Richard Kelly is a commercial photographer specialising in Portraits for Music, Advertising and PR. He’s photographed people from John Hurt to Kerry Katona and has always been involved in Photography since watching the ‘photo guys’ in the Manchester Evening News where he worked as a messenger when he left school at 16. He has worked as a Film processor (pre digital days), Photographic Printer and Photographer’s assistant before going out on his own in 2003.  Richards work has featured in Dazed, Vice, Rolling Stone and he loves getting to do what he likes as a job.

What role does music play in your everyday life as a creative?

I’ve always loved music— like most people who submit to various artists, I’m sure. One of the first shoots I did as a photographer was a friends band (None Of Them Knew Were Robots – sadly split up not long after that) and I’ve always loved shooting new bands which has led me to work with Arctic Monkeys, Peter Doherty and Lee Scratch Perry amongst others. Although my work is more advertising based these days I still keep an ear out for new bands- I’m currently working with one that I can’t say much about at the mo but they’re Manchester lads and I think they’re going be huge. I’ve always got music on in the studio- If I am on my own editing then it’s nearly always house music mixes. I like them as I can put a mix on by someone like traumprinz or Dj Pi-ge and crack on with work; but when I’m shooting and I’ve got various people working with me I prefer to listen to more varied stuff or I’d soon get requests to change it from monotonous drone space ship music (which is what one client described the house music as). I wouldn’t say music inspires me, but I’d be gutted if I had to work in silence or with talk radio on in the background.

Tell us about your playlist:

I’ve put together a playlist of tracks I’d have on in the studio on a shoot. Varied stuff nothing abrasive and aimed at staying on for the duration of it without anyone wanting it changed. I’d be over the moon if it ends being played/saved by other people to have on while they work!

‘Donna Teller Nobody’ the title of my playlist, is a reference to what Donatella Versace whispered to my friend at a party as she slipped him something discreet.

I’d also like to thank Chis Lloyd for suggesting I get in touch.

http://www.rkellyphoto.com
https://www.instagram.com/rkellyphoto/