Lili Forberg is the most in demand Fashion photographer in Ireland with publications in Grazia, Tatler, Stellar, LIFE magazine & NME to name a few and we here at Dropdeadgorjess.com have the pleasure of having her as our resident snapper (she makes our dresses look even more Gorjess than they already are!!!).
She has snapped everyone who is anyone in the Irish & beyond fashion & celebrity circuit!
So I had a little chat with Miss Lili to get an insight into the lady behind the lens...
Are you a self taught photographer or did you have a mentor that showed you the ropes?
I did a photography degree in DIT. I also did work experience during college with the loveliest press photographer Marc O\'Sullivan. I bump into him through work from time to time I loved going to all the jobs with him. I shot my first professional models during my work experience it was very scary at the time.
What made you take the leap into professional photography?
As soon as I finished college I was already working full time so it wasn\'t really a decision to be made.
I did my own thing during college. Other than all my college work I was also busy preparing a portfolio, doing test shoots, contacting magazines and model agencies and finding hair, makeup and styling teams I could shoot with. I remember on my graduation day there were billboards all over town that I did for Off The Rails. My mom was so proud!
What are important qualities that one must have in order to make it to the top as a fashion photographer?
Work your ass off! Even if you don\'t get paid. I work all the time. Even when I\'m not working all I think about is my next shoot. Also having good taste is quite important. I\'m not sure if its something you can learn. Technially you can be the most amazing photographer but if you don\'t have good taste, you might think your photos are amazing but noone else does. I think its the same throughout the whole industry. You can have all the skill you need to be a makeup artist but you need to have good taste to create the right looks.
Last but not least you need to be business minded. Its all well and good taking pretty pictures but you cant be sitting at home waiting for work to come to you. You need to market yourself and go out there and get yourself the business.
Have you any tips for up & coming models on how to nail a photo shoot?
My main tip would be not to be shy or feel silly posing. The worst thing a model can do is just stand there and not move and expect the photographer to do all the work for her. It can become quite frustrating especially coming from a professional model. A model needs to move after each shot and be in sync with the photographer. Sometimes I just want to shake some of the models. Its not enough being a pretty face you have to move around and MODEL.
What types of jobs/work really excite you?
I love working with celebrities and shooting really creative editorials.
I get really excited when I know I am working with an amazing team who respect eachother and listen to each other and work together rather than have one person who dictates what to do. I don\'t always get to work like that but when I do its very exciting!
Have you currently a favourite model?
I recently shot 17 year old Danielle Winkworth from Morgan the Agency. She is just amazing. When she walks in she looks like a normal school girl but as soon as I start shooting she just becomes this amazing supermodel.
Who is your favourite person/band/group etc you\'ve ever shot?
Probably Jedward and Florence Welch. For completely opposite reasons as you might imagine haha! Jedward are just crazy! And Florence is so intense.
You\'ve had everyone who is anyone in Ireland in front of your lens - who is next on your hit list you want to capture?
Simon Cowell!
What\'s your favourite tan?
I wear gradual tan almost every day I use it as my moisterizer. I alternate between Karora and Rockstar tan. Both are Irish brands that I\'ve worked and I love.
3 things you would ALWAYS find in your handbag?
flash cards for my camera for just incase, bottle of water to keep hydrated during work and lip balm!
Favourite perfume?
Tom Ford Tabacco Vanille - you just need one spray and it lasts all day.
Who inspires you & why?
My mom inspires me as she is such a hard worker. She always ran her own business and even during harder times she always held her head up and always looked for the positives in life rather than dwell on the negatives. It can always be worse!
What do you do in your down time from photography?
Emmmm not sure? photoshop? I don\'t really get much downtime because photography for me is not just work its my life and I love it. I don\'t really sit around and watch telly or anything I\'d be sitting at my computer either retouching or looking at blogs for inspiration. After a long day shooting my downtime would be looking at all the photos I took. It\'s what I do to relax after a shoot. I sound like I have no life haha!
What has been your biggest achievement to date?
There has been so many! Shooting for NME which was my favourite music magazine when I was growing up is a huge for me. Shooting magazine covers is always a big achievement. And making people look beautiful that they start crying with joy when they look at their pictures.
One thing I love about you is how you manage to stay so humble even at the top of your game, how you do you manage to stay so humble?
I dont think I am at the top of my game I want to achieve so much more I still feel like I am only starting out. I am still learning all the time as well. We will see how humble I am after I shoot for Vogue Italia! ha!
How do you describe yourself in 3 words?
Shy, Positive & hardworking.
Why is Dropdeadgorjess.com your favourite fashion website? ;)
Because as I said before in order to succeed in this industry you need good taste! Jess has exactly that and she knows what irish girls want!!
Thanks Lili for taking the time out in your hectic schedule to have a one on one with me!
To keep up to date with what\'s happening in Lili\'s world - you can follow her on
Twitter: @LiliForberg
Facebook: Lili Forberg Photography
Website: www.misslili.net
Jess xx