Samuel Bradley

I am a photographer on the verge of graduating. Currently interning at www.mackbooks.co.uk.

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• Broken Teeth Fall 11 Lookbook

  I would like to start using this blog a little more to talk about some of my work. Forgive me if this is self indulgent, but it is my blog after all.

   I do get asked enough questions I think, to write a small amount about my process and approach to shooting. I think this is more interesting than answering the queries in my inbox concerning what cameras and film I use.

   Anyway, I shot this lookbook recently for ‘The Broken Teeth’, an up and coming streetwear brand currently based in Brighton. They sell their stuff primarily in other stores but they will be launching a small webstore shortly. I actually think it’s really cool that the stuff isn’t so easily available online, it makes the whole thing more exclusive and a bit less cliché. There are a hell of a lot of independent clothing companies about, I must have shot for about five or six in the last couple of months, and I respect all of them big time, but some of them really do stand out. Leo, the owner of BT and the guy responsible for commissioning me for the job was a decent guy to work with. He knew exactly what he wanted, knew what styles, colours, locations and models to sort out, but at the same time the whole vibe was incredibly relaxed. The shoot pretty much consisted of a bunch of friendly people hanging out and making pictures. I always enjoy this kind of thing.

   With regards to the creative direction of the shoot, we wanted to take it away from the whole nature vibe that’s very trendy at the moment. I love shooting in the woods, near lakes and by rivers, but It’s not always relevant. It’s a style that’s flourishing in the fashion industry at the moment, so that’s always a good time to try something different. I’m not talking ground breaking here, just not the above. I was particularly keen to get involved with Leo’s ideas, I’m getting a little creatively tired of using the same locations.

   So we tried to set up a more classic, 90’s youth/street vibe. We used just the one model wearing the clothes but stuck Leo in there in appropriate attire to compliment the t shirts. When you want to create a natural, relaxed, ‘hang out’ atmosphere to a shoot, you can either grab some agency models and hope you all get on well enough, or call on some friends. I think the latter works best. Joe came down in his rad old MK 1 golf and we all got acquainted then got to shooting. We hit up some old Victorian houses in Brighton, and an old graffed up church opposite some cool houses.

  

  

  

  

  

  I’ve wanted to shoot in the back of a car like this for a while now. It totally lived up to the hype I bestowed upon it.

  

   Sometimes you just get lucky. This dog rocked up and stuck it’s tail up at the camera. I managed to get a shot before it went back to it’s owner.

  

   Now for some technical stuff. For the final photographs, I kept the contrast super VC with deep blacks, harsh reds and every so slightly blue-toned shadows. We wanted that  late 80’s/early 90’s look. You know how you see those kind of old photographs on tumblr of kids in New York, rappers, gangsters and when Will Smith was at his coolest? You know they’ve either been scanned from a magazine or a pretty old negative. Well that’s kind of the colour palette we went for, but with a really warm splash of golden hour. Authentic, dirty, and analogue inspired. I’m not big on using strobes any more so it’s all silver and white reflectors. Big thanks to Sam Harris and Alex Catt for coming along to chill and help direct the sun.

  So yeah, that’s it, a little, in fact quite a lot about my process. Thanks for tuning in, If you found this interesting please let me know and I’ll do it again. If you didn’t, well feel free to express yourself and I won’t do it again.

  4 Oct 2011 / 38 notes