Hi all! My name is Nick Knight and I will be doing an AMA for 45 minutes answering your questions about fashion film, photography and our exciting SHOWstudio Fashion Film Award. I launched SHOWstudio in 2000, as a pioneering online platform for the world's best fashion film and have collaborated with the world’s most influential and visionary creatives, including Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Tom Ford and Yohji Yamamoto. In October 2015, I announced the brief for our first ever SHOWstudio Fashion Film Award in the hope to find the world's best fashion filmmaker. http://showstudio.com/project/fashion_film_award

Here is my proof: https://twitter.com/SHOWstudio/status/677881122965946371

UPDATE: Thank you so much for all the great questions, it has been a pleasure and privilege answering them. I have to get back to work now for a conference call in 10 minutes. Lots of pre Christmas deadlines! Merry Christmas

Comments: 106 • Responses: 38  • Date: 

sexrockandroll4 karma

What inspired you to go into fashion?

showstudio3 karma

It was naturally what I was interested in. My first project was photographing skinheads, so that in a way was my first fashion project. I was always interested in fashion, ever since I can remember.

Constantinkt3 karma

Hi Nick! I'm a passionate amateur photographer and my dream is to able to pursue editorial fashion photography as a career.

What tips can you give me, and enthusiasts in general, to make oneself more likely to be successful as a fashion photographer?

Thanks!

showstudio2 karma

Always trust your instinct. Never stop believing in yourself! Good Luck :)

Constantinkt1 karma

Thanks a lot,

Hopefully one day you might actually see something I shot!

showstudio3 karma

So do I!

notaalt2 karma

What little things in life make you happy?

showstudio4 karma

Afternoon Tea, the smell of Serge Lutens fragrances, photographing roses, my cufflinks, the sun coming through the silver birches in my garden, people in the street…. so many things!

noire62 karma

What advice can you give to a creative young adult wanting to get started in fashion film?

showstudio2 karma

Realising it is just about clothes in movement, and not about attempting to make a hollywood film!

va1a2 karma

What would be your number 1 tip to get involved in the fashion industry? :)

showstudio0 karma

Do you mean as a fashion image maker?

Brewerstreetbrawler2 karma

Hi Nick! Could you give some tips on how you direct models? Such as... Do you give them a brief before hand or specific instructions on the shoot? Music playing etc? New to photography and would love to build confidence in hiring models.

showstudio3 karma

First of all, use people you personally like, even if they are not professional models. Secondly, always talk to them about what you are trying to achieve. Music is super important - find music that you can work to, as well as they can! Finally, don't be frightened to push them as hard as you need to get the image. They are doing to get a great image as well.

JodieMann2 karma

Hi Nick! Thank you for doing this - I'm one of your students on the Photography: Mastered course! I know you have a team of video editors you work with for your films, but I'm curious, do you/have you edited any of your own fashion films yourself? (worked with 3D motion graphics or special effects yourself for example?). Or do you prefer to work closely with your video editing team? Thanks.

showstudio1 karma

I prefer to work closely with my video editing team. They are incredibly skilled and talented individuals. They are able to show me things I wouldn't see otherwise.

I also use apps on my phone to create roughs to show my editors and technical team.

russian-red2 karma

Could you share an early memory of working with McQueen?

showstudio3 karma

One of his earliest requests was that we photograph a model lying in raw sewage.

russian-red2 karma

Does fashion need to slow down?

showstudio3 karma

Not necessarily. But I do think that the fashion business need to realise is that designers are artists and need to be treated with care, love and protection. These are people that are very sensitive to the world around them, in good ways and bad. This is also the reason we love them.

leoberti2 karma

What's the most important social media platform to put the work out there for a young photographer?

showstudio2 karma

SHOWstudio!

ibraswurve2 karma

How did you end up working with Kanye West and how was it to work with him?

showstudio3 karma

Kanye called me after 'Born This Way' was released. I met him, 15 minutes later on our relationship started at that point. He is an incredibly unique person to know and to work with. I have the highest respect for what he has achieved, both personally and professionally.

VMagazine2 karma

Hi Nick! Which shoot with V has been your favorite?

showstudio1 karma

The next one :)

interior-space2 karma

Hi Nick.

Ham and Petersham resident here. Our lovely part of London is, surprisingly, home to some great modern architecture. Would you ever consider taking part in London Open House weekend? Yours is a true gem.

Also, your enthusiasm and joy for the wonders of creativity are a boundless inspiration. Thank you.

showstudio2 karma

Thank you very much! Yes in theory, however at the moment we are just having the garden re planted as we have lost a huge tree in the storms.

lula24881 karma

What movie has made you laugh the hardest?

showstudio1 karma

Hi Lula, thats a tricky question…. TV shows, it would be Green Wing! Films is a little harder. I will have a think about this one!

lulaalt1 karma

What's the most inefficient way you've ever seen anyone do something?

showstudio2 karma

People building my house. I went on holiday for 4 weeks, and when I returned, they had knocked down the part of the house that had been built before I left.

BrunoMarx1 karma

Hi Nick, thanks for doing this AMA! I've spent so much time on SHOWstudio, it's such a valuable resource.

Which artists do you find yourself revisiting time and time again for inspiration/ideas? Can be from any medium since your work draws from so many disciplines.

Also, will you be doing another Photogaphy:Mastered course in the future? I considered applying but my work isn't there yet!

showstudio1 karma

I will answer you last question first. Yes I believe I will be doing a course next year.

Regarding my inspirations, they come from nearly everything in life. Often it is just people I see in the street.

Schiaparelli1 karma

Thanks for doing an AMA! I love SHOWstudio's work, and you and your team always produce interesting and varied perspectives on fashion.

  • What are your thoughts on how storied brands engage with social media—e.g. Burberry's Snapchat ad campaign—do you think there are brands that are doing a particularly great job?
  • You've featured younger designers on SHOWstudio—what do you see as SHOWstudio's obligation to support new talent? What do you think is the best way to support new designers when they're still developing aesthetically and commercially?
    • Followup to this: what countries/schools/programs/sponsorships/whatever do you think do the best job at supporting new talent?
  • I love the designer-in-residence projects (e.g. Faustine Steinmetz's "Sculpting Denim" live stream). What would be your dream designer/creative to do a residency with SHOWstudio?

showstudio1 karma

That is a lot of questions in one! I hope you don't mind if I just answer one.

We support new talent because it is super interesting. I enjoy doing it and don't see it as an obligation but a privilege.

Csfashiondiary1 karma

Dear Nick Knight,

After enhancing garment's movement, what do you think will be next in the interpretation/translation of fashion via new technology?

Thank you for your time.

showstudio1 karma

Virtual models.

prashious1 karma

Hello, Nick! I'm an architecture student with an interest in fashion. Fashion is inherently spatial, but at the scale of the human body. Would you ever change scales and photograph architecture, or furniture? Do you have a favorite architect, and why?

showstudio2 karma

As a photographer you photograph everything and not just one thing. So absolutely yes, I have photographed architecture and love doing it. I photographed the James Sterling development in Runcorn, the Brunswick centre in Bloomsbury, Trellick Tower in Noting Hill Gate and I live in a house designed by the architect David Chipperfield which I photograph regularly and post on my Instagram.

specularworld1 karma

What technology are you hoping for to enable any image making ideas you have?

showstudio2 karma

To be able to take a picture just be seeing, without any equipment, just your eyes. I am hoping advances in neuroscience and modern medicine will make this rather fantastical idea a reality in my lifetime.

Constantinkt1 karma

Hi Nick, thanks for doing this AMA!

I'm an amateur photographer and I've been photographing nightclubs and parties for about a year now. My dream is to transition into fashion and editorial photography.

My question is: what are the best things to do to appear more appealing to fashion brands, magazines and the like when one is just starting out?

showstudio1 karma

Do a fashion shoot of the most cool people you have met in the nightclubs! Good luck :)

CharlotteChloeWhite1 karma

Hey Nick,

My friends and I are in the process of entering your fashion film competition, we were wondering how to upload to film and what you mean by making the video private instead of public. Does that mean you would like us to upload a private video to YouTube/Vimeo and provide you with the access password in the entry forms, or to simply upload a public video and not share it with anyone but yourself?

showstudio1 karma

Hi,

We ask that you upload your film to YouTube as 'unlisted' rather than Private - that way we can embed the film onto SHOWstudio. If you are having trouble please get in touch with [email protected] and the team can assist you further.

Sarmady1 karma

everyone who follows you closely knows how useless you think film photography is in the digital age, but what do you think about instant film photography which has a very special look, like polaroid or wet plate ?

showstudio1 karma

I think all forms of image making are interesting. I wouldn't rule anything out whether it is wet plate collodion, rayograms, gum bichromate, 3D scanning, printing on fax paper or platinum printing, all things are worth looking at.

Woloban1 karma

Dear Nick, sorry for my English. As an image maker, aren't you worried about the huge amount of iconic images we are exposed everyday in almost any circumstance? It's something that many photographers theorised years ago (Newton too). I log in Instagram and I see mainly self portraits. While I aknowledge that that this trend is good when comes to self-determination and feeling better with one's individuality, what I see is this translates into lack of curiosity towards what is surrounding us. Thank you so much for this Reddit chance!

showstudio1 karma

Photography is just communication, like speaking or writing. I don't think we need to get worried about hearing great things everyday. All photography is eventually self portraiture.

Cyrit1 karma

Hi there,

I've always been a huge fan of yours and your sense of aesthetics, which - outside of the fashionindustry is most likely considered non mainstream.

This is what interests me the most, as a young photography student. Everything I see in social media are those flat beauty images. This trend is even picked by established photographers..

What kind of audience do you have? Which communities would you suggest paying a visit? I dont wanna bend for the stupidty of the current trends

thanks for doing the AMA! :)

showstudio1 karma

When making an image, you should never think about your audience.

Sarmady1 karma

do you still remember the picture that made you think Juergen Teller was too good to be an assistant?

showstudio1 karma

Yes - it was of a pig with strawberries around it.

JodieMann1 karma

Hello again! Which do you prefer/get more excited shooting, video or stills? Do you love them equally/in different ways? Thanks, Jodie.

showstudio1 karma

I love them equally, and in very different ways. Both are incredibly hard!

shriprasham1 karma

Hi Nick, Do you believe it's possible, in today's world to make it as a fashion photographer without pursuing the assisting other photographers route? Also, all my mentors keep telling me to network but I am terrible at that and always feel I come across as being fake. Do you have any advice on that? Thank you :)

showstudio4 karma

Yes. Don't believe your mentors, I never believed in networking. If you are good, people will want you. Trust yourself. And yes you don't have to assist, there are as many different ways as there are people. Good luck!

CharlotteChloeWhite1 karma

Hey Nick

Do you think interactive technology is changing the exclusivity of the fashion industry by allowing everyone to be spectators?

Would you say fashion is becoming less about the clothes and more about the experience?

By reproducing images and making fashion more accessible online do you think it is changing the impact of the original garment?

showstudio1 karma

Yes, but for the better. Incidentally, not all fashion has been exclusive.

Fashion is going through a revolution. Everything is changing. It has to.

marcusgarvey11 karma

Hi Nick, Would you go into the studio to shoot if you were not happy with a treatment for a shoot and a client was urging you to deliver at a certain time? Is the preproduction creatively imperative above all?

showstudio1 karma

Yes you should always go into the studio well prepared. Choosing the client is the most important thing. Once you have, you enter into a relationship which, like all relationships, needs care and understanding on both sides.

instantstoryteller1 karma

Hello Mr. Knight,

I am just a truly admirer of your work. You have worked within different projects with social impact. Did you face any difficulties with that?Did you ever thought of involving everyday people in any of your projects so as to reduce the gap between fashion industry and everyday fashion? thank you in advance. marianna

showstudio1 karma

I think all fashion is important and exciting at whatever level. To be honest, I never really approach fashion in that way. I often find my models on Instagram or on the street. And as well as that, much of my inspiration comes from seeing people in the world around me.

Vikosus1 karma

To date, is there a specific person you've enjoyed working with more than others?

showstudio2 karma

No, it would be like saying you have a favourite child. All my shoots are incredibly important to me.

miguelsoll1 karma

Hello, Nick! Thanks for doing this.

As a young aspiring photographer, I have always thought that developping a style and improving my skills were the best way to get work done and to fulfill myself, but in a few years trying do get into the industry I started to doubt that initial thought. Networking seems to be just as important (if not more) than that, now. How would you say is a good way to approach magazines, potential clients without being annoying? I always feel like I'm annoying everyone or that people will simply think "ough, another desperate one" hahah

showstudio1 karma

It is the desperate ones who make it happen! Don't give up :) Ruth Hogben wrote, phoned and used remote links to me for 2 years to become my assistant, and she was brilliant, and is now one of the most exciting fashion film makers in the world.

rickpkw1 karma

Hi Nick, About how many total shots do you take per look? And how do you know when you got the shot and its time to move on to the next?

showstudio1 karma

It really varies. When I used to work on a 10x8 camera we had 10-15 shots per look as the film was so expensive. Now using an iPhone, its an infinite amount of shots. I keep on working until either I or the model drop! :)

Sarmady1 karma

what do you think of fashion being all about trend revivals for the past 20 years, especially in the big houses, and how it overshadow the original work of up and coming designers?

showstudio1 karma

I think it depends where you look. There is great,new fashion design being created all the time. You just have to look at what the students are producing at colleges like RCA, Central Saint Martins, London College of Fashion, to see that fashion is always changing.

marcusgarvey11 karma

Have you ever had a problem in the studio that money and resources could not over come?

showstudio1 karma

Yes of course, all the time. Problems are solved by hard work and being flexible with your idea.

POERPuff1 karma

hi what do you thrive off most, the image or the moment when you take the image?

showstudio1 karma

The moment!