Nov 3

Nov 3 Kat McDonald Portrait/Erotica/Conceptual Photography

I like to take beautiful pictures of beautiful People.

For Kat McDonald, it all started with a polaroid camera that her parents had. She was 4 years old and would merrily run around the house and into the garden, taking polaroid pictures of her pet rabbit, flowers, shoes, kites, ribbons, friends and family. Her mother used to have to prise it from her tiny fingers after she'd fallen asleep...Both her brothers are photographers as well, one a wildlife photographer the other for the Royal Air Force, so she had access to beautiful cameras until she could buy her own, and essentially what was an avid interest has now become a blossoming career.

Greatest inspirations or influences?

My main influence is cinematography. Films by

Polanksi, Vadim, Fellini, Bertolucci, Bergman
and nouvelle vagues cinema, like Godard, Malle and Truffaut.

There are many famous photographers who have inspired me -

Helmut Newton, Annie Liebowitz, Anton Corbjin,
David Bailey, Bob Carlos Clarke and Hedi Slimane.
the beautiful and emotive works of two Australian photographers, Nirrimi Hakanson and Matt Caplin, with whom I have become friends with through various on-line art communities.

Most memorable shoot so far?

Every shoot is exhilarating, especially when the unexpected happens like a torrential downpour mid fashion shoot as I do not take orthodox portraits and prefer to shoot on locations- this is when the real magic happens.

I love erotic/boudoir shoots, or on-the-road shoots with bands. I cannot possibly pick the most memorable to date. That would be like asking a mother to pick her favourite child.

What would be a dream shoot for you?

Brigitte Bardot - towards the height of her career - to have been the one to have taken that iconic image;

or being on location with Fellini, as his stills photographer would have been a dream for me but a front cover would be good meantime.

Favorite websites/blogs/publications?

Vogue - for its decadence and beauty.
I-D, Nylon and Wallpaper.

Favourite blogs are:

http://www.damonbakerblog.co.uk (Damon Baker)
http://lux-exterior.blogspot.com (Claudia Nova)
http://i-am-jackie-kennedy.blogspot.com (Claudia Nova)
http://thebrownandskinny.blogspot.com (Joanna Pickering)
http://www.filmandmusicfashion.com (Satomi Okasaka)
and Ninu Nina (which i absolutely adore for its diversity - it is positively engaging).

Style icons of our generation?

Style isn't always about what you wear, it's how you wear it - with attitude.

I love Sienna Miller's style, being a fan of BoHo chic
Alexa Chung has a certain 'je ne sais quoi' and a hint of rock 'n' roll about her.
I still adore Kate Moss and would love to photograph her.

Most interesting response to your work?

I was recently approached by the manager of a 'local' band, asking if I would shoot them for £40.

Give me a .44 magnum and I will happily shoot them for that meagre amount!

(laugh)

Anything else you'd like to share with us?

I have recently set myself the challenge of a 365-Day Polaroid Portrait Projects. Basically, using solely my iPhone to take the images and edit them (using various apps available from the iApple Store), to take one self-portrait per day for an entire year.