Interview: Photographer Brenton White (London)

Tell us something about yourself. I'm an Australian born, London based photographer who loves to travel and see the world! I love discovering gorgeous new places and documenting them, but my real passion is for shooting people and fashion - so my website is a bit of a mix! I'm currently working on a blog series showcasing some of my travels which will be posted every few weeks on my website - so if you like travel and cool things, give it a read! :)

How and when did you get into photography? I've had an interest in photography and art since my early teens, but most of my time and energy went to painting. Although different mediums, my photography style is still very much the same as my painting style! I decided though that photography was really where my passion lies, and have pursued it ever since!

What does photography mean to you? An expression, a way to process my thoughts and feelings in a way that feels natural to me. Art is as much therapy as it is joy.

Please briefly describe your photography style for our readers. I've always found, and been told, my style is part way commercial and part way fine art. I struggled to get into any universities because the art courses would all tell me my style was too commercial, and the fine art courses would point me in the way of the commercial focused courses because I didn't fit their style either! But I'm happy to be the odd mid-ground, it just means I have my own look!

Would you consider yourself a hobbyist or a paid professional? I’ve been a paid professional for a few years, having studied photography in school. Before that I was a painting hobbyist!

Do you think in advance what you want in the picture? Yes, I always have a sense of what I want to achieve, sometimes it's a general sense or feeling and sometimes it's exact angles and lighting - it all depends on what I'm feeling.

Where do you get inspiration from? Everywhere! Inspiration can strike from anything. For me, a lot of my visual inspirations come from either what I’m playing, listening to, or what I’m watching at the time. So of course, Doctor Who is a big inspiration thematically. Traveling and other cultures are also a big inspiration to me, and I’ve loved being able to capture so many amazing sights on my travels

Studio, on location or both? While I love working in a studio it’s gotta be location based work for me. I'm massively into traveling, so the more crazy cool places I can use as backdrops the better. I also love the ever-changing nature of shooting outdoors - the lighting, the weather - I love using these to my advantage or having to think on the fly.

What has been your most memorable session and why? Potentially my trip to Lake Mungo in rural New South Wales. It was an 11 hour trek for our small team, and although we were only in Mungo for about 24 hours there were so many breathtaking sites that will stick with us forever. Starting with the emus running alongside our car doing 100kms. The natural landscapes there are mind blowing.

What has been the biggest source of inspiration in your work? I don’t think I could just name one, I take inspiration from too many places to narrow it down to one source. Photography and film-wise I adore Gregory Crewdson and David Lynch, I love the grand atmospheric feel that is often afforded to the most mundane tasks.

Nikon or Canon? Favorite lens? Canon all the way. I have recently picked up a sony a6300 which I am head over heels in love with. It’s so light and compact, the perfect camera to take on all of my foreign adventures!

What is one piece of advice you would like to offer a new photographer looking to start their own business? To stick to your guns, and to do what makes you happy!

What do you think of our new magazine?

Love it! It’s always good to find a place supporting creatives and giving them the opportunity to showcase their work, while also being an awesome resource for up and coming talent!

www.brenwhite.com instagram @brennywhy