Photographer – Andrea Jankovic
Model: Keely T @ Viviens
Hair and Make up: Jasmine Walker
We are incredibly excited to present the next installment of The Handsome Project. Each month we’ll showcase an amazing young photographer who blows our minds, shoots our stuff and is all together fantastic. Read on to see the rest of Andrea’s WAH photoshoot and interview!
How did you get to here? (What’s your photographer history?)
I was at a gig once-the tickets to which I’d had to purchase for a small fortune on ebay- and had been standing at the front for hours trying to secure a good spot, only to have a bunch of photographers stand right in front of me. I pretty much decided then and there that I wanted to be a photographer and went and bought a camera the next day. From then on I shot live music exclusively and have only really been getting into fashion since I finished my architecture degree at the end of last year.
Are you a self-taught photographer or did you have a mentor/teacher that showed you the ropes?
I’m entirely self taught, though I would kill for a mentor! If anyone wants to mentor me, get in touch!!
How did you come up with the concept behind your Handsome Project shoot?
To be honest, I actually don’t think about shoots all that much, it’s more of a subconscious thing. I saw the suits, and just started putting together images in my mind. Luckily I had the most amazing team to work with, who have worked with me on enough shoots to be able to almost read my mind- they didn’t even get a mood board, but still knew exactly what I wanted.
What keeps you enthused in the photography industry?
Everything! The creativity, the people, the clothes…. I’m never quite satisfied with what I produce either, which is both frustrating and incredibly motivating to try harder next time
Describe your approach in three words.
Natural, fun and minimal.
Black & white or colour?
Both.
Do you prefer film or digital? Why?
I love the look of film, but I mostly shoot digital.
Favourite camera?
My Canon 5D Mark II
Describe your photographic approach.
I don’t really have a set approach to shoots- I usually start by looking at either the clothes or the model (and more often than not both) I’m photographing for inspiration. That usually gives me an idea of the ‘story’ or mood I want to go for. Then I go through my ever expanding ‘inspirations’ folder on my computer and put together a mood board to send to the team. This is mostly just a rough guide of how I want things to feel- I like for everyone to have some input into the final product so I usually improvise a fair bit on location
Favourite photographer?
There are too many to list and it changes all the time- but at the moment it’s probably Derek Henderson.
Favourite photograph?
One I took of my cat sleeping on the ironing board. It’s one of the only pictures I’ve taken that I’ve ever bothered to have printed
What turns you on?
People, happiness, sunshine, positivity.
What turns you off?
Arrogance and bad attitudes.
How do you decide on locations & subjects for your shoots?
Well once I’ve decided on the kind of ‘mood’ I’m going for, I usually get in my car and go for a drive around to see if I can find a place that looks like what I’d pictured in my head. It works the other way around too- I will see a place and it will inspire me to think of a ‘story’ that can play out there.
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?
I would quit my day job in architecture and just shoot all day every day. My dream is to one day shoot for my favourite fashion magazines.
Best advice you’ve ever received.
Well he didn’t tell me this personally, but I think Ansel Adams once said ‘There is nothing worse than a sharp image of a fuzzy concept’.
What is the one quality you think is needed for a photographer to be great?
I wish I knew! I think it might have something to do with hard work.
Where to next?
Ideally to work shooting fashion for magazines. Though I still have a lot to learn, so I think my first step is going to be to find a mentor 🙂
You can check out more of Andrea’s fabulous work here.
We Are Handsome would like to send buckets of love and sunshine Andrea’s way for creating this gorgeous photoshoot! We love it!