ABOUT

Born in London, with Polish and Persian roots, I went to St. Benedict’s school in Ealing and Trinity College, Cambridge to read Economics.

I have always enjoyed photography, but my practice really started to develop whilst taking many creative courses - from garden design and documentary film making, to various genre-exploring photography courses - specifically documentary and photojournalism, photographing people and street photography.

I’ve naturally fallen into portraiture, fashion and documentary photography as my practice has grown and evolved. And whether I’m shooting fashion, an actor’s headshot or a stylised Old Hollywood style portrait, it is people that interest and inspire me the most, and to whom I’m drawn to connecting with and photographing. 

In fashion I love to collaborate with different designers, artists, stylists and models, to create something stunning and original.  Fashion portraiture is a genre I particularly relate to.

I believe it is my calm, composed and empathetic nature, which invites people to comfortably be themselves in front of the camera, and to express themselves freely, whilst allowing me to capture them authentically, uniquely and stylishly. A curated sountrack adds to the relaxed, enjoyable, and creative atmosphere of my shoots.

I’m comfortable shooting in a complex studio environment, or with lights and props on location, but equally in nature and with natural light. This has (rather prematurely I would say!) earned me the title of ‘master of light’ from a few of my clients.

I’m also adept at still life photography: From couture hats to paintings and other art works, and products, it is my eye and my attention to detail that are a great asset here.

I’m a skilled retoucher, and this refines my work, and elevates it to another level.

Combining all this with my skills in documentary photography / reportage, I’m very well placed to photograph a wedding, an engagement shoot or a family session, in my own timeless and cinematic  way,  capturing beautiful candid moments and telling a compelling story. I can seamlessly change from being the observer to the participant as the situation/frame requires.

I draw my inspirations from contemporary and past portrait, fashion and documentary photographers, including the great Hollywood portrait photographers of the 1920s-1950s, the Magnum photographers, painters such as Rembrandt, from film, and from visits to the V&A to see shows such as Dior, Kimono or Tim Walker. My love of vintage also informs my aesthetic.

I’m a Lindy hop, Balboa and Jive dancer, and it was my love of vintage music, style and dance that inspired me to try to document this colourful and vibrant scene I’d become a part of, and it was the initial catalyst which pushed me to deepen my practice and to collaborate with others. I’ve indirectly become skilled in low light and dance photography, and it has become my long term personal project to photograph the dancers, DJs, musicians and sharp dressers of this vintage scene. My plan is to one day release a book and to have an exhibition.

I am based in London but can travel to wherever in the world my work requires.

TESTIMONIALS

How my clients have described my photography:

“Stylish, engaging and powerful...”

“Considered, dramatic and thought provoking..

“Captures the striking in people with light, attention to detail and perfect balance..”

"Atmospheric, glamorous and intimate.."

“All your pictures are so beautifully lit...you’re a master of light..”

“Cinematic..”   “Your photos are like stills from a film..”

"Elegant, quiet and contemplative. His work has a quiet and contemplative quality about it. It is not rushed. It is a slow beauty that makes you want to linger."

"Michael has a truly unique eye for photography and particularly for portraits, and he sheds a new, warm light on the people he captures. He provided photography for some of our social dance events which consisted of both posed portraits and action shots. Michael is also a lovely person to deal with and very reliable,and I could not recommend him enough." Anna Selmon, Swingdance UK