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26-Year-Old Photographer Nadine Ijewere On Her Historic Vogue Cover
When Nadine Ijewere photographed Dua Lipa, Binx Walton, and Letitia Wright on the Kentish coast for this issue’s cover story, she became the first woman of colour to shoot the cover of any Vogue in the magazine’s 125-year global history. Here, the one-to-watch shares the details of her remarkable career to date.
HAYLEY MAITLAND
When did you become interested in photography?
As a teenager, I actually thought I was going to study medicine. I was born and raised in southeast London by a Nigerian father and a Jamaican mother, and there was definitely a sense that I should be following a traditional academic path. My main A levels were physics, chemistry, biology, and maths, but I decided to take photography as well as a respite from my more “serious” subjects. That first year of classes was all about shooting analogue and developing your own film in the dark room. I completely fell in love with it. I discovered the many ways that I could tell stories with my images - especially when I incorporated fashion as well. In the end, I changed my A levels and decided to study photography at the London College of Fashion.
How did you make ends meet after graduating?
Right after I finished my degree, I started working for an interior design company in Chelsea Harbour Design Centre and dedicated every spare moment to my photography. By that point, I had already decided that if I only ever did it as a hobby, I was okay with that as long as I never changed my style to fit the norm. My weekends were completely taken up with shoots. For the most part, I was photographing my mixed-raced friends then later I moved onto street casting. Of course, the conventional path would have involved getting a job as an assistant, but I had heard so many stories about assistants falling out of love with making pictures that I decided against it. I was determined to protect my own vision and make sure that I was creating what I wanted to create. Otherwise, what’s the point of being an artist?
Tell us about how social media has impacted your career.
I found a lot of my earliest collaborators, like stylist Ibrahim Kamara, through social media, and these days, I cast a lot of models from Instagram. It’s also definitely allowed me to get my photographs out there and make a name for myself. In the beginning, I posted all of my work online - and gradually people started to take notice. As a result, I had the chance to work with brands I love on amazing projects, like shooting a campaign for Stella McCartney in Lagos. I also exhibited work from my Same//Different series, about the similarities and differences between siblings, at Tate Britain, which was crazy. At the same time, it’s so easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing when you’re always scrolling through your phone. I just try to remember that there’s a marked difference between social media and real life. It’s important to stay focused on your goals and protect your art.
How does it feel to be the first woman of colour to shoot a Vogue cover?
Honestly, it’s insane! I still find it hard to believe. Even a couple of months ago, I was saying that I hoped to work for Vogue some day, but I thought that dream was years and years away from becoming a reality. Beyond what the shoot has done for my career, it means a lot to me on a personal level. When I was studying, there were virtually no female photographers of colour in this industry. I feel like in doing this I’m proving to younger girls from a similar background that it’s achievable. It also feels like part of a broader shift within our culture to include far more diversity, both behind the camera and in front of it. As a girl, I never identified with anyone in the pages of magazines. Now, we're sending a message that everyone is welcome in fashion. There are so many different types of beauty in the world. Let's celebrate them all!
British Vogue
When Nadine Ijewere photographed Dua Lipa, Binx Walton, and Letitia Wright on the Kentish coast for this issue’s cover story, she became the first woman of colour to shoot the cover of any Vogue in the magazine’s 125-year global history. Here, the one-to-watch shares the details of her remarkable career to date.
HAYLEY MAITLAND
When did you become interested in photography?
As a teenager, I actually thought I was going to study medicine. I was born and raised in southeast London by a Nigerian father and a Jamaican mother, and there was definitely a sense that I should be following a traditional academic path. My main A levels were physics, chemistry, biology, and maths, but I decided to take photography as well as a respite from my more “serious” subjects. That first year of classes was all about shooting analogue and developing your own film in the dark room. I completely fell in love with it. I discovered the many ways that I could tell stories with my images - especially when I incorporated fashion as well. In the end, I changed my A levels and decided to study photography at the London College of Fashion.
How did you make ends meet after graduating?
Right after I finished my degree, I started working for an interior design company in Chelsea Harbour Design Centre and dedicated every spare moment to my photography. By that point, I had already decided that if I only ever did it as a hobby, I was okay with that as long as I never changed my style to fit the norm. My weekends were completely taken up with shoots. For the most part, I was photographing my mixed-raced friends then later I moved onto street casting. Of course, the conventional path would have involved getting a job as an assistant, but I had heard so many stories about assistants falling out of love with making pictures that I decided against it. I was determined to protect my own vision and make sure that I was creating what I wanted to create. Otherwise, what’s the point of being an artist?
Tell us about how social media has impacted your career.
I found a lot of my earliest collaborators, like stylist Ibrahim Kamara, through social media, and these days, I cast a lot of models from Instagram. It’s also definitely allowed me to get my photographs out there and make a name for myself. In the beginning, I posted all of my work online - and gradually people started to take notice. As a result, I had the chance to work with brands I love on amazing projects, like shooting a campaign for Stella McCartney in Lagos. I also exhibited work from my Same//Different series, about the similarities and differences between siblings, at Tate Britain, which was crazy. At the same time, it’s so easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing when you’re always scrolling through your phone. I just try to remember that there’s a marked difference between social media and real life. It’s important to stay focused on your goals and protect your art.
How does it feel to be the first woman of colour to shoot a Vogue cover?
Honestly, it’s insane! I still find it hard to believe. Even a couple of months ago, I was saying that I hoped to work for Vogue some day, but I thought that dream was years and years away from becoming a reality. Beyond what the shoot has done for my career, it means a lot to me on a personal level. When I was studying, there were virtually no female photographers of colour in this industry. I feel like in doing this I’m proving to younger girls from a similar background that it’s achievable. It also feels like part of a broader shift within our culture to include far more diversity, both behind the camera and in front of it. As a girl, I never identified with anyone in the pages of magazines. Now, we're sending a message that everyone is welcome in fashion. There are so many different types of beauty in the world. Let's celebrate them all!
British Vogue
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