Ian Phillips-McLaren, a professional photographer for over 20 years, talks to Kirsty Nutkins about capturing everyone from Orlando Bloom to Lee Evans.

Read on about his life growing up in Glasgow, how he discovered photography in his early twenties and about his new book on the people and faces of London.

Background and inspiration:

“If I told you I wanted to be a rock star when I was growing up, would you laugh? I’d played in bands and I’d DJ’d for a long time in nightclubs back in Glasgow. But I suppose I knew that it couldn’t last forever.

“While I was DJing I bought a second-hand camera off someone in my local pub. I never took a single photograph until a few years later when I dug it out and took a photo of my girlfriend at the time.

“She was really pretty and when I saw her photo emerge in the dark room I thought it was good. And that inspired me to take more.

“Before I knew it I was out every spare minute taking photographs. The camera was like this magical object.

“I have a very natural, no gimmicks style. I don’t even like women with makeup. I took inspiration from brilliant photographers like Peter Lindbergh, Patrick Demarchelier, Albert Watson and Richard Avedon. They’re all portrait photographers.

“Demarchelier in particular used to do mainly fashion and celebrities. I loved the glamour of their portraits and I suppose that’s why I moved to London eventually - for the big city lights and to be part of that scene.”

On London:

“Moving to a big city like London was a complete culture shock and I felt like a small fish in a big sea. Back in Glasgow, everyone knew me. I even had a BBC2 programme made about my work called A Style of One’s Own.

“In London, I had to knock on doors, make phone calls and go to countless test shoots with models. I had to start all over again.

“One of my first jobs was a shoot for Vidal Sassoon, and it snowballed from there.

“I’ve shot Orlando Bloom, Robbie Coltrane and Lee Evans. The shot of Orlando is probably the best I’ve ever taken and it pretty much sums up my photography. It was just me and him in my living room, shooting in natural light.

“I’m publishing a book of portraiture this year, focusing on people in London. It’s still a bit hush-hush, but I plan to capture all sorts of different people in the city. I started it in November and I hope to do an exhibition too.

“If all goes well, I’m thinking about a second book of portraiture focusing on athletes to coincide with the Olympics this summer.

The future:

“However much success you enjoy in this industry, there’s still more to learn.

“I’ve been doing this for 20-odd years and I’m still learning. When I stop learning, I’ll pack it in. There’s this old saying that the more film you put through your camera, the better you become.

“It’s true. And it’s the philosophy I live by.”

Images from top to bottom: Samuel Barnett, Orlando Bloom.

All photo’s by Ian Phillips-McLaren: www.ianphillips-mclaren.com