‘Photo shoots can’t be random, aimless’
Actor Katrina Kaif, who is famous celebrity photographer Mario Testino’s latest muse, says she has been “following his work” for years
Be it A-list stars, musicians, supermodels or other artists, he has captured a plethora of celebrities – over the years – through his lens. Now, Katrina Kaif has become famous celebrity photographer Mario Testino’s latest muse with a muchtalked-about photo shoot. “It was really nice [shooting with Mario]. During my growing up years and especially, since I started out as a model, I’ve admired Mario’s works. He has an eye for detail and shoots women in a certain way,” says the actor.
The Bang Bang (2014) actor feels “anyone who follows the fashion or photography industry” knows that he is a legend in his field. I have been seeing his work for years, which, I feel, is unique. After a certain point, photography on that level can start to have a similar feel. But I think, you can always tell an image that he has clicked. There is some sort of an edge to it,” she says.
Does she enjoy photo shoots? “I do as long as they have a specific intention and aren’t random or aimless. Before going in, I need to know what kind of image we are trying to create. If you have clarity, enthusiasm and a nice theme, it can be a lot of fun,” she says, adding that it makes for a “much more enjoyable shoot” when one bonds well with a photographer.
“I always feel that you need to have good time in a photo shoot. I have done so many shoots till now, but I need to feel or need to know what we are trying to create with it or why are we doing it. So, you might have already done most of the things but you have to go with an intention and clarity of what you are trying to achieve. I felt that Mario wanted to capture something that is like the real me and that’s what he did,” says the actor.
During my growing up years and especially, since I started out as a model, I’ve admired Mario’s works. He has an eye for detail and shoots women in a certain way.
KATRINA KAIF, ACTOR
Katrina, who usually takes “a while to warm up to people”, says that this wasn’t the case with Mario. “Normally when you don’t know somebody, it takes a while to warm up. I don’t know how, but he instantly made me feel like I was talking to my best friend. He is really warm and made an effort to get to know me. I felt really comfortable with him and it’s maybe because he is a people person,” she says.
In fact, Katrina recalls the time she met Mario in Delhi for the shoot. “Instead of waiting for me to get ready, he sat with me in the makeup room, and became a friend of sorts. I didn’t even realise it because I was just talking to a nice person. I noticed that he actually observes who you are as a person. That special knack of observing a person and studying them helps because when he gets up there, he knows what he is trying to do with his camera. That’s why his images are so fascinating and unique,” she says.