MessMag Interview with famous photographer David Yeo Paige Hibbert October 8, 2018 Creativity, Interview, MESSFashion 1. Hi David! Your work is amazing. Tell us please how did you start your career as a photographer? Was it your childhood dream? Thank you! I always dreamt of doing something creative for a living since the age of 9. I am very dyslexic, so it was either art or sport at school (I almost became a golfer – long story). I fell in love with the process of photography when I was younger. Developing my own prints in the darkroom. I still can’t get my head around how light on paper, followed by dipping it into chemicals can produce an image. It’s magic. View this post on Instagram American Landscapes 9 #usa #landscape #photooftheday #arcitecture #instamood #instagood #architecture #photo #photographer A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Jan 10, 2017 at 4:04am PST 2. Which difficulties did you face when you started your career? Have they changed over the time? Moving to London at the age of 19 to start my career as a photographer was tough. I didn’t have any connections or friends here, so I had to start from scratch. I went around cold calling on magazines doors and ringing up agencies. I threw myself in at the deep end but I was very driven to be successful. Now I have built up a network of good people around me, both outside of work and within, even forming a collective of creatives so that we can all work together on different projects. London is very much where I feel at home now, so very different to how I felt when I arrived. But I look back at that young guy that I was and I’m proud of him for sticking it out! View this post on Instagram American Landscapes 7 #fashion #america #landscape #photooftheday #arcitecture #instamood #instagood #architecture #photo #photographer A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Jan 9, 2017 at 10:09am PST 3. Tell us a bit what the photographer career is about? Everyone thinks it’s fancy. But what is the reality? What I tend to tell people is that it’s 10% taking pictures and 90% running a business! A lot of emailing, chasing, prepping, pre and post production, networking, and building teams. The reality is, is that it’s tough. But when I see that my photographic perspective and shaping of light come together to please the client and it’s finally published, that’s the best high of all. View this post on Instagram A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Feb 1, 2018 at 5:23am PST 4. If you could name 3 things that a photographer as a person should have, what would they be? Good with light, to be driven and grippy shoes so you don’t fall over. View this post on Instagram ‘Moonbeams' shot for @hungermagazine @lim_g_le2 @london.wild Styled by @rachelhollandstudio Make-Up & Hair by @amybrandonmakeup Assisted by @anna___forbes Studio @yoyostudios A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Mar 4, 2018 at 4:14am PST 5. What or who is your inspiration? Cheesy as it may sound – my mother, she never stops working and is very loving. She works hard for everyone and puts herself last. She is the backbone of our family and holds us all together! Defiantly something to aspire towards. View this post on Instagram A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Feb 7, 2018 at 11:27pm PST 6. Please tell us what magazines and celebrities have you already worked with? Most recently I’ve worked with Janelle Monae, Lily Allen, Bebe Rexha, Starling, Erin O’Connor, and First Aid Kit but I’ve covered a broad spectrum of celebrities from Rosamund Pike to Ranulph Fiennes. Likewise with magazines – a broad spectrum again, from Vanity Fair, Vogue, Elle, i-D, Guardian, Dazed and Confused, AnOther to The Sunday Times and lots in between. View this post on Instagram My cover for @fault_magazine of Lilly Allen! Working with the very talented Fashion Editor @rachelhollandstudio and the brilliant team Hair Stylist @jakegallagherhair Makeup Georgina Ahmed Nails Dianna Drummond @diana_lifestyle_beauty Fashion Assist’ Ana Cirnu And Lupe Baeyens Set Designer Andrew Macgregor @andrew_macgregor1 Words @ellywatsonn & @miles_holder A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Oct 3, 2018 at 7:26am PDT 7. I know you have your own studio, YoYo Studios. Why did you decide to open it? Is there any story behind it? I wanted to experiment with my personal work into Fine Art photography. I asked around to buy some regular days in a studio and nobody wanted to entertain it, so the only way I could afford to get a studio of my own was by carrying on with my photography whilst a designer friend, I went to college with, started experimenting and building it up around me. It meant sleeping rough for about 2 years but it was worth it because I love shooting in a natural daylight studio. View this post on Instagram Shot YoYo Studios #vanityfair A post shared by YoYoStudios (@yoyostudios) on Jan 16, 2018 at 1:51am PST 8. I guess, our readers would like to know more about some interesting real stories according to shooting celebs. Do you have any? Well, it sort of divides into those that are a dream to work with and those that aren’t, but I imagine that’s the same in all professions isn’t it? View this post on Instagram My cover of @JanelleMonae for @fault_magazine working with the talented @rachelhollandstudio. Photographed in Jimmy Hendrix’s old flat in Mayfair. Was a great day. Interview @Miles_Holder Photography @david_yeo Styling @rachelhollandstudio MUA @jessicasmalls Hair @nikkinelms Nails @diana_lifestyle_beauty Production Manager @anna___forbes A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Apr 23, 2018 at 4:11am PDT 9. Let’s talk social. Are you into social media or it’s just a part of your job? Does Instagram help you to find new clients or friends? I am a big believer in social media. It’s the most important place for your work to be seen, for networking and for reaching out to people. It definitely helps me find new work, stay in touch and find people. View this post on Instagram New art work shot for the incredible @starlingsworld working with the very talented @rachelhollandstudio. Starlings new music will be out next month – make sure to check it out as it will be explosive 💥🧠🤙❤️ A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on May 11, 2018 at 2:02am PDT 10. How should photographers promote themselves nowadays? Any tips, ideas? Make a list of all the photography you really want to do and start shooting and sharing it around. If the responses are good, expand it and if they’re not, keeping on crafting and perfecting your style. Good work can’t be ignored. View this post on Instagram Very excited to share with you @beberexha one of two covers I have shot for @fault_magazine #FAULTMagazineissue 29 Working with the very talented Fashion Editor @rachelhollandstudio Make-Up – @peckisme Hair – @rio_hair Nails – Diane Drummond Fashion Assistant – Ana Carnu & Lupe Baeyens A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Aug 1, 2018 at 5:26am PDT 11. What’re your favorite websites as a photographer where you can either learn something new or find the clients or promote yourself? Showstudio is definitely one of my favorite websites – I learn so much through that site. I love the fact it’s a place where a lot of people come together and discuss debate and collaborate with ideas and talk about things that are happening in the industry. View this post on Instagram Check it out! @nick_knight shoots @travisscott, @girlchildd and @ysaunnybrito in an unadulterated selection of photographs for the @alyxstudio S/S 17 collection catalogue, designed by #PaulHetherington. Peruse the imagery and catalogue film on @SHOWstudio now! #ALYX #SHOWstudio A post shared by SHOWstudio (@showstudio) on Oct 2, 2018 at 7:02am PDT 12. What’re your plans for the future? Any exciting projects you wanna tell us about? I’m looking at fashion through the perspective of AI, so should be pretty challenging. View this post on Instagram African Pygmy Hedgehog #engineeredbynature A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Dec 20, 2017 at 2:28am PST 13. Who would be your absolute dream designer client? I’ve shot a few Designers and those that really resonate with me are: Rick Owens – for his love of attention to detail in his shows. They are such epic productions. His work is very futuristic and forward thinking. Justin O’Shea for his inspiration, growing up in a remote aboriginal village and working the mines with his father to ending up launching his own brand. Manolo Blahnik for his sense of adventure and energy during a shoot. Erdem Moralioglu for his infinite precision to detail and his love of first book editions. Patrick Grant for his elegant tailoring. View this post on Instagram Outtakes from my recent shoot ‘Moonbeams’ Styled by @rachelhollandstudio Hair & Make Up @amybrandonmakeup Model @lim_g_le2 shot @yoyostudios A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Feb 12, 2018 at 6:12am PST 14. If you could shoot anybody in the world, even historic person, who would you like to shoot? James Dean. Such a short lived icon – had such great dress sense and I loved his minimal acting style, his life was sadly so short lived. Plus he was a petrol head. I know he would be so much fun to shoot. Feel like we would have been good mates. View this post on Instagram ‘Moonbeams' shot for @hungermagazine @lim_g_le2 @london.wild Styled by @rachelhollandstudio Make-Up & Hair by @amybrandonmakeup Assisted by @anna___forbes Studio @yoyostudios A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Mar 4, 2018 at 4:17am PST 15. The recent years have seen a rise of Asian models into stardom, especially male models. What is your opinion about this? How does it affect your work? Are you supporting the new trend by working more with Asian models? I have always loved the look of Asian models and I shoot with them a lot. So I am happy that they are given more exposure. However, I think it’s important you stick with your own agenda and what it is you want to achieve in a shoot without being too influenced by a movement or trend. View this post on Instagram ‘Moonbeams' shot for @hungermagazine @lim_g_le2 @london.wild Styled by @rachelhollandstudio Make-Up & Hair by @amybrandonmakeup Assisted by @anna___forbes Studio @yoyostudios A post shared by David Yeo (@david_yeo) on Mar 4, 2018 at 4:17am PST The interview by Victoria Petrova