Gabriel Moses

Lea and Monica belong to the series Regina – Gabriel's photographic tribute to the women who shaped, and continue to shape, his world. Particularly important to Gabriel are his sister, who introduced him to fashion editorials while studying fashion herself; and his mother, who let him sleep peacefully in diffused light and soft shadows; as well as his Grandma, whose poise he carries through into his work.

In conversation

What does it mean to have your portraits on people's walls?

I have a superstition around my work. I never wanted it to exist physically for a long time. I almost used to reject what I did, you know. It took me realising in myself that I made these images and I should be proud of them. There’s a timelessness that I’m always trying to create in my work. Being able to see it in people's homes and have it as part of their day to day life is a lesson for me. However it makes them feel is for them.

Outside of photography, where do you look for inspiration?

Jean-Paul Goude is someone I look to. I just love the way he was able to define particular eras – whether in his work for Chanel, or his work with Grace Jones – and how he was able to run his imagination, like you see in his sketchbooks. To see that, and then the final product. I love people that create like children and he embodies that for me.

You're self-taught. Along the way, what's the biggest lesson you had to learn for yourself?

To make honest work, you know. When you make honest work you are bringing yourself to every image, not trying to be this or not trying to be that, just understanding what is your work, what is your style and what you are trying to say. Then, it allows your creativity to flow freely. Every human has their own individual perspective. Sometimes we abandon them and chase what the world is seeing. But that’s not us, and we can’t do that time and time again. When you’re making work and making it from inside there’s no limit to what you can do.

If it's not an impossible question, how do you define your style?

Lighting plays a massive part in a lot of my work. I’d see old pictures of my Grandma and the light in her home. Things like that are big inspirations. They helped me recognise how I want my images to sit. I wanted to understand how to control the conditions and take photos that live in the same world again and again.

I give credit to my team. Darren, my first assistant and my lightening director, the work he’s able to do to bring my vision to life is amazing. I can’t do these things without a team, without the makeup artists who make magic with skin, the stylists as well. All of these things are world building, and part of deciding what I want my images to look like. From there, I have been blessed enough to collaborate with amazing people who are able to also bring all of these together things and make them reality. As a photographer my job is just a small part within the 100%.

Photography: Hidhir Badaruddin