Kat Gillespie.
Kat Gillespie, American photographer based in London, recently chatted with A+V about what attracted her to photography, her approach to shooting weddings, and her advice to couples when choosing a photographer. Kat told us about how looking through the lens gives her a different way to see light and colour and how film maintains a sort of tangibility that compliments her digital work.
What is photography to you? Tell us how you fell into wedding photography specifically?
Photography is one of the ways I engage with life. It is such an immersive creative practice; it forces me to see light, to see a moment, and to be completely involved in this seeing. It is really freeing to completely lose yourself, which is what photography does for me. I got married in 2014. I enjoyed the design part of the planning process so much that I wanted to become involved in the wedding world. I started out in florals, which were wonderful, but not where I was meant to be. Then, through a couple of entrepreneurial projects I was doing I learned how to use a camera from sheer necessity. I fell in love with the way a camera allowed me to see light and color. Eventually I began photographing couples. And now I know the delight of photographing lovers and the ways they interact. I get bored easily, but I’m still very interested in exploring how people love each other.
How would you describe your photography style? I’ve been thinking about this lately, as my style has evolved over the years. I used to be very interested in sort of manufacturing a sense of drama and over-the-top emotion in my work - dramatic mountain backdrops, tears, dramatic edits, exclamation points!!!! But now I’m much more interested in subtle and honest ways that intimacy manifests - whether that is an expression, or an unconscious gesture, or a look. My work is inspired by vintage photos and films, as well as editorial and fashion photography. I suppose I would describe my style as nostalgic, editorial, romantic, and honest. My approach is a blend of editorial artistry and photojournalism.
How do you work closely with your couples in such a short time to make them feel confident and comfortable? Do you have any advice for those who might be shy? Being comfortable with your photographer is very important and choosing a photographer you connect with will help you be more relaxed and natural in your photos. I personally am much more comfortable taking photos than being photographed, and I understand being nervous. Being photographed is an innately intimate experience. I always encourage doing an engagement session so that we have a chance to build trust and a connection before the wedding day. During shoots I also try to create situations and poses where the couple is focused on each other and forget for a moment that I am there. We also spend a lot of time just chatting during engagement shoots, and I try to make the shoot itself a fun experience, apart from the photos that will come from it.
Most photographers today shoot only digital. Tell us more about why you love to capture on film as well. Do couples specifically request one or the other?
I began shooting on digital, but once I started incorporating film, I really felt my work change into what I wanted it to be. I can’t quite explain why or how, but film has a sort of tangibility. It has a quality that cannot be explained. It also requires intention with each shot, whereas with digital I find I can fire off so many shots without thinking (and then I find myself sorting through hundreds of similar images). Film requires intense presence and an understanding of light. It has definitely made me a better photographer. I am immensely inspired by the work of great classic photographers like Robert Doisneau, Dora Maar, and Duane Michals, as well as classic films, which of course were all shot on film.
Some couples do request film or have a preference for it. My engagement sessions are now shot mostly or entirely on film, whereas the wedding day is more digital heavy. My digital editing is filmesque so there’s cohesion in my work. I shoot a hybrid, because it’s the best of both worlds. As much as I love film there are certain lighting situations, time constraints, or effects where digital is better suited, and film is quite expensive...But it’s truly worth it.
You’re based in London, one of the most beautiful cities. How do you capture the city and make it unique to each couple? I actually moved here from the US shortly before Covid, so I haven’t had many opportunities yet to capture this city and its lovers, but I’m really looking forward to it. Living in London has been a lifelong dream. The first couples shoot I did in London (fall of 2019) was one of my favorite shoots ever. We weren’t in any of the famous parts of London. They had a picnic in a little park near where they lived, and it was just a really lovely shoot. I usually try to photograph couples in locations where they have fond memories or some sort of connection. London is so massive and so beautiful, there’s no way it could possibly ever be exhausted of places to photograph. And each couple and the way their love manifests is unique; so even if I shot every engagement shoot in Hyde Park till the end of time, each shoot would be unique because it would reflect that couple’s relationship.
What advice would you give couples looking for their perfect photographer?
You are hiring someone for the way they see the world; not just their ability to take an image, but their perspective. Keep that in mind when you’re looking for a photographer. Really consider what sort of feeling you want your photos to have.
There are scores of good photographers. There are scores of not great ones too, but honestly there are so many great ones to choose from. 10 different photographers in the same room will notice 10 different things - the moments they notice, the photos they select when going through their images, the way they capture the light will all be different. Ultimately, go with your intuition. It’s really important to have a connection with your photographer, because they will be present for some of the most intimate, memorable moments of your wedding day and potentially of your life. You really want someone you feel comfortable with and someone that you trust. Meet with prospective photographers (or have a video call) and pay attention to your energy after the call. Follow your gut. Don’t overthink it.
Also! I always recommend doing an engagement session with your wedding photographer. It is a great time to build a connection with them, and this connection will benefit your wedding day photos. I personally enjoy engagement sessions immensely, and the couples I still have a relationship with years after their weddings all did an engagement session with me.
Tell us one of your favourite magical moments you have captured. I’ve been lucky enough to photograph so many lovely moments. In 2017 I was photographing a couple on a mountain near their home in Southern California. We were walking among beautiful, tall trees. When sunset was beginning, we found an area that overlooked the valley. The sun shone through the clouds at a beautiful angle with such softness, right as it began to snow unexpectedly, the first flurries of the season. The way the snow fell in those sunbeams was completely magical. The couple had such a special connection and love, and wonder was really felt in those images.
Professionally or personally, what inspires you?
I’m inspired by so many things! Art, architecture, interiors, fashion, ceramics, design generally. I also love films and I read a lot (I studied Literature and Philosophy at university, and I feel dead inside unless I am actively learning). Travel is another thing that inspires me. Most of the weddings I’ve photographed have been ones I’ve traveled for; I’ve photographed couples in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, NYC, Austin, Iceland, and more. I travel as often as I can, I really love being in new places.
What’s next for you in 2021 and beyond? This year I’m focusing on making friends and connecting with couples in London. COVID blocked my ability to even imagine the future for a long time, and I’m just now able to envision a horizon again. It’s so nice to be planning shoots again. I also have a really exciting wedding in NYC that I get to shoot next year on my birthday, so that’s something I’m really looking forward to. I’m really eager to be able to travel again soon as the world opens up again.
