Photographer Rebekah Campbell has shot for ROOKIE magazine, IMG Models and a host of other clients and publications – not bad for a 20-year-old student from Georgia, USA. But it’s her youth-oriented portrait photography that caught our eye.
What drew you to photography?
I’ve been drawn to making art for as long as I can remember, and photography for me was basically just another form of that. I really started taking photos with concepts in mind when I was 15 after my father let me use his DSLR, and then I got a film camera and everything started from there.
How does it feel for your photos to be crossing the globe?
Of course I love it, I find it crazy that it’s even possible but social media is mind-blowing now.
How did you get your work ‘out there’?
It all began with Flickr, and as my passion grew, recognition started coming up, and various publications contacted me. I’m telling you, if people like your photos they will help you get it out there.
Describe your aesthetic.
I aim to mix the fascination of youth and reality into my images, and my personal projects are always grounded in documenting my time and place. I always try to seek out the abnormal and beautiful all at the same time.
Who are your main influences?
My list of favorite photographers is much too long, but I will always be a fan of Paolo Roversi, Cass Bird, Francesca Woodman, Edward Steichen, Tim Walker and Lina Scheynius.
How much of your time do you devote to photography in an average week?
If we’re counting finding inspiration – I’d say around 10 hours, it all depends if I’m planning a shoot for some of those days or not, because then it’s much more. I never really stop doing what I love.
What is your favourite part of creating a final image?
I love going through the images I’ve taken after a shoot and instantly picking favorites (and those are the ones I edit). It’s that jolt you get in your stomach when you know you have it, that’s so exhilarating for me.
You shoot mostly females, is femininity a main focus to your imagery?
I feel like I take images of females a lot because that’s something I know really well, and femininity is the basis of a lot of my work. Although, I would like to start shooting males more.
What is your camera of choice?
When I’m doing personal work, anything film (I recently shot large format and fell in love with it, although it’s quite expensive), and then my fashion related imagery I usually shoot more digital. I have a Nikon but also am a fan of Canon’s Mark II.
Where would you like to see yourself in the next five years?
Hopefully not working underneath someone, I would love to be making photos that I am still passionate about.
Words: Kirsty Beckingham