A Day in Brooklyn with Emma Anderson

I moved to Brooklyn with a one year Visa, looking for some work experience in the photo industry! But I fell in love with NY and never left.

This is so hard! The biggest advice would be to walk around as much as possible in the city, I love to citibike, and catch the east river ferry.

I started shooting on film, so it’s always been a comfortable place for me. Sometimes I wonder if it’s easier because you shoot less, there are less options, and you have to be so much more considered with each frame and with the lighting. And I love to print in the darkroom!

It’s totally different depending on the project for sure, and if it’s commercial or editorial, if it’s something I can creatively drive or if it’s coming fully baked from the client side. If it’s my own editorial project then I get super deep into research and prep. I love to have a pretty well formed idea I can take to a stylist or set designer and then we can shape that together. If it's a commercial job that is coming via a creative agency or client side, then I still love to help develop, cast and input creatively where I can, but I’ll take a lot more cues from the client.

Anything for the Met Gala is a wild ride, I did a shoot for Dior with Rosalía that was 5 hours of waiting and 5 minutes of shooting. But an old shoot that I’ll never forget was in the south of France, running through the fields at sunset and driving through the countryside all piled into a van. Shooting the whole story on one old 35mm film camera because my whole kit got stolen on the train ride down, I had to use 15 rolls of film and the camera I had in my handbag for a big two-day editorial shoot. It was actually really fun and loose, and it turned out great.

This is tricky! My wish list at the moment is based on stylists I would love to collaborate with, and a few models that would be a dream. But shooting a celeb that my sisters love, that would be cool to share with them, or I’d die for a big campaign in NZ that my parents would get to see!

I read a lot, which is calming for me. And there are certain albums and songs I’ll play on my headphones on the way to set that get me in the right frame of mind.

I think it feeds into the work a lot, lately I’ve been seeing a lot of movies at some fun arthouse theaters here which has been super inspiring. But downtime at home and spending time with super creative friends in the same industry is always motivating & inspiring.

Going home to mums in Aotea Harbour, near Kawhia. Jumping on the quad bike and going for a ride down the beach.

I have an ongoing project at home that is super exciting! I’m shooting female bodybuilders in NZ, the women at home and at the competitions. My mum & older sister both used to bodybuild, and they are both a part of the project. It’s been super sick to shoot, I’m really excited for the final book and exhibition!

The beach at home, just the ocean and fresh air!

Morning coffee at home, so lame I know.

The morning sunlight in the bedroom.

Tui & Kahili!