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 HENRIK
ADAMSEN
FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER
COPENHAGEN, DEMARK
Henrik’s
work is pure passion. After starting
his journey to become a fashion photographer he had to
make a decision, to quit his job as an Art Director and
work as a fashion photographer full-time.
Ever since then Henrik has been creating lovely
images.
Exclusively Fashion Magazine:
Can you tell me how your career started as a fashion
photographer?
Henrik Adamsen:
It actually started quite a while ago (about 17 years
ago), when I was a re-toucher for some of the bigger
ready-to-wear brands in Demark. Since then I've
had an interest for fashion photography. So when I
picked up a camera for a job I did as an art-director
later on, I couldn't put it back down again. I
started shooting tests for some of the smaller agencies
in Copenhagen. So I guess I can't really put a
finger on when I started. The two jobs kind of
merged together and at some point I had to give up my
art-director job in order to persue the photography side
full-time.
EFM: What is your view on fashion and
photography?
HA:
Uhm...When you separate it
like that. Let me think... Well I'm not really
a fashionable dresser myself. I don't show up
for shoots wearing designer clothes. Quite the
opposite. I often show up for shoots wearing
clothes I know I'll be comfortable wearing, as I
know I'll be crawling around on the ground most of
the day. On the other hand, fashion is what I
like to shoot and not much else really. I
could never spend a whole day running around
shooting animals, landscapes or something like that.
I have great respect for the photographers in the
other 'categories', most of it is something I could
never do.
I love that both fashion and
fashion photography is a constantly evolving thing,
so you kind of need to stay on your toes. So
all in all...it's a job that I love, and I wouldn't
trade it for anything.
EFM: How
often do you travel in a month?
HA:
It varies a LOT. The past
month I've been in Italy two times and at the end of
this month I'm going to LA to shoot a campaign.
But, it's often centered around the fashion weeks and
not so much in between.
EFM: Can you describe your style
as a fashion photographer?
HA:
Simplistic (can you say that?)
I often tend to go for something that's just a
little messy, (or a lot). I love to shoot in
available light. It doesn't have to be daylight,
it could be streetlight or a desk lamp. It's not
really important. The atmosphere and expression is
the important thing to me.
Someone once said that I was good at things that had to
do with the female body. I never really thought
about it before then, but I guess there is some truth to
that. At least that's the kind of jobs I often
get.
EFM: Have you ever assisted any
established photographers; if so, who were they?
HA:
No I haven't. I often think
about that. Would it have been an advantage for
me, or has the 'not' assisting anyone helped me develop
a style of my own faster than most?
A lot of assistants who come from well established
photographers, shoot exactly like the photographers they
came from.
EFM:
You live a very fast-paced life and traveled around the
world; where is your favorite location?
HA:
It's not THAT fast paced
(smiles). My favorite location yet is the desert
in California. I was there in January. It
was just right, the temperature was good and there were
so many good spots to shoot, and the sun never went too
high on the sky. I want to go back there soon.
EFM:
Tell me something that no one knows about you?
HA:
Ehrr... I don't know.
I'll have to think about that one...
EFM: Do you ever find yourself
trying to evolve or reinvent yourself as a fashion
photographer?
HA:
All the time. It's not
something that I try to do. It just happens,
that's how my head works. The thing people need to
understand about me is, that I have never shot a picture
that I was completely happy with. There is always
something wrong. I keep aiming for a goal.
The goal is that prefect picture that I keep in my head,
perfect pose, perfect look. But, the goal keeps
changing and is always just out of reach. Don't
get me wrong, it's not a bad thing. I love that
process and I love coming up with new things or looking
for new ways to shoot.
EFM:
What advice can you give to aspiring fashion
photographers?
HA:
If you shoot what other
people think you should shoot, you'll never be happy.
Keep shooting what you think is cool, and eventually
someone will come along who loves your work, and wants
to book you for jobs (smiles).
Interview by Rochell “E” James
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