I spy with my little eye... a coffee with fashion photographer Jonathan Bookallil.

I met Jonathan Bookallil on his first trip to the Middle East, during Fashion Forward, he was giving a talk on Fashion Photography. Born and raised in Australia, he spent his childhood running from studio to studio with his mother who was a fashion editor. He decided around the age of 16 that he wanted to capture women beauty for a living and moved to London at 19 to gain experience and build a portfolio. He quickly started shooting for magazines like Elle, Sky, Marie-Claire, Cosmopolitan, and relocated in the 90's in New York. Working mostly on woman ready-to-wear, he works works for brands, magazines, celebrities like the Beckhams, Elizabeth Hurley, Heid Klum etc... His style is classical, with an edge, a mix of all his influences: childhood, London, NYC, Australia. His favourite spot to shoot? The beach. His worst souvenir? An outdoor photoshoot, he was fixing the camera on quite high on the tripod when a wave of Japanese tourist flooded him and his team, causing the camera to slip through his fingers: "I can still see this over expensive camera falling on the ground in slow motion and smashing through smithereens, worst nightmare ever!".

I was lucky enough to catch him on his Dubai tour and take him (and his patience) through the HOB interview. "Wow, you're digging!", yes, yes I am, I love torturing fashion photographers. Jonathan, thank you for taking the time!

If you want to collaborate with Jonthan, contact Capital D Studio.

HOB: If you could live in a painting, which one would it be?

J.B.: Pass!

HOB: If you could live in a different era?

J.B.: the late 60's, that's when everything started. The music was fantastic, such an inspiration!

HOB: What piece of clothing reminds you of your mother?

J.B.: It's not one piece, it's the bags of clothes I used to carry with her from one photoshoot to an other.

HOB: What scent takes you right back to your childhood?

J.B.: Oatmeal porridge with brown sugar, it's my childhood breakfast. Freshly cut grass and the beach are also great olfactory memories.

HOB: When do you feel on holiday?

J.B.: On the beach.

HOB: What designer would you take on a camel ride with you?

J.B.: definitively Tom Ford! I met him and he is fantastic!

HOB: Your favourite recipe to make?

J.B.: Roast chicken. I'm very good at BBQs.

HOB: Best piece of advice you were ever given?

J.B.: "Trust your instincts."

HOB: What book changed your life? 

J.B.: "Shogun" by James Clavell.

HOB: The movie you've watched already 30 times but might watch again tonight?

J.B.: The Godfather 2.

HOB: Your 3 favourite spots in NYC?

J.B.: 1- The roof top at Soho House.

2- The Chinese restaurant Nom Wah.

3- Montreal