R.I.P. Hamish
October 22, 2008
The Canadian fashion community lost one of its brightest lights Monday evening, with the death of Hamish Kippen.
I don't know the details, but I did see the impact it had on those that knew him. There were a lot of devastated, disbelieving faces under the tents at L'Oréal Fashion Week.
The Hamish I knew was one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I had the pleasure to work with. And I don't just say that because he's gone. He really was. In this industry you deal with a lot of personalities you don't necessarily enjoy. Hamish though, was truly special.
He would ask about my wife. He would compliment me on days I put myself together well. He spoke highly of his parents. He was genuinely interested in others.
The Hamish more people knew was the phenomenally talented photographer that won the 2006 Flare Communications Award for fashion photography. His work was featured regularly on this site, and in numerous publications, campaigns and look books. He was undoubtedly one of the most talented photographers in Canada, and had fans across the industry.
The Publisher of
www.supermodels.nl was one. He asked me personally to have Hamish get in contact with him, and when I checked yesterday, two of the front page features on the very popular international website were his.
I never met one model that worked with him that had a bad thing to say. Stylists and makeup artists would ask me to be introduced, because to work with Hamish Kippen was almost a guarantee of something that would stand out in your portfolio for all the right reasons. His ideas and his energy seemed endless, and the pride he took in his work was unsurpassed.
Hamish was also an enthusiastic panelist that helped decide Modelresource's Top 50 Models, and put a lot of thought into his contributions. When you put as much effort into something as I have with this site, you often questions whether people take it seriously. Hamish did, and I loved him for telling me so.
Hamish Kippen was just 21-years-old, and it breaks my heart to know he's gone.
Source.
www.modelresource.ca