An interview with photographer Sarah Hogan

Sarah Hogan is a London based photographer working in still life and interiors who had 2 images nominated for an Association of Photographer Award in the Object single image category 2014. We recently shot the catalogue for our new range Rubans with photographer Sarah Hogan, so we sat down with her to talk about her work, her inspirations, and her love of photography.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

I moved around a bit when I was younger. I was born in Galway but lived in California for 6 years when I was a teenager and have lived in London ever since. I love London. I live west near Ravenscourt Park. I have young twins who keep me very busy when I am not working/shooting.

How long have you been a photographer?

I started assisting photographers straight after my art degree. It can take a while making the transition from assistant to photographer but I have been shooting on my own now for 10 years.

Can you tell us a bit about the equipment you use?

It varies really depending on each job but I do tend to bring far too much with me, good Girl Scout training there. I tend to use natural daylight or flash, again depending on the job. Often it is more a case of blocking and masking light rather than adding too much. It is all about control and problem solving.

How do you prepare for a photoshoot?

Often we recce the location, plan out the best angles and compositions so we are ahead of ourselves on the day. Saying that, things always change and it’s better not to be totally stuck in an idea of what you are going to do. I like to see visuals and chat to the client/stylist beforehand to make sure we are all on the same page. It is really nice to see mood boards to get an idea of what the client wants. Also, get a good night’s sleep!

Which photographers are you most inspired by?

So many: Richard Avedon, Lee Friedlander, Sarah Moon, Lee Miller, Bill Brandt, list goes on. I did assist Bill Batten and I have to say I really learnt a lot from him and loved watching him work.

Do you regularly read any blogs or websites?

I used to but I don’t have a lot of free time now. I do like http://fuckyournoguchicoffeetable.tumblr.com/ and I often read http://www.itsnicethat.com/ I know it’s not technically a blog but it has a huge resource of visual arts and interesting stories, ideas.

What is your favourite or most important piece of equipment?

Apart from the camera, laptop and lights, I’d say gaffer tape! Don’t leave home without it!

What are your favourite features of the Gingerlily Rubans range?

I really liked the quality and texture of the bedding. The ribbon pattern is really fun and looked really beautiful in set with the Japanese screen. The gold and green colours are beautiful painterly colours, really smart and lux. You can view more of Sarah’s work here: http://www.sarahhoganphoto.com/