Pro Showcase Nathalie Gordon
into editing music videos, which then led to music photography. This was amazing, as I was shooting the gigs and artists that I couldn’t afford tickets for. Unfortunately, I wasn’t making very much, so when the financial crash happened I went to help my mum with her hair salon. I would cover the reception and shoot her hairstyles for her. Word somehow got around, and suddenly make-up artists started to contact me for shoots. This then lead to a meeting with Holler, a subsidiary of the advertising agency Leo Burnett. They wanted me to do a shoot for Vidal Sassoon, which I have to admit took me aback. My experience as a production manager taught me that there were always several creatives in the running for every job, so it was hard to process that I was the only candidate. I was so excited to be shooting for Vidal Sassoon, which was only amplified when I turned up at the studio and my name was on the entrance. That definitely felt like my big break. What’s your favourite image you’ve taken?
It has to be my ‘Lava Lips’ image. I was testing and experimenting with different looks with make-up artist Jade Bird just after my 100mm macro lens had arrived. I love to shoot lips, so I was eager to play with the macro capabilities and see what I could create.
What’s it like working with big name brands, such as Nars and Vidal Sassoon?
I absolutely love working with big teams, as huge brands bring a whole new level of great ideas and art direction. I always have lots of different concepts, but I really enjoy bringing someone else’s vision to life. It can be tricky at times, especially when clients want you to deliver so many different things. They’re usually working to quick deadlines and tight budgets, so they try to squeeze as much out of you as possible. The whole process can be tiring and stressful, especially if I’m not able to choose my own team. Staying creative and working with demanding clients takes a lot from you, so being able to work with people I know makes things so much easier. It’s vital to keep everyone on the shoot happy, especially the models. If they’re not in the right head-space it can have a massive effect on everyone else. I don’t often have to do something this drastic, but I once had to send a model home mid-shoot because her attitude was so awful. However, this is definitely an anomaly, as the majority of the people I work with are always lovely.
Above Taken from Nathalie’s ‘Candy Crush’ series, which was exhibited by the advertising agency WCRS. Above left Nathalie and make-up artist Jade Bird got creative with colours and textures to create ‘Lava Lips’.
Have you ever had a ‘nightmare shoot’?
Yes! It was while I was shooting in the music industry, and I asked the magazine I regularly shot
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