About
Drew Whitehouse
A little bio
Born and bred on the island of Jersey, I studied Media Production in Bristol, where I developed my craft in filming, lighting and photography.
Years after graduating, I continue to work across a range of creative projects, from theatre and video productions to photography. Alongside this, I work as a Digital Marketer, combining my creative and digital skills in my day-to-day work.
Q&A: Behind the camera
So, why photography?
I've always had a creative side bubbling away. Photography brings together a lot of the things I've enjoyed over the years, from art and theatre to film, travel and storytelling.
Going up in Jersey, you're surrounded by beautiful landscapes and would often go on family walks. Travelling took that further, but over time I became increasingly interested in the people within those places and the stories they might tell.
That curiosity eventually brought me towards portraiture. Rather than simply discovering a story, I can now help create one.
When did people become as interesting to you as places?
I've always photographed people, including at friends' weddings and gatherings, but travel gradually changed how I looked at them beyond just point and shoot.
I'd become quite good at finding and connecting with a feeling in landscapes and places. As I travelled more, I started noticing that same sense of mood in people. Their expressions, characters, the way they interacted with their surroundings and the little stories happening around them.
King's Day in Amsterdam was a good example of that. The whole city was full of energy and character, with people celebrating, performing, selling things and simply enjoying themselves. I found myself looking beyond just taking a photograph of what was happening and thinking more about the characters and stories within it, and how I could capture those.
I think that gave me more confidence in photographing people and eventually led me towards wanting to create those stories myself through portraiture.
Why does your photography have a cinematic feel?
I've always loved cinema and visual storytelling. I'm inspired by Spielberg, Christopher Nolan, Denis Villeneuve and Ridley Scott for their spectacle and ability to create these huge visual worlds.
But I'm equally drawn to filmmakers such as Richard Linklater, Celine Song, Sam Mendes and Sofia Coppola for their visuals being a character in their stories. I love films where the composition, light, colour and small details help tell the story.
Film noir and old Hollywood have also been a big influence, particularly the use of light and shadow to create mood and direct your eye.
That's something I try to bring into my photography. I'm interested in using light to shape a scene and tell a story, rather than simply light it.
What is it actually like to be photographed by you?
Hopefully, quite relaxed!
I know having a camera pointed at you can feel strange, particularly if you've never had professional photographs taken before. I like to spend some time getting to know people first, whether that's over a coffee or simply having a chat before we start shooting.
From there, we'll ease into it. Sometimes we'll pose, sometimes we'll move around and sometimes we'll try something completely different.
For me, the important thing is that you feel comfortable enough to enjoy the experience and get the images you actually want.
How do you approach a shoot?
It starts with understanding what we're trying to capture.
Whether it's a creative portrait, engagement session, headshot or event, I want to understand what you need from the photographs and what you want from the experience.
I like to plan properly but leave room for things to develop. The light might change, an outfit might suggest another idea or we might simply discover something better while we're shooting.
My background in theatre and digital marketing has taught me to think about the brief, the practicalities and the story while still being ready to adapt.
What are you excited to photograph next?
I'm keen to make more work with real people and create photographs that tell a story about who they are.
That could be an engagement session, someone starting a new business or simply giving someone the opportunity to see themselves in a different way.
I'm also continuing my own creative projects, including a series exploring using old media and retelling of the deadly sins through staged, cinematic imagery.
And there will definitely be more travel photography. I'm hoping to explore more of Europe and make my first visit to Central America next year, so I'm looking forward to seeing what I find along the way.
And what do you get up to when you're not behind the camera?
I love travelling, hiking and cycling and I'm a big fan of slow travel, particularly train journeys.
I've travelled from London to Seville by train and around the Alps by Interrail. There's something about having time to watch the world change outside the window that I really enjoy.
I've also become slightly obsessed with photographing the night sky. Living in the Channel Islands gives me some unique composites, although the weather doesn't always cooperate!
And if you ask my work colleagues, I do bake a renown dark Irish stout chocolate cake with Irish cream icing!
