Lucas Gatsas Interview
A young upstart often turns out talent. Promptly alive for the early 80’s and the anti-disco backlash, fashion photographer Lucas Gatsas was born in 1983 in Switzerland. He started taking his first fashion portraits at the tender age of sweet sixteen. His model friends kept urging him to get serious and consider a career in fashion photography — and we all know what happens when you blow on a flame. Lucas Gatsas started to study art in Bern, then London & New York, respectively. However, it was a shoot with male model André Johnson that catapulted Lucas into the world of fashion. His next project? A collaborative photo book.
Trey Taylor: Can you please fill this out?
Name: Lucas Gatsas
Age: 25 years old
Occupation: Fashion/ Photographer
Currently Resides: Switzerland/St. Gallen/Summer 2010 NYC
Favourite Song: $165 Million + Interest [Into] The Round Up / David Holmes
Trey Taylor: Can you debrief us a bit on your history? How did you come into contact with your first camera?
Lucas Gatsas: I first came into contact when my father gave me a camera when I was very small. I think I was 7 or 8 years old.
TT: You’ve been doing the whole fashion photography spiel for quite some time now. What did it take for you to reach this point in your career?
LG: I used only analog cameras until I was 19 years old. Today, more or less, I photograph all in digital. It’s better quality. I think a good photographer can take good photographs with any camera.
TT: What do you hope your photo book will accomplish?
LG: Obviously, one day I want to work on a major campaign, produce good editorials. I want to meet talented models that can translate my vision. I’m still very young and I have enough time to make my book even more diverse. I think it will be very well received.
TT: Have you already started work on your photo book? What sort of stuff will be in it? LG: I’ve been working a lot on it. I love to take photographs. I prefer to shoot anywhere. Shooting has become a daily activity for me. I couldn’t live without it. I believe some people are just born for photography. I think between the classic, dirty, glamour and a little rock will be the direction it takes.
TT: What are your other ambitions?
LG: Maybe my views are more goals to make a film about fashion, with a few special models that are well known.
TT: Speaking of ambitions, how did you come to be in the fashion industry? Were you always driven to become a fashion photographer?
LG: Yes, I think I work very quickly. This idea also came from my family. I am one who can work quickly and accurately, and can make plans. I like to work. I can be very stubborn, but you have to be stubborn at times to reach certain goals. It [my stubbornness] drives me at each shooting to make more.
TT: I read in your biography that it sounded like your model friends gave you a little push to get you out there. How big of a push did it take?
LG: They are just friends of mine whom I know very well and often snapped photos of. Each time they were better. I’ve always been more fashion and model photography concentrated. It was a cool time.
TT: Would you trade anything you have done in the past for something different? Any regrets?
LG: No, not really. I regret nothing. Everything has happened for a reason.
To read the rest of this interview, check out See Like Me’s Rare Issue featuring photographer Lucas Gatsas HERE!
