Harry Adams
Harry Adams
Photographer
London, ENG
www.harryadams.co
instagram: @mrharryadams
twitter: @mrharryadams
soundcloud: @chatsinmyflat
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I’m a freelance photographer and visual artist. I shoot fashion and beauty portraits with a particular interest in featuring LGBT+ people and queer bodies.”
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I was initially studying Biochem at uni but quickly realized that it wasn't for me. I'd always kind of fostered a little soft spot for photography but only in the capacity of annoying my parents by hanging back to take photos of flowers and things on holiday.
After dropping out of the Biomed course, I spent some time exploring photography further while working to support myself. I then applied to study Digital Photography at Ravensbourne University of London. I very quickly fell in love with the studio and started exploring light, and how it affects mood, I have just finished my first year of study and can't wait to see what's coming next!
HOW DO YOU STAND OUT IN YOUR FIELD?
I think the way you interact with your fellow creatives and clients is what sets you apart from others. If you're easy to work with and willing to be flexible with your vision for the long term benefit of a project then people will want to work with you!
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Right now I'm working on getting my podcast Chats in my Flat off the ground, the title sums it up pretty nicely but it's basically going to be me talking to people about news, pop-culture, and anything else that crops up while on my sofa with a cup of coffee or a beer.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I think my style is subversiveness, I'm a huge fan of high fashion and couture I think it is objectively art, so whenever I get the opportunity to shoot garments like that I like to create the image in a way that isn't high glamour, and conversely I like to take the things that we disregard and consider trash to be thrown away in society and elevate it to a place of cleanness and "conventional" beauty.
WE ALL HAVE MULTIPLE SKILLS OR WORK IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD FOCUS ON MORE?
I really wish I could learn to play an instrument like Guitar or Piano, I guess there isn't really anything stopping me other than time and commitment. I think music is a really gorgeous way to express emotion in a way that photography or moving image sometimes can't do alone.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Work life balance. Period. Being able to juggle everything while still keeping family and friends in your life on a weekly basis is hard and something I need to get better at.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I feel like this is a little problematic but tidy my flat. Honestly it always ends up untidy because I'm only really there to sleep and so my clothes just sort of explode off of my body as I crawl into bed.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I would go back to when I was 13/14 years old and tell myself not to bother focusing on the academic stuff and to ignore your art teacher who told you that you shouldn't study art because it wouldn't go anywhere.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
How to keep going and not stagnate. I want to get better at moving onto the next thing and not obsessing over the minutiae of the last project.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
At the moment I'm looking to push myself creatively and take risks. Don't get me wrong if by some insane cosmic happenstance Gucci or Vivienne Westwood phoned me tomorrow to shoot a campaign for them I'd jump through my phone and onto their desk, but I'm still finding my feet as an artist and want to see where my vision is going.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
Tilda Swinton wearing Rick Owens for Gay Times. I'll retire after that.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
It really comes down to the project. If a friend approached me with a really creative boundary-pushing idea for a project with no budget (or more likely we will both end up spending on it) Would I turn it down? Absolutely not. But equally, there are certain things as a professional creative that you can't afford to not factor into your pricing when looking at bigger jobs with broader licensing and reach.
WHO IS A CREATIVE THAT HAS HELPED YOU ELEVATE YOUR WORK?
Matt Lambert constantly inspires my style and approach to my work.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Instagram is always a fun way to be introduced to someone because you get an idea about who they are pretending to be. Then you can take it over to email or go for a coffee or something and learn who you're really getting into bed with.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Make yourself as uncomfortable as possible and then keep going.
This member profile was originally published in June 2019.