Ian Holmes
IAN HOLMES“Photography, for me, is a constant work in progress therefore I find it a subject very difficult to become bored with. ”
What are your favorite songs you play in your car/at work/bathroom/kitchen right now? :
Ben Böhmer - Beyond Beliefs
Luttrell - Twin Souls
The War On Drugs - I don't live here anymore
Who are you? Describe yourself in a few words.: A city-loving, nature-loving, cyclist, photographer, and beer connoisseur, splitting my time between the vibrant city of Paris and the beautiful nature of the French Alps.
Any plans for the future you would like to talk about ?: I’m not a huge planner though I am itching to go on another cycling tour in the not too distant future. I’m currently in the process of scaling down my photography business (though Covid did most of that for me) to shoot less, allowing me more time for personal projects, both within and outside of photography.
Where do you come from? Give us details: I’m originally from North-East Yorkshire in England. I grew up in a small village to the north of the city of Hull. I moved to France in early 2002.
What move you in this adventure/journey?: Photography, for me, is a constant work in progress therefore I find it a subject very difficult to become bored with. Also, the lifestyle that comes with being a professional photographer is generally lacking in any type of fixed routine, you never know what’s around the corner and I love that aspect.
Is it important to have the support of your loved ones, family, friends?: Yes, I really think so, particularly for those of us working within the wedding industry. The job can take us away from home for many weekends out of the year, meaning time spent away from family and friends.
What kind of jobs did you have before your career took off?: I had a job as a reprographics artist, that job had me spending a lot of time working in photoshop, before becoming a project manager within the printing industry. Both these former jobs and the skills I learned through them were a huge help in my photography career.
“I love stories. Listening to, or reading a good story, as well as telling them.”
What in your personal life has influenced you to choose your career?: I love stories. Listening to, or reading a good story, as well as telling them. Originally I dreamt of becoming a photojournalist, using my photographs to illustrate new stories. I stumbled into wedding photography by accident and quickly realized weddings were amazing stories, exactly what I was looking for, and being the photographer allowed me perfect access.
What is creativity to you? Do you consider yourself to be creative? Why or why not?: I come across many photographers whose work I would describe as creative, be it through light, the way they pose their subjects, composition, technique, etc. I’m not that photographer, to be honest, I don’t think I’m a particularly creative person. Whilst I feel I have a good understanding of light, and a good sense of aesthetics, taking a look through my photographs I’d describe my work as more classic, documentary-style. I document what is in front of me, be that a wedding or a landscape. I will sometimes try different techniques, focal lengths, a new camera, etc (free-lensing is my current thing) but in general, I wouldn’t describe myself, nor my work as particularly creative.
If you had to start over, would you choose a different path in your career?: On my graduation from photography school, I spent some time assisting two photographers, one working in fashion and the second a corporate photographer. I also know photographers from many different genres and I really think wedding photography is pretty hard to beat, both as a way to make a good living whilst having pretty much free reign to develop your own style and approach.
Do you think that you would be able to teach what you do?: I lecture at my old photography school in Paris (Speos) each year, I also taught the photojournalism course there for a few weeks as a stand-in teacher, so I like to think the answer is yes.
What is your inspiration? How has personal experience influenced your creativity?: We’re all influenced by everything around us. The places I spend my time, the people I hang out with, and the media I consume all inspire me in some way or another. Nature and travel inspire me. Last year I had my first photography exhibition in over 10 years with a selection of landscape images taken around my home in the mountains.
If you only had 24 hours to live, how would you spend your day?: Going on a mountain bike ride on one of my favorite alpine trails. Back to the house for a BBQ and cold beers on the deck, hanging out with the people I enjoy being around, and of course, the two mountain dogs who have adopted me. Finishing the day relaxing in bed with my girlfriend with a little help of some psilocybin mushrooms to see me on my way to whatever comes next.
What does it mean to get older for you?: To approach life with a more relaxed, laid-back attitude, whilst spending more time doing what I love with the people I really enjoy being around, all the while continuing to grow and learn.
After these years of working on your craft, do you still feel the joy to do what you do?: Yes, I still enjoy photography, it’s a never-ending journey.
Have you always wanted to do what you are doing?: Nope, I totally stumbled into wedding photography by accident when asked to shoot a friend of a friend's wedding, then found out I loved it. Very cliche I know!
What do you intend to achieve through your work?: From my wedding work I want to give my couples a beautiful story of one of the most important days of their lives, presented in a high-quality album that they’ll be able to pass down to their children. From my personal work, to look back on my life with fond memories.
Are you enjoying this life?: Loving it. I enjoy waking up each and every day, I’m extremely inquisitive about many things and want to constantly keep learning and growing as a person.
What is for you a good story?: A strong beginning, middle, and end, with great emotion throughout.
What is your typical day like?: In Paris, breakfast/coffee whilst responding to email, checking the crypto markets, off to the gym, photo-editing, photoshoot, dinner/drinks, bed.
In the mountains, breakfast/coffee, saying hi to the dogs, responding to email, checking the crypto markets, heading out on the bike or snowboard (depending on the season) bath, dinner, relaxing on the deck or in front of the fire, bed.
Is it difficult to maintain your level of knowledge? What do you do to improve it?: I fully believe that photography is a lot like sport, in that you need to keep practicing regularly to keep on top of your game. I’m not particularly talking about the technical side of things, but personally, I do notice I always need a little time warming up when I haven’t touched the camera for a while. I’m constantly looking to improve my work as a whole, which includes my photography, the client experience as well as the business side of things.
Who would you like to read from (Can you put me in touch with this person?)?: A Bryan Photo
What would be your question to this person?: How do you get so fast in focusing the Rollei at fast-moving events? :)
If you could ask yourself a question, what would it be?: What's next?
And your answer would be ?: I've absolutely no idea but to bring it on!
ABOUT THE ARTIST
DOB : 06-09-1969
LOCATION: PARIS, FRANCE
OCCUPATION: WEDDING, PHOTOGRAPHER
Copyright : CIARA COSTENOBLE
CONVERSATIONS AND CLASSES TO INSPIRE PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTS.
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