Upcoming Photographer: Poppy Gregson

We saw her Axel Arigato work and we had to stan, read on as we interview up-and-coming photographer Poppy Gregson. Poppy is a student photographer at Kingston University who has collaborated with Blur. in the past for posts including the "PARIS" and "RAE" shoot, as well as a handful of client work for the likes of Axel Arigato and ASOS Marketplace's Electric Wardrobe Vintage.

Photos by Poppy via her Instagram @poppyjenniifer, interviewed by Rae.

Photos by Poppy via her Instagram @poppyjenniifer.

How did you know you wanted to be a photographer?

Ever since I was a child I would always take photos on small disposable cameras and very bad quality digital cameras, I’ve always been a creative person so collecting photos, painting and drawing were my favourite things to do.

A random moment that does stick with me is when I used to binge-watch America’s next top model, and when I would watch it, I wouldn’t be focused on the modelling, I would be focused on the photographer and the way he took and instructed the model. I think it was from that moment that I knew that I wanted to go into fashion photography as a career.

What has been your most defining moment of influence in your journey to find your personal aesthetic?

I think attending university has helped me find my personal style. Before I came I was very lost on what I wanted to take photos of and to do it in my way, but now I feel like I have found a style that I continuously use in my work.

Before university I got to assist with London Fashion Week in 2018, this moment definitely was a defining moment as I know that fashion photography was the route I wanted to take.

What one photograph has been your personal favourite to date? Photo of Poppy, shot by Rae Martins.

One of my favourite photos I have taken

was when I was an assistant at London Fashion Week. Whilst the hired photographers were all focused on a model I took some quick photos of the other models who were waiting around, I didn’t have my own lighting or special equipment so I just used the light sources of the rest of the cameras in the corner. This gave my photo a unique lightning angle which I think came out very effective in the final image.

What has been your biggest struggle to date in your journey in industry?

I think one thing is how fast-paced the industry can be for the turnover of photos. I’m getting much better with planning my time and finding fast time management alternatives and techniques, but at the beginning, I was quite shocked at the turn over time. Now I’ve worked and studied in the area of photography, I’ve come to realise how important it is to get the right image as quickly as possible - for example, photographs of a particular celebrity or moment.

Who do you have hoped to have worked within the next 5 years?

I would love to be able to intern and work for a fashion style-title magazine like Dazed or i-D.

Check out more from Poppy via her Instagram @poppyjenniifer or her website https://poppygregsonblog.wordpress.com.

Sources: https://www.instagram.com/poppyjenniifer/