How many people does it take to do a photo shoot?

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Caitlin Moran

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It's not easy writing anything about someone who's job is to write about anything, but write it REALLY WELL.

I've been snapping Caitlin Moran for many years now. Sometimes for the Times, where she writes both a column, and for the magazine where she is often required to tolerate such extremes as camping at Glastonbury, and doing extended photo shoots with me. In fact shoots with me can go on long enough, that they make it into her writing. I'm not sure if pride or horror should accompany her description of sobbing after 8 hours of being photographed by me-a story that made it into her bestseller 'How to be a Woman'.

Still, we get along fine, and I think I know why as she says here-

"I have such insane love for any photographer who SORTS HIS FUCKING LIGHTS OUT before people come on set. You'd be amazed how many don't, and faff around while you stand there, with all your vibe slowly draining."

Another couple of cover shoots featuring Ms Moran w…
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Sir David Attenborough met a lion.

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The thing about a commission is that it is rarely straightforward. A while back, Radio Times called to ask if I would like to photograph Sir David Attenborough (again), but with a few 'props'. Hmm,props ..ah yes of course-lion cubs, nice and easy. The idea developed into a simple Lion face/David face picture, except of course, you can't quite plan what might happen.
We turned up at David's house on a rainy day complete with backdrops and the usual disturbing amounts of kit. David looked worried when he saw it all. 'Can't we just do a quick snap in the garden?' he said. 15 mins later after much convincing, David let us in to set up in the available space. Thing is, I just wasn't sure exactly what was possible. The lion keepers suggested that milk might be the answer, but endless shots off a milk bottle would not be ideal. 
So, lights up and a table in place, I started to try and direct the shoot. Big mistake. David immediately engaged with the little be…
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What do you mean the snow's not real?

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'daddy, what do you do all day at work?' Well, this is what our dear Tom Gormer at the mag made of it all-BEHIND THE SCENES WITH NIGELLAThe inside story of this week's cover shoot Stylist's Photography Director Tom Gormer - and now cover star, sort of - reveals 10 things he learnt on our Nigella Lawson photoshoot 1. The theme of the Stylist shoot was a ‘behind the scenes’ of Nigella's Christmas, hence my cameo appearance on the cover, blasting fake snow all over the studio. Best. Job. Ever.2. What you don’t see is the snow machine is leaking and I am covered in a weird smelling liquid chemical3. Nigella keeps little bags of retro sweet in her handbag. She gave me a cola cube. Twice!4. A very long discussion was had about the perfect chip. French fries? Homemade proper chips? Chip shop chips? This was before I had seen the brilliant episode of Nigella Kitchen where she ‘cooks’ chip shop chips in bread with hummus.5. I was also under STRICT instructions not to get any …
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