Interviews

Colleen O’Brien is a fashion photographer, mom to the cutest dog I’ve ever seen, and Mike Kelley’s secret weapon. Colleen’s list of duties is pretty extensive, from styling and propping shots, to making sure Mike and his tripod don’t fall off of whatever precipice they’re on. She’s the girl that makes everything on location run smooth so that Mike can focus on making the photographs.

As soon as I started writing for APA, I immediately knew one of the people I wanted to interview was Suzy Annetta. Suzy is a fellow Melbournian and the founder of Design Anthology, Asia’s premier English-language interiors, design, and architecture magazine. After meeting Suzy at a talk she was chairing at Den Fair last June, I reached out for an interview after discovering she is launching an Australian edition of Design Anthology.

I recently had the opportunity to chat with one of my favourite fellow Melbourne based photographers, Dave Kulesza, about his journey into photographing interiors and architecture which transpired through a home renovation project. Dave’s fascinating career has evolved on his own terms, culminating in a solo show featuring his project DPRK: The Colors of North Korea.

I have been following Anjie Blair’s work on Instagram for a couple of years and have been lucky to witness her career and work evolve into something that could be described simply as magnificent. Anjie hails from a wonderful part of Australia called Tasmania, and today we talk to Anjie about from losing her dream job, finding her way into photography and now transitioning into architectural & interiors photography.

Sharyn Cairns is the Wonder Woman of Australian architectural photography. Her portfolio sports a healthy mix of work – from commercial projects, cuisine, and travel – but the crown jewels are certainly her interiors. She conjures up rich images with interesting light. Her photographs are texture heavy, yet honest and delicate feeling.

I had heard about Vancouver-based Andrew Latreille through another architect a few years ago and finally caught up with him last summer while he was in Melbourne visiting his family. As it turns out, Andrew had actually known about me through our shared hobby of cycling – a small world!

I have been following Andy Macpherson‘s work on Instagram for a couple of years and have been fascinated with the amazing homes he has been photographing from Byron Bay to Queensland. Being located in regional New South Wales, Australia, near the border of NSW and Queensland, Andy has carved a name for himself in a relatively short span of time while photographing for some prolific Australian architectural firms.

Sydney-based Tom Ferguson ran his own architecture practice for over ten years before deciding to take a leap and switch careers from architect to photographer. With a diverse portfolio that includes top projects from around the world, Tom is truly someone who has crafted a career perfectly suited to his personality and lifestyle.

After captivating our staff and readers, Project of the Week veteran James Florio is back on APALMANAC this week for a full-length interview. The Colorado architectural photographer – who formerly resided in Chile – is truly a voyager of the trade. James’ body of work spans the far-reaching points of the globe from Montana to Shanghai and Patagonia to Portugal.

Vlad Feoktistov is an emerging talent based in Sochi, Russia, who makes his living photographing homes, hotels, and neoclassical Stalinist resorts, among other things. Vlad’s story is somewhat unique in our field and I couldn’t help but want to share it with everyone. Vlad and his career serve as a reminder that there are opportunities around us no matter where we are located and that architectural photography is a truly global phenomenon.

While a seemingly small and technical niche, there is so much more than meets the eye included under the umbrella of “architectural photography.” This is proven by today’s esteemed guest, Brazilian photographer Ana Mello. Ana’s beautiful work is full of reflections, symmetry, movement, and color.

Today we’re going on a ride with Nashville-based architectural photographer Seth Parker. This is a long interview, but one that is dripping with advice that should be shouted from a mountain top. Shooting for clients like Starbucks, Stanley Black and Decker, and ahem…the NFL, he’s got the portfolio (and hilarious tales) to back up his 19-year long career.

Lorena Darquea is a well-traveled architectural photographer who is celebrated for putting modern Ecuadorian architecture on the map. She is also listed as one of the top rising women in architectural photography by ArchDaily. Both a well-studied architect and photographer, she is insanely skilled at giving each project in a pure and honest portrayal. We were happy to be able to sit down and pick her brain on what makes for good photography from an architect's standpoint.

Mutahi Chiira is an architectural photographer hailing from Nairobi, Kenya. Mutahi became a fast friend of mine throughout this interview and has shed such great light on Kenyan architecture and his personal best practices as a photographer and business owner in Africa.

Jennifer Hughes is a hometown hero of mine. A MICA graduate with a portfolio of rich and thoughtful images steeped in powerful lines and beautiful light, her style is undeniably recognizable. Jennifer's work spans across different genres, from hospitality to interior design, food, and the occasional bout of portraiture. No matter what she's shooting, it all carries the same beautiful painterly qualities that make her work iconic.

Darren Bradley: TED talker, Dwell cover boy, global traveller and book author. Not bad for an architectural photographer! I met Darren a few years ago at an AIA award ceremony and instantly found him fascinating; so I couldn’t be happier to make this interview happen. Darren has dodged alligators, run from security guards, and slept in Florida’s sketchiest hotels in his quest to be one of the world’s preeminent Mid Century Modern specialists.