Biography

Originally hailing from the sunny shores of Takapuna in Aotearoa New Zealand, i've had a camera in my hand all my working life... My love for photography began while documenting skateboarding - a sport I was devoted to as a teenager. I then followed my camera into the worlds of music and fashion, working for many years honing my craft as a visual artist. I photographed U2, Nick Cave, David Bowie, Siouxsie & the Banshees and many other famous performers for the cover of Rip it Up magazine, a cornerstone of the New Zealand music scene. As a fashion photographer I shot editorials and campaigns for many of New Zealand and Australia’s top designers and magazines. The work I did in these years still inform the images I shoot today. Alongside my work as a photographer, I delved into the realm of directing and cinematography, crafting visually distinctive music videos for renowned artists such as Crowded House, The Beastie Boys, and many of New Zealand's finest musical talents. Notable among my directorial projects are "Spellbound" - the definitive documentary on the NZ music Icons Split Enz, and "The Scotsman and the Maori" about the pioneering NZ photographer James McDonald. My journey into film photography commenced with the international award winning film "Once Were Warriors", directed by Lee Tamahori. In 2000 I made the transition to London embarking on a full-time career as a photographer specialising in film and TV. Over the years I’ve been very fortunate to work with many of the world’s leading directors - Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, Peter Greenway, Barry Levinson and Anton Corbijn to name but a few. I feel privileged to have watched and captured many of the worlds greatest actors up close. My approach to photography is rooted in storytelling, aiming to convey the emotional depth of a narrative through a single image. This requires not only technical expertise but also strong communication and trust with the actors, directors, and producers I work alongside.

I always love the opportunity to light and photograph actors in a one-on-one situation and have shot dozens of marketing campaigns and gallery sessions for companies including Apple TV, Paramount Studios, Studio Canal, Disney, Netflix, Sony Pictures and Fox Entertainment.

In 2011 I became a Bafta Member and in 2023 I was invited to join the esteemed Society of Motion Picture Photographers (SMPSP)

I’m currently based in Budapest with my family and working between here and the UK.

Whenever possible, I try to spend time back in New Zealand.
- IMDb mini biography by: Kerry Brown