Rossella Vanon is an internationally acclaimed and published fashion and beauty photographer. She has worked alongside some of the most professional teams in the industry and has built an extensive client list over the years. Her work is published in over twenty national and international magazines and her name is now well known in fashion blogs and photo communities all over the internet. She is currently also running and teaching in fashion photography classes and workshops in London, UK.

You shifted from academics to photography at a very young age. How did this shift happen?

I was studying Sound Engineering at University here in London. I have always had such a passion for music and I really enjoyed my studies. But during the last year of my course I developed a strong interest for photography and it grew stronger and stronger everyday. I remember coming home after long days spent in Uni, dealing with dissertations and seminars, hungry for photography.So when I got my Degree, I realized it was time to dedicate my full attention to photography.

As a student it took me ages to save money to buy my first ‘real’ lens, but because it was such a hard, long process, it all felt so important and meaningful. I still remember the feeling and the excitement of walking into the store and leaving with the lens in my hands. It was the Canon 100mm F2.8 Macro, still one of my favourites.

Are you a self taught photographer or did you have a mentor who showed you the ropes?
After days in Uni I would come home and spend nights studying photography books, taking notes, drawing sketches. And as soon as I had a free day, I would go out with my camera in parks or by the river, looking for nature and landscape shots. Even though I’m self taught, there are people I will always be thankful to for the amount of interest and passion towards this form of art they installed in by just by talking about it with eyes full of love.

Do you remember the first object you shot?
I can’t remember exactly, but I’m SURE it was nature. A Macro shot. That is the first type of photography I experimented and fell in love with. Even though in my opinion nothing beats the amount of creativity and artistic freedom you can express through a fashion shoot, nature macro photography will always be the thing I look forward to when I want to take a little break from pressure and relax, walking slowly in silence amongst flowers and tree, breathing fresh air under the sun. A real therapy!

How did you develop your passion for fashion photography?
I got contacted by a make up artist for a test shoot via Modelmayhem.com, and even though looking back at the inexperience and lack of knowledge makes me smile, I remember having a lot of fun. For the fist time I was not just taking a picture of something that was already there, but I was creating the shot. And when you reach the results you had in mind it is such a satisfaction!

After that day I arranged many more test shoots and that feeling of freedom and power slowly became my little addiction.

How do you make your models pose for you?
Whenever I have an idea for a shoot, I put together a mood board with reference images for both styling and poses, which I send to the rest of my team and modeling agencies.

Agencies get back to you with a package of available girls you can choose from. Finding models through agencies can be very time consuming, but I would definitely recommend it. Getting a hold of them can be really hard, especially during busy times, but some bookers are lovely and helpful and dealing with them is a pleasure. The girls have amazing looks and they know what they are doing – that makes all the difference in the world.

Do you interview your portrait subjects before photographing them?
I don’t interview them as such, but I always take the time to have a sit and have a chat with them while they’re having their make up and hair done, even though fashion shoots can be a bit chaotic and rushed sometimes. I show them the mood board with the reference images, explain a bit more about what I have in mind and what the concept and purpose of the shoot is. We are all humans and we do give the best of us when we feel good vibes around us and creating that on set is as important as the lighting set up.

Your works have been featured in over 25 magazines, which is a huge figure, considering your short career span of 1 year, till now. How has the journey been so far?
Intense! This year went by so quickly. I came up with my first editorial (In Between Dreams) in January 2011, and it feels like yesterday that I was walking around London looking for the giant round balloons.

I’m very ambitious and I always set high standards for myself. Even though I’m so excited about what I have achieved so far, I can’t wait to do more!

What are your future dreams?
I’m in love with fashion editorial photography and that is what I want my personal future projects to focus on. I would love to travel and experience fashion shoots in other cultures.

There are also some beautiful magazines still on my wish list, - I will work hard to have my images on their pages!

What does Rossella love doing, when she is not clicking pictures?
I’m extremely passionate about music, I listen to it continuously and I go to a lot of concerts. It charges me up. I adore my family and friends and I like to spend good, fun quality time with them and feel the warmth. I love animals. I’m a vegetarian and a strong believer in animal rights. At my family house we have a dog and two cats and as soon as I can, I will run home looking forward to spending time with them, playing and running and making silly noises. The amount of unconditional love they give you makes you feel in peace with the world.

Photography or rather any job profile requires extreme dedication. Your work proves that. How do you manage to stay focused for such long durations?  Your tips could help the young budding photographers of today.
Freelancing photography is a super-full time job. There is no real time off, because when you are not shooting, you are editing and when you are not editing, you are planning new shoots. The ‘rest’ of the time is spent networking, creating contacts, hunting for locations, attending fashion shows, taking care of your equipment. You do have to stay focused for long times, but if you are really passionate about what you are doing you will only enjoy it more!

www.rvanonphotography.com

	Quick8: Your Favourite Camera: Canon (5D Mark II in my case) and Polaroid. Your Favourite Printer: the one that makes the print look exactly like the actual original file. Your Favourite Shoot: mine ‘The Irrational Bird’, almost everything by Tim Walker, Paolo Roversi ‘The Great Illusion’, Annie Leibovitz ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Your Preferred Location:  outdoors in the nature or beautiful decayed Victorian houses. Favourite Photographer: Tim Walker. Most memorable story:  being welcomed in the studio with Champagne and a never-ending buffet at a client shoot in Milan. Current photographers you like: Tim Walker, Paolo Roversi, Emma Tempest. Toughest day at work: when nothing goes as planned!

More Photos by Rossella Vanon / Fotosocial

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