Darya Kurovska for Dress Code cover editorial shot by Underwood.

Cate Underwood Interview for Schön! magazine, june 2013.

CATE UNDERWOOD: MORE THAN A MODEL.

At just 22 years old you would be forgiven for thinking Ukrainian photographer (& model, blogger, DJ, mother), Cate Underwood was just starting out in her career; but that’s where you’d be mistaken. Having shot for the likes of Vogue Ukraine, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar Ukraine (winning the latter’s Fashion Forward Award for photography in 2010), plus fronting several ad campaigns, Underwood is already a veteran of the fashion business. To coincide with the gorgeous images of her taken by photographer Yiorgos Mavropoulos, Schön! sat down with one of fashion’s most dedicated multitaskers to talk all things photography.

I believe you began taking photographs whilst pregnant with your daughter Eva – what drew you to photography?

I was interested in photography before getting pregnant but after giving birth to Eva I realised I was responsible for a new life. That made me more decisive and focused on what it is I wanted to do. So I decided to give photography a full go because I felt really passionate about it.

Was it difficult when you were starting out to be taken seriously as you were (and still are) so young and had little formal training?

I don’t think you should be too serious about this job so I never looked at it that way – I’ve never thought about whether I looked convincing or not. I’ve just had faith in what I do and put a lot of effort in it.

When you were first approached to become a model you turned the offer down – what made you later change your mind?

I was 15 at that time and it didn’t occur to me that modelling could be an occupation. But as I got older and got involved in fashion as a photographer, I realised the amazing possibilities modelling can offer and I was lucky to be given this chance.

The style of your self-portraits and Polaroid work differ quite considerably to your fashion editorial work – is that purely down to the differences between digital and film cameras, or are there other reasons?

Polaroid is always about a nostalgic point of view, it always transcends time, taking the viewer to the past, evoking memories and feelings long gone. Polaroid shots tell stories, express feelings, they tell us about life.

Digital camera is a means of creating a perfect picture. I don’t mean it should be technically perfect, but the idea of digital is that you can transform the reality to create a story. For me this experience is a journey, a pursuit for absolute purity, rigor, simplicity.

You have sited photographers David Sims, Willy Vanderperre, Alasdair McLellan and Peter Lindbergh as inspiration, and their influence is clear in your minimalist photographic style – is this an effect you aim to achieve?

In my work I want to explore the notions of simplicity and perfection of shape. It may be quite formulaic but I’m a firm believer in simplicity. The simplest things are the hardest to achieve.

For me, this minimalistic approach has to do with Nineties’ aesthetics. I was born and raised in quite a strange time and place, it was very messy and quite baroque [with] the Perestroika (a political movement), the new money and capitalism happening in Ukraine. I am very influenced by the whole Nineties’ redux aesthetics – something careless, something undone, transgressive. I believe in a strong female character, I believe in androgyny and certain emotional ambivalence.

In the end my pictures are a mixture of strict shapes, strong characters and nonchalance where it doesn’t look like it’s trying too hard. But this doesn’t mean the process behind creating these images isn’t complex.

Is there a model or brand you would especially like to work with who you haven’t managed to yet?

As I said, I love people with a strong personality. I’d love to work with Iselin Steiro, Jamie Bochert, Malgosia Bela – they are amazing women. As for the brands, it’s all about Calvin Klein, Balenciaga, Celine, Jil Sander, Raf Simons, Chloe, Maison Martin Margiela and Ann Demeulemeester.

Does the fact that you are a photographer make modelling easier? Or do you find it difficult not being in control?

For me, switching from photography to modelling was a rather natural and liberating experience, but I did have some difficulties accepting the fact that it wasn’t me in charge on set. Modelling is as much a job as any other, and I had to accept and respect the rules; so now I’m totally fine with being just a medium, a tool.

Can you see yourself being both a model and photographer for a long time to come?

I will be doing this as long as it gives me satisfaction. I think there is a limit in modelling that I may come to and maybe this will make me quit one day. Photography is something I’ll keep doing no matter what. This is where I can express myself and tell the things I will never tell otherwise. It is my personal story and there are a lot of secrets in it.

How have you managed to juggle photography, modelling, blogging, DJing and motherhood?

It just all happens and I enjoy living my life the way I do now. Maybe I just love a fast ride.

What is next for Cate Underwood?

Time will tell, but I’m not going to stop, that’s for sure.



For more info on Cate please visit: www.cateunderwood.com

Link for the interview on Schön! magazine.

This online exclusive editorial has been produced by:

Photography / Yiorgos Mavropoulos
Grooming / Stella Mavrodi @ D-Tales
Wardrobe / Yogo Lu
Model / Cate Underwood @ D Model Agency
Words / Roxanne Golding
Interviewed by Jade Thompson

VOGUE april editorial photographed by Cate Underwood.

Milagros Schmoll for VOGUE Ukraine april 2013.
Photographer  Cate Underwood
Stylist  Julie Pelipas

VOGUE Ukraine first issue.

Pau Bertolini and Benthe de Vries for Vogue Ukraine march 2013.
Photographer Cate Underwood
Styling Julie Pelipas

hard working underwood.

That took some time for me to collect all thoughts together, but finally i'm so gonna share with some results of last month. I guess I have never been that inspired and productive ever before.

so far, i've made 100 photographs for last month, Mauro Grifoni upcoming spring/summer 2013 campaign, one more spring/summer 2013 campaign and lookbook for Litkovskaya with my lovely team, 2 secret (for now) editorials and if you ask i can sign under each photo, cause i feel like each one without exception got a part of my soul.

From london to milano-kiev-london, then paris and back to london.

Every time i am so excited before the shoot, that nights are sleepless until i am done with it.
Trip to paris was the highlight of this rule - being stressed for a week before and unstoppable searching for inspiration even at night time got me so badly. Of course I couldn't miss Amélie Poulain's french photo booth to keep that memory.

On my way back, trying to get a little bit of sleep at eurostar train, instead of counting sheep, i was busy with another calculation data as less then 3 hours of sleep for 3 days in paris, not less then 10 cups of double espresso per day, 6 packs of cigarettes, couple glasses of wine, dozen of magazines and books around, century of details for lightening, styling, make-up, hair and so on. But believe me, these two editorials were worth each of these freaking out minutes and that unforgetable pleasant tiredness after hard work is the most amazing thing which you can feel.

Be back to London is always feel like being finally at home.

Take You.

Source: Ben Trovato Blog Exclusives.

Credits
Photography by Cate Underwood
Modelling by Appoline Rozhdestvenska @ Linea12, IMG Worldwide, Iconic Management Germany
Styling by Venya Brykalin
Hair by Linda Poluetkova
Makeup by Helen Khodos
Retouching by Igor Primak
All fashion provided by LITKOVSKAYA

Cover shoot with Masha Kirsanova by Cate Underwood for L’Officiel Ukraine 2011.

"Fetish Darling – Masha Kirsanova lets her freak flag fly in the November cover shoot of L’Officiel Ukraine lensed by Cate Underwood. Wearing the fetish inspired designs of Givenchy, Louis Vuitton, Tom Ford and Diane von Furstenberg styled by Julie Pelipas, Masha is a striking sight in fall makeup by Natali Strilchyuk and feathered locks by Andrew Jablonski." - FASHION GONE ROGUE, where you can see full editorial.

JUST TRY ON. for Sezony Mody october'11.

exclusive editorial for ben trovato blog.

the link for exclusive editorial for BEN TROVATO blog with all credits watch here:
http://bentrovatoblog.com/photography/worried-boy-cate-underwood/

photography  Cate Underwood
styling&hair  Venya Brykalin
model  Solomia Zgoda @ L-MODELS
make-up  Yana Kenzo
post production  Igor Primak

Thank you, guys! special thanks to Marius Troy for featuring