Christopher Sims - fashion photographer

Fashion Photographer Christopher Sims' career began at the City of Westminster College in London, where a 4-year course in Photography nurtured his talent for ideas and narratives. A further year under the wing of classical painter Andre Chris Durand provided Christopher with yet another important stepping-stone: an appreciation for creativity with the human form. Muscle torsions, postures, structure as represented by the Renaissance period are revisited by Christopher Sims with contemporary inventiveness perceptible in all his work.
Photography has taken Christopher Sims all over the world, with time spent in the U.S.A, South East Asia and Europe. Over the past 12 years he has collaborated with other artists to produce group exhibitions as well as solo shows.
Christopher Sims has contributed as an Art and Fashion Director for several Magazines, such as CLASH, Fashion Line magazine, as well as having collaborated with PIMP magazine as Director of Photography.

(Please refer to the bottom of this page for useful links related to the field of Photography)

Accademia Apulia UK has asked to Christopher Sims the following questions:

Can you recall the first photo you took that made you go WOW and you thought “i could do this for a living?”
I like all the pictures I take, and once I have taken them, and worked with them, I am ready to move onto the next project.

What kind of equipment do you use now, and what equipment did you start with?
The equipment that I use now is a Hasselblad digital camera, but when I first started I used a Hasselblad film camera. These days I only use analogue for art work, whereas I use digital for all my fashion and commercial shoots - this is what the industry wants.

Apart from sheer hard work, what would you say has been the main key to the success of your business?
Determination, creative need and fear of failure.

What are the biggest personal or professional challenges you face on a daily basis?
Production is the biggest challenge I deal with on a daily basis. My production is excellent but I have to rely on other people’s productions too: models, hairdressers, make-up artists. Getting everybody to work on the same project at the same time can be exceptionally difficult even though as a Director I am valued by the teams I work with.

Define the word "beauty”
I find beauty within the emotional dimension. Fear, strength, anger - any emotion that warrants a response can be beautiful.

What do you feel is the most challenging thing about photo shoots?
Photo shoots don’t present big challenges for me, as I said earlier, productions do.
Generally speaking, there isn’t much that can go wrong on a shoot once the model and the location are booked. What really makes a shoot amazing is great production.

How important is to have a good website for your business?
It’s essential.

We know that each of us has someone or something to inspire our life and work. Is there a photographer past/present that you admire?
Helmut Newton was my first inspiration as a photographer - I always admired his artistic flair. His women were beautiful, dangerous, strong - almost from another planet.
The Renaissance period also - I am crazy about the human form as depicted in rich Renaissance paintings and sculptures. This period has had a massive influence on my perception both as a photographer and as an artist.  

Is there anything you would have done differently during your photographic career?
There is absolutely nothing that I would do differently - I am the product of all that is behind me - good or bad, whichever the case might, has turned me into the professional I am today.

What advice do you have for amateurs wanting to become professional?
Assist and shoot. Assist and shoot in the field that interests you the most.

 

www.christophersims.com 

 

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Accademia Apulia UK suggests the following short London courses to start a career in Photograhy

 

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