The last time I spoke to Hayley Louisa Brown she was about to catch a flight to New York:  “I’m going to be shooting some rappers as per usual,” she told me. I’m assuming not the literal meaning of the word shooting most stereotypically associated with this genre of music, you see, Hayley is a photographer… and a bloody good one at that!

Her career to date has seen her create fashion stories for renowned alternative style titles such as i-D, Rollacoaster and Grit, however music is where her heart lies – urban music in particular, which she has had the opportunity to play out to the fullest in her role as Urban Music Editor at Clash magazine. Danny Brown, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs and Kendrick Lamar are just a few of the artists Hayley has captured through her camera lens for Clash, but Frank Ocean is currently on the top of her bucket list of desirable subjects; “I have had a vision of how I want to shoot him in my head for so long now, I need it to become a reality!”

In between check-in and take-off, Twin managed to grab a few more words with Hayley about her photographic process, youth culture and boys with mean eyes…

When did you realise you wanted to become a photographer?
The first time the thought occurred to me was during my first year of my Art BTEC at college – we had to take some photographs for a project and my teacher said ‘these are really good, you should take more pictures’, and then it kind of became my thing.

You tend to only shoot analogue – why is this important to you?
I think a lot of it is to do with privacy. I see taking pictures as an art form, and it’s so easy to be influenced by others when your images are instantly visible and open for criticism on set. Looking through my viewfinder and being the only one who knows what’s happening is really calming to me and allows me to create exactly what I want to. I think the whole process is beautiful, I love being in the darkroom and being the one making the picture into something real, into evidence.

You sometimes collage and illustrate over your pictures – Tell us a bit about this method of working?
I have an art background, but it’s more of a cutting and sticking background I guess. I love being able to incorporate the elements of art that I really love into my photographic work. I’ve always been hugely influenced by Punk and the visuals that went with the subculture, and I think that’s reflected in a lot of what I do. I also spend a lot of time hand tinting my images and painting them, I think I just like the physical process of working on something with my hands.

Do you have a favourite subject which/ whom you like to capture?
I love to shoot boys. Whenever I bring model cards home my Dad likes to look through them and guess whom he thinks I’ve booked – he always gets it right… He says I go for the ones with the mean eyes.

Who are your heroes?
My parents and Johnny Cash

What part does fashion play in your work?
I love youth culture, the way that young people customise and put things together in their own unique way, and I like to put that across in my work. I think that’s what’s important in a stylist, somebody who can make something believable and honest. That’s why I love working with people like Matthew Josephs – he’s incredibly talented and is always true to himself – He’s magic.

Is it important for you that your pictures reflect a narrative?
I always try and photograph people with personality, and I think if you can connect with your subject, there’ll always be a narrative.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Most things my parents have told me when I’ve been lacking in confidence

What’s the best thing about being a girl?
Chivalry

What’s next for you?
My first magazine cover comes out in a couple of weeks, which I’m super excited about! I’m also currently working on a big project with my talented friend Lily Mercer that will be coming to light next year.

hayleylouisabrown.co.uk

 

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