“Beauty, humanity, light, emotion and energy.”

When Douglas Mott turns his lens toward a model, he is not only interested in capturing beauty, but in revealing a depth of emotion. Mott's work is fresh, revealing and instantly identifiable. His photographs bear witness to not only his technical aptitude, but his psychological and social aptitude as well. It is his keen sense of humanity that allows him to elicit the most intriguing moments of insight that result in incredibly alluring, and often enigmatic, images. Mott has emerged as a powerful force in today's fashion photography, a rare hybrid of talent, sincerity and subtlety.

A: So, when did you get your first big break?

Doug: I was at Kenyon studying figure painting when I had the opportunity to work with Richard Avedon.

A: If you could boil down your early experiences, what is the most important thing you learned?

Doug: Atmosphere is everything. If you can master your surroundings, you can create the mood that will result in the images you want. I do everything in my power to preserve the atmosphere on a shoot. And that needs to be respected. I can't have someone hanging out snapping their gum and talking on their cell phone. The set should feel intimate and relaxed, but with a sense that something sacred is about to be revealed. I respond to images that are nurtured, that result from a cooperation between the model and the photographer. I think compelling images need to be earned. Trust is what keeps a picture from feeling repetitive, or even worse, stolen.

A: All of which begs the question, how?

Doug: Right? Easier said than done most of the time. Really, though, I think just by being natural and honest, and, of course, flexible you can usually create a comfortable atmosphere. From there, I just make sure to interact with the model—not just as photographer to subject, but as person to person. I feel the charge in an image comes from what is honest, even true. Not elaborate artifice.

A: Sounds like a lot of work. So, what's your ultimate goal after creating this atmosphere and making a connection with the model? What is it that you are looking to accomplish? And how do you know when you've accomplished it?

Doug: I don't think you ever “accomplish” a photograph. I set the stage, but really, I'm just trying to capture energy in an image. It's so fleeting. The best pictures will nearly always happen on their own. My job is to make sure that I'm looking through the camera when they do.

A: So what is it about fashion photography that appeals to you?

Whether you are a high fashion model, a cranky three-year old, or an entrepreneur, Douglas Mott will not only capture your image but an element of your personality as well.

Doug's interest in photography began in college, where he studied painting and photography. After graduating from Kenyon College with a fine arts degree, Doug worked and studied with some of the best photographers in the world, including the legendary Richard Avedon, Ellen Von Unwerth and Brigitte Lacombe.

For the past decade, Doug's work has focused primarily on portraiture and fashion photography in London and New York. His work has been featured commercially and in many publications including Mademoiselle, More, Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, Seventeen and Cosmopolitan . Visit www.mott-photo.com to browse his fashion and beauty work.

In addition to his editorial work, making images of children and families has become a major focus. As the father of two young daughters, he realizes the wonderful and fleeting moments children offer. No matter who Doug is working with, he always makes sure to create a comfortable atmosphere. “I make a special effort to approach people in a setting that best captures their uniqueness and energy. My objective in a photograph is to discover something timeless and intimate,” he explains.

This is especially important when it comes to kids. Children do not like to sit still. Getting a great portrait of a child is more than getting a kid to dress up, sit still, sit up straight, and smile as if life itself depended on it. Kids bite their lips, stick out their tongues in concentration, look longingly at a lollipop or in wonder at the shadows on the floor. It is in the everyday that children find wonder and it is in the spirit of the everyday that Doug captures the wonder of your child.

Doug combines classic photographic technique with the latest digital photography to make his work stand out. Along with his inventive interpretations, he has the wonderful ability to connect easily with people of all ages. When you are sitting for Doug, you feel like you are sitting with a friend. It is that level of comfort and trust that enables him to really capture the quirks that make people—and photographs—so unique and interesting.

Doug's photographs are never images of the person you present yourself to be, but rather of who you ultimately reveal yourself to be—perhaps a little playful, maybe a little contemplative or somewhat shy, but definitely human.

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