CHARLIE PRICE
Charles Price blends hair, beauty, and photography, turning each shoot into a mini-movie inspired by fashion, cinema, and art. In this Style Researcher Magazine interview, he shares his creative journey, defining moments, and vision for timeless beauty.
What initially inspired you to pursue photography, and how has your style evolved over the years?
I have been taking pictures of my hair work since beauty school in the 1980s. Now almost 40 years later as I have stepped back from working behind the chair photography is the primary vehicle for my creativity. It is a reason to live.
How do you approach storytelling through your images, and what emotions or messages do you aim to convey?
I think of every shoot as a mini movie - each model the star in my imaginary production. The notion of telling a tale through beauty and fashion is a proposition I never tire of.
What has been the most defining moment in your career so far, and how did it shape your artistic vision?
There isn’t one defining moment - however some pivotal events were:
1) bringing Vivienne Westwood to the Denver Art Museum for a fashion show and her first museum exhibition in the year 2000.
2) Seeing my work (as lead hairstylist) on a runway show at New York Fashion Week for Costello Tagliapietra appear on the cover of The New York Times.
3) Being driven through the gates at Paramount Pictures while filming Shear Genius 2 -a Bravo Reality TV show about hairdressers which aired in 22 countries.
These gratifying moments showed me the vast diversity of opportunities that the hair and beauty industry offer to anyone willing to explore them.
In an era of digital and AI-driven imagery, what do you think makes a photograph truly timeless?
Beauty and fashion by nature are intrinsically timeless. AI is merely the newest the latest tool for artists to express themselves with.
Can you share a particularly challenging photoshoot experience and how you overcame it?
I was shooting images for the collection I eventually won North American Hairstylist Of The Year with for the first time on 9/11 in New York City. We kept working for as long as we could thinking it was safest to stay put inside a studio rather than being out on the streets. Obviously once the enormity of the day became clear we had to stop and send the models home. We were stranded there for a few days so we finished the shoot using hairdressers from our salon as models who were all in the city for New York Fashion Week. Mainly we desperately needed the distraction and to have something to do with the massively stressful downtime. Being there during that catastrophic event with my entire staff was what I call “The Mother Of All Personality Tests” and the ultimate test of my leadership skills.
Fashion photography is constantly evolving—how do you stay inspired and ahead of trends in the industry?
I am always inspired by films, high fashion runway shows music and pop culture. However I continue to be most inspired by underground fashion beauty music and art scenes from around the world.
Which photographers, artists, or cultural influences have had the biggest impact on your work?
I am forever inspired by Steven Meisel and Steven Klein and I also love the work of masters such as Richard Avedon Irving Penn Sheila Metzner.
How do you balance the technical aspects of photography with the creative and emotional side?
I shoot all my images on my iPhone and edit on my iPad. I am always comparing my images to photos I see in the world for technical considerations. I am not comparing myself to any masters of the craft as an equal but I aspire to create work that is in their traditions as much as possible.
If you could collaborate with any designer, model, or artist—past or present—who would it be and why?
I would love to do hair or work on a shoot in any capacity with Steven Meisel or Steven Klein.
Wardrobe Stylist/Creative Director/Hair Stylist/Retoucher/Photographer: Charlie Price
IG: charliepricehair
Wardrobe Stylist/Creative Director/Hair Stylist: Katie Renshaw Nielsen
IG: knielsenhair
Makeup Artist: Michelle Martinez
Model: Jodean Amen @Wolves Management
IG: jodean_amen
To see more editorials featuring artists from around the world, visit our Framed Stories section.
