When I photographed Emma Watson

On Ibiza

Last week I photographed Emma and Alex Watson. On our lovely island of Ibiza. They have made a Gin, a delicious and beautiful Golden Gin. We did photos for their promotion and little private launch on Ibiza.

I got and went into the job blind. Actually not really conscious of who she/ they were until I was signing ND papers. Then realized. It was a bit of a duuuuh moment. (I was busy thinking about other things that day! )

A few things I thought about afterwards.

We shot for one hour by the sea. It was hectic and fast. Intense but manageable. I realize the ease I have for being able to shoot under pressure. It comes  after years and years of weddings. You have to think fast. Find light. Deal with uncontrolled sometimes stressful situations and still get good and  beautiful photographs.  (It is not a controlled fashion or studio shoot with all the easy trimmings and assistants.) I was proud of myself. It’s a skill. And a reason many photographers choose not to shoot weddings.

My other thoughts were about Fame and how we see and deal with it. Why it creates such an awe. Being up close with such a famous person, someone who has influenced so many lives, my son for one. He was a big Harry Potter fan. (Harry Potter was catalyst in getting him really into reading.) You realize. They are only human. With all the same human thoughts and feelings and being beings. Both Emma and Alex were absolutely lovely. Down to earth warm open people. Easy to photograph, easy to be with. Famous does not mean untouchable, but some feel it does, it also does not mean always touchable and disposable, but some feel it does. I can see it must be a hard balance to live. Especially with how cruel news, social media and people like to be.

So one of the photos she put on her own IG page has hit 2million likes and 1000s of comments, it feels like a big hoo haa because of the @loewe dress she was wearing. Its about the Gin I want to scream. Which is really delicious and really beautiful. Go check it out. Renais . Buy a bottle. It is made using the grape skins after pressing wine from their family vineyard in France. And you can taste that. It golden.

She thanked me for my calm presence throughout the day. That made me happy. And Alex gave me a bottle. Thank you.

There are a few of my photos on their own social channels. @emmawatson @alexwatson @renaisspirits