Steve Lawton as photographed by Stuart McClymont.How did you become a photographer?
Dad bought me a Seagull twin lens reflex when I was 12 (around 1977!), it was a Chinese copy of a Rollieflex and I absolutely loved it. Every Sunday we’d set off to photograph the old Dublin Liffey front buildings - the idea being to make a photographic record of what was a rapidly disappearing old Victorian city.
How did you get into shooting headshots specifically?
My next camera was an East German Practica TL3 – a very basic SLR copy of a Pentax – again, I thought it was the absolute business and I started shooting family, friends and events. It was at that stage that I started to enjoy capturing something revealing and unexpected in the familiar faces.
Where do you shoot?
I shoot either at my home studio in Bermondsey or a beautiful Victorian listed site with stunning natural light.
How would you define your style?
Intimate, open warm and natural. I try to create the sense that something is about to happen or something has happened – that we are connected at that moment to the subject.
Tell us what you like most about your job?
Giving actors great images which they know are going to work for them as a powerful promotional resource. Almost without exception actors and performers are lovely people who want to engage and get the best out of a meeting.
And tell us what you like the least?
The paperwork – bookkeeping and taxes!
Who is your photography hero?
Robert Cappa.
What track is most likely to be playing in your studio or on you iPod?
Stan Getz or Miles Davis.
Jaffa Cake or Digestive?
Chocolate Hob Nob! (Milk)
Wine or beer?
A cold beer – always.
Cats or dogs?
Hard – I adore both.
How would you like to be remembered?
As we say in Ireland – ‘A dacent skin’ and a decent photographer.
About Steve
Web address: stevelawton.com
Twitter: @slawtonphoto
Insta: @stevelawtonphotography
Facebook: @stevelawtonphotography
