STEPH WILSON (@stephwilsonshoots)

I had a feeling upon meeting Sonam that something very beautiful would come of it. Creating her portrait for my on-going photobook was special enough, but to have this portrait selected as a finalist for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery by a panel of judges I so deeply, individually admire is incredibly meaningful to me. Since I was twelve, having recently received an art scholarship, I was fixated on the idea of becoming a portrait painter. The notion of having a portrait displayed on the walls of the National Portrait Gallery to me then was as good as it got. At 16, I received a second art scholarship at a new school and was taught by a winner of the BP Portrait Award @pete.monkman, making the desire even stronger to join him on the NPG’s walls. It’s a funny but lovely thing to be in your 30s - to look back at yourself as a young girl and to inwardly give her a gentle hug and feel very proud. There are people who aren’t around anymore that I’d have loved to have shared that pride with. Dad being one of them. But those that know me, who taught me, will know how much it means to me, and all I can say is thank you to the judges @poguscaesar @alona_pardo @loustoppard, to @alice.zoo for giving me the push to enter the competition and to @sonam_hw for coming forward and allowing me to create her portrait. This image is part of an almost 3 year project for a photobook I hope to publish next year. I have included the accompanying text by Mariama Attah for this year’s exhibition catalogue. The exhibition will be open from 14th November 2024 until 16th February 2025 at the @nationalportraitgallery, and the winner, second and third prizes, as well as a NPG commission, will be awarded on the 12th November. I am so thrilled to be in such good company with the other finalists @jessenavarrevos @adamfergusonstudio @tjitskesluisfotos

Interview for @anothermagazine on Self (WIP) series 🔷🐬🧞‍♂️🦕🪣🎽💎💠 Thank you @orlabeee @ted_stansfield !

@therow 🐚 Art Direction & Photography @stephwilsonshoots Stylist @ellebritt Model  @tinkajade at  @thehivemodels Makeup  @victoriamartinmakeup Hair  @moemukai23 Set  @olivia.giles.set.design  Casting  @ikki_casting Printed with  @sarahengland_darkroom Retouch  @studio_private

Very very soft and very very hard @pudrigofficial

These gloves could fit a modern day 7 year old and smell like Victorians @pudrigofficial

@chanelofficial years ago but I like the glow and the gloom

Hold a buttercup under your chin @pudrigofficial

For @pudrigofficial - who I am very excited to see create its own unique space in the perfume world. Scent is something I’ve always been transfixed by; if I’m not taking Ham’s pictures, I’m smelling his ears. Or there’s that thing —remembering something totally banal through a completely unrelated scent. For instance, the other day I smelt candy floss and remembered something an old teacher had taught me about verbs. Translating the experience of scent into something visual is a thing I really love to do. And for @pudrigofficial and the beautiful human behind it, I’ll be doing this a lot. Watch this space! Or smell it👃

Been enjoying going through my archives so much lately. Photography felt much simpler then. Delving into past work right off the back of shooting a new project (one that’s triggered a real sense of revival of an old, original love for image making) has felt really, really good. Must be a spring thing. 🌹

Spring Flowers! Happy Easter 🌸

Happy Easter! This shoot (part 1) has always oozed the same feeling of this time of year for me. Spring becomes more beautiful each time I’m lucky enough to experience it 🌸 Thanks life x