photography by Shaniqwa Jarvis
interview by Yasmin Coke
London Fashion Week The Daily proudly presents a back-of-the-Mercedes interview with our backstage photographer, Anna Bauer.
YC: Your new book, Anna Bauer Backstage, has just launched, tell us a bit about this.
AB: The book is a collection of large format portraits shot on Polaroid film. All portraits were shot backstage at shows in London, Paris, New York and Milan over eight seasons. It’s a reference book; an overview of faces of fashion, people who are behind-the-scenes and familiar faces.
YC: How did you start shooting backstage?
AB: I started shooting backstage for The Daily nine seasons ago and that was the first time. I knew nothing about backstage photography then but it was something that came naturally to me, it’s grown from there and now I know the rules, and how it all works.
YC: What is it that you now love about shooting backstage?
AB: I love the energy backstage and how everyone works collaboratively together. Sometimes it can be really intense and there is a lot of pressure as the show has to happen and you have to get the job done. You have to really concentrate on the moment, I have to be focused and I know when I’ve got the picture I need.
YC: Did you always know that you wanted to be a photographer?
AB: I started assisting when I left school and have been photographing ever since. From documentary portraits to backstage photographs to food and travel – I photograph a lot of subjects.
YC: What is it that you love most about shooting in London?
AB: London is so great, it’s spontaneous, and people are bolder and wear things that I don’t see anywhere else. It’s really creative and people take risks. I love the architecture and the show spaces as they are often really special.
YC: Where are you based when you’re not in London?
AB: My home country is Germany, north of Frankfurt, but I moved away in 2002 to New York as it’s a really great city for art, people are tolerant and I love the way of life there. People are supportive, ambitious, it’s a fun place to be – there are a lot of things that I love about New York. It’s my favourite city to work in – apart from London, of course. It’s very open-minded. I like that.
YC: What shows in London have really stood out to you so far for A/W 12?
AB: Aquascutum had some really beautiful colours and textures. Simone Rocha had some lovely woolen woven pieces, I also thought Basso & Brooke was beautiful.
YC: Other than The Daily, what projects have you been working on?
AB: I’ve just finished shooting Victoria Beckham’s denim look book and her A/W 12 show. I love working with her, she is so professional and there is so much to learn from her.
I’ve also been shooting a lot of documentary portrait stories, from the Vice President of a world bank, to Alvaro Gonzales, an accessory designer.
YC: And last but not least, what’s the cheekiest thing you’ve ever done in the back of a car?
Eating Sushi in the back of my London Fashion Week Mercedes – My driver doesn’t allow it, but I do it anyway. I’ve got to eat!
Anna Bauer Backstage, Angelikabooks.com, newmuseumstore.org.
Mercedes-Benz, whose fashionable fleet of cars ensure London Fashion Weekers get around in style, celebrates its London Fashion Week affiliation with Voices of Fashion, a daily blog filled with exclusive LFW updates and interviews with designers and other movers and shakers of the fashion world. See voicesoffashion.co.uk
