Photography: Andre Silva (www.andresilvaphoto.com)
Photography Assistant: Karl Gregory
Styling: Aymie Cahill
Hair & Makeup: Mutsumi Shibahara
Model: Alice Sinclair @ Nevs London
We are insanely proud to present the next instalment of The Handsome Project. The Handsome Project features young photographers who blow our mind, shoot our stuff and are all together fantastic. Read on to see the rest of Andre’s WAH photoshoot and interview!
How did you get to here? (What’s your photographer history?)
By accident actually. After studying engineering for three years and not really enjoying it, I decided to look at other options, that would challenge me creatively . Photography was one of them, and I did have some photos I could put together and call a ‘portfolio’… But it was only after I started studying it that I really fell in love with photography.
Are you a self-taught photographer or did you have a mentor/teacher that showed you the ropes?
When I enrolled in the course some of my friends had already been shooting for a while, and I learned a lot from them – I’d say as much as from my tutors. They’re all talented professionals now, whose opinion I respect, and I still like to hear their feedback.
How did you come up with the concept behind your Handsome Project shoot?
I think WAH’s pieces transcend the notion of swimwear – they make a statement. I wanted to remove the swimsuit from its usual surroundings and place it in an urban environment, as part of a summery look. You can even party in these!
What keeps you enthused in the photography industry?
I love being part of a creative process. That one ‘pro’ alone compensates for all the ‘cons’.
Describe your approach in three words.
Light, composition, real.
Black & white or colour?
Both.
Do you prefer �lm or digital? Why?
I really like �lm but digital is a lot more practical, my workflow is 100% digital.
Favourite camera?
My trusted 5D Mk II. I also take a lot of photos with my iPhon
Describe your photographic approach.
I like to have a pretty deï¬�ned idea of what I’m going to shoot and how. There’s obviously room for improvisation as things never go completely to plan, but I like to be prepared. That also includes location scouting and test shots.
Favourite photographer?
So many… Philip-Lorca diCorcia sticks out though. I also love looking at good photojournalism.
What turns you on?
Creativity and passionate, hard working people.
What turns you off?
Egos put me right off.
If you could take your photography in any direction without fear of failure or rejection, where would it lead? What new things would you try?
Rejection is always present, I think what’s important is how you deal with it. I’ve come to realize you can’t possibly please everyone, so I try to do work I’m proud of, that I love. It’s obviously a bit different when you’re working for a client – it’s more of a collaboration, but sometimes working within those restricted parameters forces me to be more creative and often produce my most rewarding work.
Best advice you’ve ever received.
Drink 1.5L of water a day.
What is the one quality you think is needed for a photographer to be great?
Passion. If you’re passionate about what you do, it’ll show in your work.
Where to next?
I have a few personal projects I’ve been developing that I want to dedicate more time to. The style is more documentary than what I usually do, so it’s great to do something a bit different. There’s for example this group of lady pensioners that take part in hydro-therapy classes in Lisbon – most of them live on their own and the classes act more as social events than physical exercise. Their joy is contagious and I have great fun shooting it. It’s also great to see they love the attention!
Andre Silva – www.andresilvaphoto.com
We Are Handsome are sending major love Andre’s way for creating this stunning photoshoot!