Lara Jade
In rejection of the overrated hullabaloo surrounding Annie Leibowitz et. al., Rose W pays tribute to the less-celebrated (but by no means lesser) mortals of the photography scene. Up-and-coming English creative photographer, model, make-up artist, stylist and photo manipulator Lara Jade Coton is the subject of the moment…
by ROSE W.
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To say that Lara Jade Coton merely takes photographs is a gross understatement. To dismiss her as a commonplace beauty, albeit with an accidental knack for self-portraiture also completely misses the point. That said, it is never really easy to accurately label her: a creative tour de force in front of and behind the lens, as well as inside the digital darkroom. Lara is as versatile and accomplished as they come.
To fully appreciate the merits of Lara’s work in the same manner her avid fans do, you would have to consider the extent of her youth (she turns 19 this year), the considerable size of her portfolio (at least 5 years worth of work, and counting), and the infinite expanse of her imagination. Discounting Lara’s account on online photo-sharing application Flickr, a modest average of 6000 individuals per day peruse her extensive gallery on art community DeviantArt, where she assumes the well-known soubriquet of ‘larafairie’. Features on photography magazines such as Practical Photography and Digital Camera Magazine only confirm Lara’s charm as a promising debutante in the world of photography.
On her growing celebrity status in the online photography circles, the precocious lass explains that fame was an unexpected, but definitely not unwelcome visitor in her life. Lara clarifies:
“From the age of fourteen, I was already aware of what the internet could do. However, at the start my photography was purely a hobby. I posted my work online because I enjoyed being part of a community. I suddenly started getting more and more comments and gradually, as the years went on I had quite a few followers!”
Her rise to prominence becomes even more remarkable as she reveals that she was self-taught in terms of wielding a digital camera as well as enhancing her own images on Adobe Photoshop. Lara discloses that she “[initially] had not got a clue on how to use a camera” and “realised what most of the [camera] settings meant through experimentation”. It was not until her college years where she learned the proper technicalities of photography. However, she claims that being self-taught has its advantages as she developed her own distinct style with shooting and working with Adobe Photoshop.
The UCE Birmingham undergraduate’s work mostly negotiates the dark and the surreal with surprising dexterity for her age, but she maintains that she is ultimately “experimental” in terms of style. The allure of Lara’s work transcends that of her undeniably photogenic face staring out of many moody self-portraits. Instead, the major attraction lies in her ability to capture spellbinding stories within the confines of the photograph’s borders. For instance, her photo projects, namely ‘Phobias’ and ‘Crime Scenes’ highlight her ability to produce a cohesive narrative through photography.
Lara’s masterful visual storytelling stems from her attention to the minutest detail in which she assumes almost total control over the resulting photograph. When asked about her choice to be so involved (read: playing Jill of all trades), she says:
“I like having control over the end product, which is why I contribute so much to the photograph. Sometimes, it feels like it is not 'your' creation if someone else has taken part in styling the image. I would prefer to have a make-up artist and stylist who are much more experienced than I am, but I would like to have the say over the final result.”
Even at her tender age, Lara’s flourishing reputation as a meticulous photographer has allowed her to ply her trade, mainly shooting portraits. Her list of clients includes music artistes InMe and Sam Roman, UK-based jewellers Kokkino and Laura Bezant as well as freelance dancer Rachel Martin.
As to whether she missed out on a typical teenage life in exchange for her passion in photography, Lara concludes:
“I was never the 'typical' teenager. I hardly ever socialised or went out because I was too wrapped up in my photography. I enjoyed doing that, and I guess it kept me out of trouble! I got far more enjoyment out of shooting, creating art, than I would have drinking on the street!”
The playwright George Bernard Shaw once remarked “youth is wasted on the young”. It is mildly disturbing that he missed out on the 21st century and the talented Lara Jade Coton.
PLUS: 5 Questions With Lara Jade Coton
Pick 5 words to describe how you would like others to perceive your photographs.
Lara Jade Coton: Unique, surreal, fresh, dark, conceptual.
Pick a music playlist of 5 songs that best describe you.
Deftones – Change, Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Maps, The Veronicas - Everything I’m Not, Placebo - Running Up That Hill, Paramore - Let The Flames Begin.
Name your favourite photography equipment.
My Canon [EOS] 5D.
What makes a beautiful photograph?
A unique subject and beautiful composition.
What do you see yourself doing 10 years into the future?
Freelancing still; hopefully on a few agencies! I would love to travel the world.
Lara accepts commissions for photo shoots and charges “a reasonable fee for a CD of 25-30 photos”. She also sells pre-made Adobe Photoshop actions and offers photo retouching services. You may access her portfolio and contact her on her personal website, www.larajade.com.
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