Tom Trevatt / London, England UK
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© Tom Trevatt Photography
“The best work I have ever made has incorporated the aleatory, the accidental - precisely because it is in these moments that the romantic occurs and portraiture is nothing if not a romance - or perhaps a dance. “
Hey Tom, we’re really pleased to have you a part of the Headshots Matter creative collective. We love the passionate and intentional way you approach your work!
How long have you been a photographer in London and what else have you done in the past that has led you towards photography?
I started shooting on Black and White film back in 1999 - Ilford HP5 Plus 400 - we had a dark room in my college where I learned how to process and print my own work. After failing to get into any drama schools (thank god), I applied and was successful getting into an Art Foundation course in Exeter where my tutors Pat and Pete were instrumental in my education - they really opened my eyes to not just photographic techniques and theories but philosophy. After this influential year, I went to Brighton Uni to study photography - but changed courses quickly to do an art and theory BA. I sort of forgot about photography at that point, and despite buying a digital camera, I shifted my focus to curating and then academia. After twenty years of making exhibitions, writing, teaching, running galleries and completing my PhD in art theory I finally returned to photography in 2020.
In March 2020 I finished my PhD and had been DJing as a side hustle for over six years. With the onset of Covid 19 I had to radically rethink my life, so I picked up the camera again. This time, a Sony A7iii. Over the national lockdowns, the camera really saved my sanity - our daily exercise allowance for me was focused on photography. I built up a small portfolio of street and protest photography (the BLM and XR movements were in full swing during this period). Then I discovered Peter Hurley’s Headshot Crew - an online community of almost 20k headshot photographers centred on New York photographer Hurley - and here my learning really sky rocketed. I have spent the last two years really getting immersed in Photography again - learning, practicing and perfecting. It’s an ongoing process, and I love education, so this has been a really wonderful ride so far.
I still teach (this year I have been running the MA in Art and Politics at Goldsmiths), but anyone who knows about academia will be aware of how underpaid and precarious this profession is - so Photography has been a godsend.
What are the main differences, when shooting actors and creatives, as opposed to corporate professionals?
Nothing - or rather almost nothing. I approach them as people with needs and desires, there may be certain standards and conventions that each person needs for their photography, but I am trying to tell a story with these images and both professionals and creatives need stories to be told. The one thing I would say is there’s as small shift in focus - for a corporate professional, their needs may be slightly different - but I don’t prejudge a client before sitting down with them.
How do you blend your creative passion with your sensitivity and empathy needed to capture headshots?
I’m just a human spending time with another human, there just happens to be a camera there. I think the best interactions happen when you forget about trying to act in a certain learned way. I have spent years working with students, and the most productive times have always been during the informal conversations around the lectures. - I think this is probably true of any creative pursuit. The best work I have ever made has incorporated the aleatory, the accidental - precisely because it is in these moments that the romantic occurs and portraiture is nothing if not a romance - or perhaps a dance.
Do you have any other creative or educational pursuits that compliment your work as a photographer?
Photography is about everything that isn’t a camera. As such, everything I do feeds into my work as a photographer.
Your images on the headshotsMatter Instagram account have received so much positive attention! (I think we had over 500 likes on at least one of your portraits) How important is social media to your business and which platform is most helpful.
Social media, especially instagram, is so focused on promoting a certain narcissistic worldview. It wasn’t always this way, but now we’re being forced to chase an algorithm that wants us to perform for it - you can see the rise in short form to-camera videos, where people who might have previously thought of themselves as artists or business people etc are being made to act like influencers. I refuse to participate in that charade, even though I am aware of the power of the “like”. I just care about the portfolio - making great work, if people like it, then awesome. I am grateful for headshotsMatter for promoting my work - the attention is nice but it isn’t really my aim, nor does it always convert into clients. However, instagram is the best place to find a community - I have found friends and influences on this platform and it is very much the easiest place to promote my work.
How important is shooting personal work to the inspirational development of your portrait photography? That said, how often do you shoot?
Very, I try and do at least two TFP (trade for print) shoots per month where I test ideas out and develop my skills - I tend to prefer building my portfolio in this way.
Who would you love to photograph someday and why?
My mum, she’s beautiful.
How critical is mindset when preparing for a photoshoot and is there anything you do specifically to prepare yourself?
Eat, I’m awful otherwise.
Lastly, in your opinion, why do headshots matter?
Because you matter.
Thanks so much Tom, for spending some time shedding light on your creative process and your path here. We’re very grateful to have you a part of headshotsMatter!
Please take a moment to learn more about Tom’s work at: www.tomtrevatt.com
© Tom Trevatt Photography
