Charlie J Doherty: How Adam Jones is making up-cycling sexy!

Could you please provide us with a professional introduction about yourself and your photography work?

Hello, I’m Charlie J Doherty, originally from Crawley - in the South of England, but now proudly living in South East London. Outside my work as a photographer, I work freelance in “Film” - more specifically, Music Videos and Commercials, where storytelling goes hand in hand with my Photography. Ultimately, my desire is to tell stories, whether it be with real characters or designed worlds. Reinforcing the “realness” of my images, I only shoot analog; anchoring the realism in each of my photos, shot on a format which is tangible - it’s there, it’s real, just like each of the subjects I shoot. Plus, it looks great!

Can you tell us about how you got started in photography?

When I was 12, all I wanted for Christmas was a camera, however the price far exceeded my Mum’s budget for gift giving. Without divulging, there was a strange turn of events which resulting in my Mum having just enough money to buy that first camera - point being, I got lucky and now had a camera of my own. From there the passion grew, the moments I could capture and stories I could tell through photography, fuelled my love of the art.

What was your passion driving you during your journey? Who or what prompted you to begin?

From the moment I received my first camera, to this day, I’ve been fortunate to meet a number of people who have encouraged me and my photography. With the first of those people being Fiona Irvine, a reporter from the BBC whom I only met briefly, however as someone 13 year old me looked up to, she made me feel as though my work was good enough, that my camera could help make me a storyteller, like herself.

Could you walk us through your photoshoot planning process?

The process of planning varies from shoot to shoot. Some more spontaneous and others are rigorous in prep. As for my most recent shoot, showcasing the clothes of Adam Jones Studio, it was a mix of both approaches - chaos, whilst still successfully orchestrating a lot of elements.

Each shoot requires something different, which keeps the pre-production process equally as exciting (and stressful) each time.

As a photography expert, what sets your work apart from other photographers?

I don’t think it’s really a case of ‘setting apart’ from other photographers, I think it’s actually the opposite. In my experience, we’re all working along side each other, being inspired by one another, either directly or inadvertently. Of course most try to offer their own approach, their own message, but I think we’re all creating together, all offering a small piece of a bigger collective, even if not everything appeals to everyone.

That’s why it feels important to shoot what feels right to you. For me, that’s capturing moments and people that feel authentic, telling real stories, even if they feel foreign to the viewer.

Where do you get your ideas for photoshoots?

It’s constantly changing, which I think is a great thing. It could be from a story I read, a conversation I have, another piece of work I see, or even some strange dream. At the risk of sounding corny, inspiration is all around, sometimes the ideas stick and sometimes they just don’t - but the key, for me, is staying open to it all.

Can you tell us about the most memorable moment you've had as a photographer and what experience you gained from that?

One of my most memorable shoots has to be shooting Jordan Stephens for the first time, Stephens is most notably known as half of the duo Rizzle Kicks - a group loved by most of the UK in the 2010’s.

Jordan remained a hero of mine, someone I looked up to, so working with him was both a personal milestone and an eye opening one.

Learning how to photograph someone you admire, whilst maintaining my style of shooting real people with authentic stories. Showcasing an iconic figure whilst reinforcing that ultimately they are just a human being, like you or I.

What are the most important components of an extraordinary photograph, in your opinion?

At risk of sounding cheesy, again, the best photos for me are the ones that feel real. A single frame, a moment in time which captures the ordinary in extraordinary ways.

Photography can freeze a moment in time. When a viewer can find magic in what otherwise would be a fleeting moment in a busy world, that is the magic of photography for me.

How do you strike a balance between your artistic expression and your client's expectations during a shoot?

This for me can be the most challenging element, especially with my ‘analog only’ approach to photography.

However, after contemplating this question a lot myself, the answer seems simple.

If you stay true to your ‘artistic expression’ wherever possible in your work, your portfolio should represent this. When a client comes to you, it’s usually because they like your work. The client then (in theory) is trusting your approach to deliver them something of the same quality.

Of course this is far easier said than done, but the idealist theory is, if you build your work around your own creative interests, then the right clients with aligning taste, will trust your vision.

How do other artists influence your work? Are there any other photographers you look up to? Who?

Absolutely! We’re very lucky to live in an age where we have access to so many other artists, creators and individuals who can spark inspiration. Although overwhelming at times, it’s amazing to see people around us and across the world creating and as a result, inspiring. I find it hard to narrow down to single influences, but that’s the beauty in the whole world constantly sharing one big creative space.

How do you enhance your vision after a session by post-processing your photos? Do you have a best-kept secret for editing processing that you'd like to share?

I struggle a lot with post. Unlike a shoot day, it can often feel like resources and options are limitless with possibilities.

However the first obvious step with shooting analog, is finding a photographic lab you love and trust.

When it comes to edit, I try to keep my images authentic by never editing beyond a tweak that could have been changed on the day, such as stray hair or lighting change.

However I’m still working out the best way to manage my post process - redefining “perfection” whilst still working to create the best I can. It’s a fine line. I’m still working it out.

Can you tell us about the most difficult photographic challenge you've ever had, including lighting, unexpected situations, and how you managed the issues on set?

There is ALWAYS something that doesn’t go exact how you expected. Whether it be minor or major, for better or for worse. I try to embrace these moments, although that’s easier said than done. I try to remember that some of my favourite shots have come from these unplanned (and unwanted) scenarios.

It could be a no-show model, a broken bit of kit, a wardrobe malfunction, the list goes on. But it’s in these moments that you’re forced to be creative beyond what you planned or expected. There’s something quite amazing about adversity fuelling creativity in a way you may not have explored otherwise.

What are your top tips for aspiring photographers on skill development and finding their own creative voice? How did you develop yours?

I struggle to follow this myself, but all the people who told me to “keep shooting” were right. Get out and shoot - anything. A lot of it will be bad, but some might be great. This is true for every artist, even the greats. We remember them for their best work; which wasn’t created without a lot of bad work too.

I still struggle with feeling like I haven’t achieved as much as I’d hoped, but that’s the process that I think we all feel. It’s okay to feel bad about your craft sometimes - I definitely do. But then, eventually, I achieve something beyond what I could have imagined and I realise all the mistakes, doubt and “lost time” has prepared me for all I did achieve.

What is your favorite piece of work you've ever shot?

This is another question that’s hard to answer. I love some much of my work for different reasons. Some work I wasn’t fond of, I now am and vice versa. There’s been highlights, but each has been surpassed by the next. I’m just enjoying creating right now. Pushing personal boundaries, trying new things.

Some images have sentimental value and some I just think look really cool.

I don’t think I’d want to be defined by a single image or project, but instead by each viewers personal favourite amongst all my work, even the ones which feel less significant. The images I’m proudest of aren’t necessarily my favourites either.

Can you tell us the story behind creating the photographs you submitted?

I met Stylist Lucy James on a music video shoot for Kasabian in May 2024. I knew instantly she was someone I wanted to work with, due to her personal qualities and skills as a stylist (recently winning Best Styling at the UK Music Video Awards 2024). Before long, Lucy and I were in prep for our shoot, finding the best locations, models, fits and styles to achieve the outcome we wanted - all with less than a week to pull it together.

I set out to explore the exciting ways in which brand, Adam Jones is embracing their country’s past to offer up something fresh - Reminding us that Up-Cycling is sexy!

Adam Jones is an idiosyncratically British brand full of nostalgia for their country’s years gone by. Celebrating the humour in the history of the nation’s rich community and pub-based past - embracing the tag of ‘Broken Britain’, the eccentric and the mundane, the kitsch and the kinky, championing the old and and turning it into new. I wanted to tell this story in a way which felt equally as exciting.

I had to call in a number of favours from really wonderful people around me to pull this one off, but it worked and I couldn’t be happier.

Where can we view more of your work and connect with you?

Instagram: @_cjdoherty

CREDITS:

Photographer: Charlie J Doherty - @_cjdoherty

Stylist: Lucy James - @juicylames

Makeup Artist: Dasha Taivas - @dashataivas

Producer: Ellie Clapperton - @ellieclapperton

Lighting: Chris Alvey - @chris__alvey

Camera Assistant: Callan Matthews - @cal.matthews

Model: Cara Bregazzi - @carabregazzi

Model: Louie Akinwale - @louieakinwale

Model: Luca Besate - @luchi.blue

Key Brand: Adam Jones Studio - @adamjones.studio

Other Featured Brands:

Hairy Mary London - @hairymarylondon

Bleue Burnham - @bleueburnham

AGRO STUDIO - @agrostudio_

LU.BY.LU - @lubylu.ng