On Show: Fashion & Beauty Images by Monet Kittrell
11-12-2006
Q Tell us a bit about yourself – how you got into photography – beauty – fashion – art?
Monet: Before I became a photographer, I did/still do interior design. One of my clients demanded to see a hard copy of my interior portfolio and that provoked me to get my first camera. My portfolio was not up to date, and I didn’t have the money to hire a professional photographer – so I purchased my first camera 3 years ago.
Soon after I began my first serious photographic project: “Restoration of Eden” which is a compilation of digitally enhanced nudes, then I was also thrown in to journalism. Both identities produced publications and awards, but it was not until I started doing fashion/beauty that I found my utopia.
Q Did your personal style come about instinctually or was it something that evolved after trial and error?
Monet: It was instinctual. I am self taught in photography, retouching, make-up, lighting and composition.
Q Who do you admire from the photography and art arenas?
Monet: A long list…
Nick Knight
Gordon Parks
Mapplethorpe
Bresson
Horst
Newton
Golden
Basquit
Picasso
Frida
Van Gogh
And who I was named after….Claude Monet
Q What qualities do you look for in a model?
Monet: Uniqueness, beauty obvious/hidden, and the ability to sell the product or image.
Q There’s a lot of debate over the use of retouching – some say it can be used to enhance a photograph to its full potential while others think it’s responsible for giving an unrealistic image of beauty/the ageing process etc… What do you think?
Monet: There are pros and cons for both. I like the un-retouched look when doing portraits and journalism pieces – it captures the REAL but sometimes people/clients don’t want that. So, retouching comes into play. I will confess also, that I appreciate a flawless image, and it has to be able to sell to the public.
Q What’s your career highlight to date?
Monet: Being published in “Pixel Surgeons, by Martin Dawber”, and winning an award for my first journalism piece “A Son’s Consoling.”
Q Which magazines do you find an absolute pleasure to look at?
Monet: V, W, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, i-D, Flaunt…
Q Stylists, make-up artists, hair stylists all play a crucial role – do you often work with the same team?
Monet: Yes, I do work mostly with the same team. It’s very important for me to do that – it reduces stress, and ensures that I will achieve the perfect photograph.
Q Favourite place on the planet?
Monet: Any movie house!? And there is Paris.
Q When in need of inspiration you…
Monet: Meditate … connecting to my Higher Energy!
Q Are you planning on exhibiting soon?
Monet: I’ve done that, like that, and currently looking for more out sources to do that. I love to share my work, and visions.
Q Anything else you would like to add?
Monet: Thank you – I want to encourage everyone to tap in to themselves and find what makes them happy, what they can do for themselves that would be self-rewarding, and then DO IT!… It’s time to go so live your life!
Contact details:
Tel: NY 64 69 57 09 23
All images by Monet Kittrell
Interview by JoJo Iles
