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| Photo: Aileen wearing a Bonnie Young dress behind-the-scenes of La Petit Magazine photographed by Lee Clower. [Source] |
TAYLOR: When did you realize that you wanted to be a photographer?
LEE: I knew from when I was a kid that I would end up in art or fashion just because my parents were very chic. I was a fashion editor before. [I] worked with some of the biggest names in the world. When I decided to start shooting I considered my editor years my education or boot camp.
Did you always want to be a fashion photographer or did you want to photograph, I don't know, landscapes?
Somewhere in between, I suppose. I have an abstract art series that is my real passion, but the series definitely has elements of fashion within. I do love shooting landscapes and cityscapes and blending those into my fashion work. This week my favorite image is one I shot of the Great Wall of China. Last week it was a night shot of LA from the Hollywood Hills. Next week it will probably be a shot from my new Lamantine Paris campaign with Zuzanna and the following week maybe Callie Reiff for La Petite Magazine's upcoming issue.
When you see Callie, tell her I say, "Hey, girl!" I interviewed her a few weeks ago. Do you remember your first job?
My first job was shooting Cynthia Rowley’s collection for an Italian Vogue editorial in Montauk.
Did you learn anything from that day that you've carried with you?
I learned that I love my job and that I love Cynthia Rowley. She was my biggest supporter from day one and we remain excellent friends and still work together to this day.
What's a typical day on a shoot like?
I’m not sure there’s ever a typical day on any shoot of mine. I mean, I try to keep the same crew together most of the time, so the set up in the beginning can be somewhat typical to the crew, I suppose. But I go into every single job as if it’s the most important of the year, and have fun doing that. That said, I could say the most typical part of any shoot of mine, is that we have fun!
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| Alieen in Bonnie Young photographed by Lee Clower. [Source] |
What's the best part about your job?
That I love creating art and it just so happens to be an actual job. Also, creating work with really awesome, talented people. The models included in there.
The hardest?
Maybe “know it all” moms and clients! [Laughs]
[Laughs] What's the most memorable experience in your career?
There have been so many, but I would have to put shooting Michelle Obama at The White House at the top of the list.
I guess that would be at the top of my list too, whatever. [Laughs] That's legit so cool. Tell me more.
I spent some time in Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait and Northern Africa. That ranks up there and qualifies as memorable but not in the same glamourous fashion that I prefer. Also, shooting in Paris for Town & Country, London for Kids 21, New York City for The New York Times. All [of the shoots] are favorite shoots every time they happen.
Do you ever get starstruck?
I don't ever get starstruck. Even going into The White House my level of enthusiasm for the shoot just completely eclipsed any other thoughts or emotions that might equal nervous or star struck. On an amusing note, the closest I ever came to seeming starstruck was when I shot Kiernan Shipka for The New York Times. We had a huge suite at the Gramercy Park Hotel for the shoot. As I was deciding which room to shoot [in], I lost my camera for like, 20 minutes. She kept telling me she was ready to shoot, but I just kept stalling with a grin.
[Laughs] That's a pretty funny story. I met Kiernan a few years ago. She's a super sweet kid, I'm sure she didn't mind. Do you think it's important for photographers to be active on social media?
I definitely think so. It’s certainly a big part of my approach to the industry these days.
Why?
I can’t speak for other photographers. I know some of my favorite and very successful counterparts are not on social media at all and are doing extremely well. For me, it’s just fun and happens to be work.
Do you remember the first time you saw your work in a magazine?
My first magazine tear was the aforementioned Cynthia Rowley story, and it was pretty great.
That's awesome! Any other magazine stories?
Soon after that I shot the cover of The [New York] Times Styles section for the first of what would be too many to count in the years to follow. That was way more awesome, but still didn’t compare to [shooting] the actual cover of The New York Times that came a few years later.
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| Photo: Aileen in Bonnie Young having by Lee Clower [Source] |
What advice would you give to aspiring camera-clickers?
Follow your passion and allow it to evolve. I loved my work as a fashion editor, but as the jobs became bigger I wanted to interject more of my vision into my work. I had very little technical knowledge or inclination for that knowledge but I just knew it would come if I followed the inner passion. And it did.
That's beautiful. If you weren't a photographer, what do you think you'd be doing right now?
I was born to do what I do. There is no other profession for me. Pro tennis player is a very distant second perhaps.
Besides journalism, a close second for me would have to be becoming a teenage mutant ninja turtle. My ninja name would be Frida. That would be so cool. Anyway, what determines a great photograph, the camera or the person behind it?
Certainly the person behind it. Sometimes the person in front of it. But never the camera.