Working with the stars and Falling in love for the day – Speaking with Photographer Tony McGee

David Bowie, Prince Nazeem, Wham; all household names but also all people who have been photographed by the renowned photographer Tony McGee. But what is it that makes a good photograph, what does it ‘take’ and why is it different to many other forms of art?

Tony started his photography journey in the 1960s where he quickly got a name for himself in the fashion and beauty world. He took photographs that utterly and truly, encapsulated an individual in a moment. Everyone wanted to be photographed by him. When asked how he manages this he states that when the client(s) come into his studio, they get every part of him. He understands how to allow his subjects to drop their barriers and become their authentic selves. Tony has stopped at nothing over the years to achieve this, including working for Mother Theresa to build enough trust to allow herself to be photographed and allowing David Bowie to sift through his extensive record collection!

The ability to stop at nothing to do this and allowing himself to fall in love with his subjects demonstrates the strength and mindset Tony has achieved as a photographer and, as a businessman. Tony mastered the ability to create his own concepts, in light, in an individual and in art whilst battling any barriers and understanding the importance and power he had as a photographer. This is what allowed him to find and sustain incredible success and create beautiful photography.

Photography is more easily monetised than many other art forms. Although just as complex and creative as a painting, it is consumed in a less demanding way. It is easily digested and interpreted by the audience who can enjoy it for simply it’s form or as a fan of the subject. Tony consistently reminds photographers and other artists that it’s important to understand the freedom money gives you. It’s not contradictory to the artistic lifestyle to make money, or use it to your advantage. It isn’t selling out to create wealth for yourself, it’s business and it’s how the world we live in operates. Business is fluid, you must be able to work with challenges; bad weather, bad moods…you can’t wait around for a blue sky. Time is money.

Photography invokes a feeling, it’s full of history, of the individual being photographed, the photographer and the time it is occurring in. It is pausing a moment and creating a significance in time. This was fully translated and demonstrated when Tony unearthed a chance encounter, a reel of photographs, that Tony took of Kate Moss before she was known. The worth and power of those kinds of discoveries show beyond doubt that photography is power, art is power and money, is power.

Video Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1aPoP0Y1x-kxkRzSJnffAZgTHJYF5RsjH