the growth of either of our businesses mimic the previous 4 years ... then I think we are on for one hell of a ride. Thank you for being my biggest supporters guys, I wouldn’t be where I am now without you.
Advent 20- Nick Tydeman @nicktydeman
This is Nick Tydeman, a fashion, portrait and lifestyle photographer based in London. Nick’s photography is amazing. He has a real eye for framing an image, and he edits with such beautiful soft tones, go flick through a couple of pages on his website and you’ll see what I mean… flawless. Nick has been working with luxury fashion and lifestyle brands for over seven years, and the proof is in the pudding when you hear the names on his client list. Nick is incredibly talented and also a very funny, genuine and lovely guy. I’ve not yet had the pleasure of being on set with Nick, but there is no doubt in my mind that he is as easy to work with, as he is to have a laugh with. Nick and I are in complementary fields of work, and have therefore shot some similar faces. Whenever I mention his name to anyone, they only ever have positive things to say. Nick is a huge inspiration and an all round great guy, and I am excited to see what the future holds for him.
Advent 21- Benedict Browne @benedict_browne
I had heard Ben’s name a lot before actually meeting him. Unsurprising really, because Ben is a journalist, editor, stylist and brand consultant working in the menswear world. Yes I know, what doesn’t he do ? I briefly met Ben when shooting for @rkzuk project with CALM. A brief chat a few quick photos, I didn’t find out everything I wanted to know, so it was a pleasure to spend time chatting with Ben for this project, and hearing about his busy career. Ben is clearly a very ambitious guy and if you thought he did enough already… well there’s more. In addition to his editorial and consultancy work he is also Head of Content at @studiograft , a fast growing digital development and content agency. Even with all these spinning plates Ben, is still very generous with his time and travelled across town to be part of this project. Ben is an easy going, grounded guy, and having run in similar circles to him for the past few years, I hope that it’s time for our paths cross a bit more significantly in the New Year.
Advent 22- Carlos Costa @roque_80
Carlos was one of the first guys I shot with in London, back in 2016. He has been there right from the start of my journey. From our first shoot at Cut & Grind in Soho, all the way up to this advent shoot, Carlos has been, and continues to be such a huge supporter and inspiration for my work. I get a few people asking me how to start a photography career, and since doing this advent project, and writing these stories, I have noticed a common theme of how I have met people in the industry. The answer is simple really, just go out and shoot. Without taking the lead and reaching out to Carlos, and setting up a test shoot, I wouldn’t be able to speak of our friendship so fondly today. Carlos is such a great guy, and even though he is extremely busy with various projects, he always has time for you. The fact that he drove up from Bournemouth to meet me for these shots made me feel very special indeed, and goes to show just how supportive he is of my career. Carlos is a model and influencer, as well as being an ambassador for many fashion and lifestyle brands, and I couldn’t be more grateful for his encouragement over the last few years, it’s a privilege to call him my friend.
Advent 23- Christopher Raeburn @christopher.raeburn
Christopher Raeburn doesn’t need much introducing for those in the fashion scene, but just incase you are yet to discover this inspirational man, Christopher is the Creative Director of @raeburn_design & global Creative Director of @timberland . I have had the privilege of being backstage with Christopher for a couple of fashion week shows, me shooting backstage content, and him busying around getting his collections ready to send down the catwalk. In the madness of those moments, I doubt he even noticed me and my camera, so it was a true privilege to meet up with the man himself for this advent project and get to know him on a more personal level. I met Christopher at his creative fashion studio in Hackney, a very impressive space where daily design meets responsible production. Raeburn is best known for having a sustainable intelligence and holds a great success in bringing sustainable design to a main-stream fashion audience. In the run up to Christmas, probably the busiest time for anyones business, and with new tiers looming, he was kind enough to lend me his time to hunt down the Christmassy parts of Hackney (harder than you think) and take some photos. It was a pleasure shooting with Christopher, he is such a lovely guy, very calm, very collected, and clearly extremely intelligent. If everyone adopted a bit of Raeburn in their life, then I can guarantee that the world would be a much happier place to live. Looking for a New Years Resolution ? I think I may have just found one for you …
Advent 24- Timothy James @thisistimothy
There wasn’t too much consideration on the numerical order or value of the pervious 23 advent posts, but as people continually asked me who was going to be number 24, I did give this one some thought, and only one person came to mind…
This is Timothy James, a photographer, brand consultant, designer, model and great friend of mine. Tim has been the most consistent support to me and my career over the last four years, and we have spent some great times on set together. Beautiful locations, fancy cars, fast bikes, timeless outfits and most importantly for us both, photoshoots with dogs.
I’d struggle to count the amount of people that I have met, or shot with, who start a conversation with, “You shoot a lot with Timothy don’t you ?” and I’ve even been given the direction “I want the shot to look like it’s from Timothy’s page” haha. It just goes to show how respected he is by other models and influencers in this game, and also how many doors he has unknowingly opened for me. Not only is Tim extremely accomplished, he is also one of the loveliest guys I have ever worked with. He is generous with his time, considerate, thoughtful, respectful and above all great fun. It’s no surprise to me that he has earned a very loyal and engaged following and has collaborated with some amazing brands.
This year we have all had our ups and downs, some more than others, and this guy highlights how you can keep smiling through the tough times and continue to find strength from people around you. I know the future is bright for Tim, in whatever path he chooses, and I can’t believe it was over 4 years ago we met for coffee and photos at The Yurt cafe. Time flies when you are surrounded by good people, and Tim is most definitely one of those.