We speak to Ki Price, who is this week's In Focus interview. Ki is a specialist photographer renowned for capturing celebrities, portraits, and fashion.

SECTION 1 - BACKGROUND

SHARE YOUR FAVOURITE IMAGE/PRINT SHOT ON ILFORD FILM AND TELL US WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU.

In Focus - Ki Price

Tess Parks

My favourite image that I have taken is of singer, Tess Parks. I contacted her on Instagram and said, ‘can we do a shoot if you are ever in London?’ She replied and said, ‘I’m in London at the moment.’ I decided to shoot a combination of digital and film that day. I shot a roll of HP5+ and decided to push it. I always push a couple of stops. Shooting film is almost like a painting. These day’s everything is super sharp and HD, while film is like an art piece. You can see the emotion, the feeling, and it’s not perfect. When you’re use to shooting these perfect people, the film brings out the inner self, the imperfections.

JUST IN CASE ANYONE DOESN’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE OR WHAT YOU DO CAN YOU GIVE US THE OVERVIEW?

I'm Ki Price, a specialist photographer renowned for capturing celebrities, portraits, and fashion, effortlessly blending into the world of music photography. Among my notable subjects are iconic figures like Bob Dylan, along with The Pretenders, Amy Winehouse, and Johnny Depp. I am probably best known in some respects for working with Vivienne Westwood for the last 10 years.

HOW AND WHY DID YOU GET STARTED SHOOTING FILM?

When I was young, my gran treated me to memorable day trips on the coach, exploring destinations like the Isle of Wight and various spots across the UK. Her generosity shone through as she entrusted me with the camera on these adventures. Even now, as I exhibit my work, there's always a picture of my gran included—a testament to her influence on my love for photography. At the age of 13, a journey to Australia to visit my uncle ignited a passion within me. Armed with a film camera, I documented my time their, and upon returning home, I knew that I was destined to become a photographer.

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST PHOTOGRAPHIC INSPIRATION TO DATE?

At the drop of a hat, I'll probably name it down to three people: Annie Leibovitz, Helmut Newton and Guy Bourdain.

WHAT FILM PHOTOGRAPHY RELATED PROJECTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY WORKING ON (OR ARE IN THE PIPELINE)?

At the moment, I have been going through my archives. Collating loads of imagery because I want to do a retrospective of my work for a gallery. As I’ve got older, it’s become more about my story with photography as opposed to just taking photographs of people.

In Focus - Ki Price

WHAT / WHERE IS YOUR NEXT SHOOT AND HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHAT FILM / KIT YOU WILL USE?

I think it could be Luke from the band, The Struts. The shoot will be in my studio which is in Soho, London. The equipment I will be using are a Nikon D100 which is auto focus and my Nikon FM2. The film of choice is my trusty ILFORD HP5+ pushed two stops, this is to make the roll punchy. I like the way it effects the highlights and shadows, becomes super grainy which I love because it makes me feel something. The lighting of choice will be a beauty dish and Goddox lights. I enjoy shooting film because it has that purism. The purist point of view makes you pick the film for the softness and grain it brings, making us romanticise.

WHAT ARE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC GOALS GOING FORWARD?

The first thing that immediately comes into mind is to write a book. The second dream would be to do a huge UK exhibition of my work in the Tate or in The Photographer’s Gallery.

SECTION 2 - SHOUT OUTS

We all need a bit of inspiration and love so this is your chance to tell the community about yours – from the film photographers whose work inspires you, the labs you trust with your film, your ‘go to’ film photography stockists, your favourite community darkrooms or just anyone in the community who you feel deserves a special mention.

GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO YOUR 3 FAVORITE FILM PHOTOGRAPHERS.

@oliverhalfin

@deanchalkley

@annieleibovitz

In Focus - Ki Price

GIVE A SHOUT-OUT TO YOUR FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHY YOUTUBE CHANNELS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzMVSldl0Rc

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTOGRAPHIC RETAILERS.

GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO YOUR FAVOURITE LAB SERVICE.

In Focus - Ki Price

SECTION 3 - FAVOURITE KIT

WHAT FILM CAMERAS DO YOU OWN AND WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE?

I have a couple of Olympus’s lying around. A while ago, I picked up a Agfa camera from the charity shop, the built in flash creates pin sharp results. On medium format, I have a Mamiya RB67, it’s heavy but I still think it’s a great camera. In 35mm, I have a Nikon D100, gives me the freedom to use my more modern Nikon lenses. I have a FM2 which is a crowd pleaser because the motor is really clunky, nothing beats the interaction it brings as a portrait photographer.

ASIDE FROM YOUR CAMERA, LENSES AND FILM WHAT ACCESSORIES MAKE IT INTO YOUR CAMERA BAG?

My favourite is my FM2 and my Nikon D100 because I can shoot anything with it, because it is so versatile. This means I can trust it and will always produce incredible images. I will bring along my continuous lighting, but my biggest accessory is bringing my Bluetooth speaker along with me. It breaks any uncomfortableness, making people relax, have a little dance, making them animated straight away. It is less about the tech and more about the interaction.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHY KIT YOU HAVE FOUND OR BEEN GIFTED?

I would say my Nikon FM2.

AS THIS IS AN ILFORD INTERVIEW, IT WOULD BE REMISS OF US NOT TO ASK ABOUT YOUR FAVORITE ILFORD PRODUCTS. TELL US YOUR FAVORITE ILFORD FILM, PAPER, OR CHEMS AND WHY?

ILFORD XP2 super definitely, but out of all your products, HP5+ because it has so much latitude in it. The blacks are superb and easy to push. Delta 3200 is another favourite of mine, because it is easy to pull and creates a nice effect.

In Focus - Ki Price

In Focus - Ki Price

AND FINALLY…

NOMINATE ONE OTHER PERSON YOU THINK SHOULD FILL IN THIS FORM AND WE WILL REACH OUT TO THEM.

@hamishgill

In Focus - Ki Price

©Ki Price