How did you become a photographer?
I borrowed my mother’s Pentax when I was 11 and never gave it back. I took a lot of portraits of cats, and eventually graduated to humans. I fell in love with the magic of the dark room. There’s something very exciting about standing in the dark, watching unknown images materialise in trays of chemicals.

I never got to study formally beyond going to exhibitions and hoarding fashion magazines but I learned how to understand light through years of experimental shooting and studying images. This was always the thing that I loved doing when I was supposed to be doing other things...

As a creative art form; photography always felt immediate and limitless, so I chose to follow that. I’ve been shooting professionally since 2005.

How did you get into shooting headshots specifically?
I trained as an actress, but photography came before, during and after - I was working on fun projects for exhibitions and discovered that lovely actor friends were willing to model for me in exchange for headshots. So one thing led to another.

I’ve always loved the simplicity and challenge of creating striking portraits within the constraints of a defined format, and I enjoy the process of figuring out who someone is and how best to capture them...

I would definitely be shooting, writing or painting regardless of whether or not someone wanted to pay me, it’s just fortunate that I ended up in a niche where as an artist you actually get to make a living doing the work you love.

Where do you shoot?
Wherever the light is... Mostly outdoors on location. Sometimes studio if weather is apocalyptic.

Faye Thomas

How would you define your style?
Hopefully not too defined? Playful, provocative, vibrant... perhaps? I shoot a broad range of photographic styles... I love playing with colour, I tend to favour images that have a sense of movement... and I like to shoot women as strong and dangerous (but with great hair, of course)... This is my subversive contribution to changing the narrative of how we depict women on screen.

Tell us what you like most about your job?
Headshot photography is the one area where you get to really take your time nailing a killer shot within the remits of a set form and for a specific purpose... If you’re a perfectionist (I am), it’s VERY satisfying. It never gets boring or repetitive... every day is different, every client is fascinating.

I like hearing people’s stories... and in a culture that tells us continually that we’re not enough (be younger, thinner, more successful) there’s something beautiful about taking an image that lets someone appreciate and feel good about who they are, in their skin at that moment in time... I think that’s a very valuable thing.

And tell us what you like the least?
Trying to edit a shoot when there are too many images I want to play with and can’t decide where to start. And time. Never enough time. It's always after midnight in my editing cave.

Who is your photography hero?
Ellen Von Unwerth for stills and David Lynch for moving pictures…

What track is most likely to be playing in your studio, or on your iPod?
Right now.. Movement by Hozier. On a loop.

Jaffa Cake or Digestive?
Jaffa Cake.

Wine or beer?
Coffee.

Cats or dogs?
Cat person with hardcore canine appreciations.

How would you like to be remembered?
Leader of the revolution… And taller than I am.

About Faye Thomas
Web address: www.fayethomas.com
Twitter: @fayethomasphoto
Insta: @fayethomasphoto
Facebook: www.facebook.com/fayethomasphotography