TPX14: Brian Aris – War Photographer turned Photographer to the Rich, Famous and Royal

Brian Aris of Aris Photography began his photographic career as a photojournalist covering assignments around the world including the civil unrest and riots in Northern Ireland, the plight of Palestinian children in Jordan, the civil war in Lebanon, famine in Africa and the war in Vietnam.

He then decided on a complete change in direction, and opened a studio in London where he started photographing models for newspapers and magazines.

At the same time he broadened his studio work to include pop and rock stars such as Blondie, The Jam, Madonna, The Clash, The Boomtown Rats, Roxy Music, the police David Dewey , The Beatles, The Rolling stone, Sting and actors such as Meryl Streep, Anthony Hopkins and Sophia Loren.

After 3 years, Brian turned away from the model world to concentrate on the music industry. Glamorous weddings followed including the marriage of David Beckham to Victoria in an Irish castle.

Brian went on to photograph Her Majesty The Queen Mother, Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret. And he was commissioned to produce the official portraits, marking both Her Majesty the Queen 70th Birthday. Later, the Golden Wedding Anniversary of her marriage to his Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh.

I only ever had one ambition, really, and that was to be a news photographer. I had no intention of going anywhere close to studios or celebrities. It was just everything I wanted to do at the age of 14, 15 was to go out and take pictures of news events – Brian Aris

I'm rapt to have Brian Aris with me for this interview.

Here’s some of what we cover:

• Can you have any idea where photography will take you when starting out in the industry?
• How a photo of a fire kicked off Brian's career in journalism
• The struggles Brian went through to get his career going in photojournalism
• Does Brian consider himself a good photographer when looking back at his older images
• Who influenced Brian’s photography style when starting his career
• Why it’s so difficult to train people to have that photographer’s eye
• Always wait and wait until you click that shutter
• Don’t take pictures that are not necessary
• How to look through contact sheets for that one special image
• How often is Brian shooting today
• Does Brian believe film is coming back
• Who commissions Brian to do work nowadays
• Why Brian switched from film to digital
• Photographing Prince Andrew was the realisation that shooting film wouldn’t be possible for his business anymore
• Using film is just too time consuming
• Did Brian ever think shooting war photography was something he wanted to do long term
• Does Brian follow a specific shot list when working on his assignments
• Running into issues with the how publishers control what photos go out to publication
• Brian’s reason for shifting from war photography into fashion photography
• Why agents came to Brian with offers of fashion and celebrity shoots despite his documentary photography background
• What went through Brian’s head the first time he photographs celebrities like Madonna
• Why having your photo taken is an intimidating experience
• How Brian breaks the ice with his subjects before the start of a shoot
• Brian makes sure he gets to know his models before every photo session
• Seeing dressing rooms as a vulnerable area to break barriers
• Brian’s studio setup looks like
• How a flexible studio setup helps when photographing different personalities
• Brian won’t allow egotistical or sycophantic people in his studio
• Why it’s important to establish rules in your studio when a photo shoot is ongoing
• Has Brian ever felt intimidated photographing famous people
• How Brian recalls photographing for the Royal Family for the first time
• Why it’s best not to bring in your entire team when photographing high profile clients
• How Brian landed a job photographing members of the Royal Family
• Who contacts Brian to commission work for the Royal Family
• Why Brian thinks it’s great to see newcomers being asked to photograph the Royal Family
• The kind of style expected from you when you photograph the Royal Family
• Losing avant-garde jobs because of your association of being a photographer for high-profile clients
• The approach to photographing modern royalty is changing
• The dilemma of photographers in London with copyright control
• Brian’s library plays a huge part in his income stream
• Marketing images online is hard work and difficult to do
• People who buy art prefer seeing images in a gallery not a screen
• Does Brian have the artistic freedom to shoot the style he wants to shoot when photographing celebrities
• Where Brian gets his inspiration
• Brian prefers starting every shoot with a blank mind and no preconceived vision
• Brian’s thoughts on looking at other people’s work or art as inspiration for his shoots
• Hesitation has no room in journalism
• Brian’s thoughts on war and famine stricken countries that have not made it’s way to the mainstream media
• Does Brian share the same passion with his journalism work as with photographing celebrities

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to read your feedback and comments. Was there something from this interview that struck a chord, inspired or motivated you?

Will you take any kind of action after hearing what Brian had to share?

Let me know by leaving your thoughts in the comments below.

I like the idea of just going in with a camera and a blank canvass and see what we can turn up on the day – Brian Aris

If you have any questions that I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Brian or if you just want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them below too.

My own personal feeling about photography is it’s all about the eye – Brian Aris

I really strongly feel you should shoot and show the brutality and how vile war is and famine – Brian Aris

I think taking photographs is always a challenge and that’s what I love about it – Brian Aris

I love the reportage thing because you don't know what you're gonna get out of that. You don't know where you are headed when you’re in Bombay or when you’re in Belfast or when you’re out with Geldof in Thailand. You don’t know where you're gonna end up and you have to think on your feet. And I absolutely love that. That aspect of it – Brian Aris

I have to say I think we’re overloaded with visual stimulation. In a way, I think you have to cut off from it sometimes because we’re bombarded with it 24/7 – Brian Aris

Live concerts are like shooting reportage in a violent sort of situation

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Brian Aris Website

Brian Aris Fine Art Photographic Prints

Brian Aris on Facebook

Brian Aris on Twitter

You leave your ego at the door. There’s only one ego in the studio. And that belongs to the person being photographed – Brian Aris

Shoot First! Assignments of a Newsreel Camera Man by Ronnie Noble

Don McCullin

Twiggy

Kent Gavin

David Essex

Irving Penn

Richard Avedon

Annie Leibovitz

Camera Press

The camera acts as a real barrier and take it away and I don’t think I’d be very good at some of the events I’ve been to – Brian Aris

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening to the show and thanks to Brian for coming on and experimenting with a new and different format for this photography podcast and for sharing his thoughts, views and ideas on photography.

Also, a big thanks to Chris and Yuan from Studio Ninja for sponsoring this episode of the podcast and making the show possible.

I always hope that in my lifetime I’d see Ireland settled, perhaps that’s true. I really felt passionately about the Israel-Palestinian thing. We’re not seeing that settled. And now what we’re seeing on the contrary is the Middle East just shredding itself apart. And famine. War’s something but when you see famine, which is what you will see in Yemen at the moment, I find that heartbreaking – Brian Aris

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions about this episode, please be sure to leave them below in the comment section of this post, and if you liked the episode, please share it using the social media buttons you see at the bottom of the post!

That’s it for me, hope everything is going well for you in life and photography!

Thanks and speak soon

Andrew