Rankin has shot thousands of celebrities’ photographs throughout his career (Picture: Getty)
Rankin certainly isn’t short of contacts – one look at his Wikipedia page confirms that. However, there’s one celebrity he’s dying to work with.
The renowned photographer has shot some of the biggest names in entertainment, from Madonna to David Bowie and from Ricky Gervais to Robert Downey Jr.
He’s also had the privilege of photographing the Royal Family, having been one of 10 photographers invited to record the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2001 for her Golden Jubilee, before photographing her successor King Charles III for his 75th birthday this year.
When it comes to his ‘bucket list’, if you will, it might surprise you to learn that Rankin has never snapped Ed Sheeran.
He’s keen to do so, though, because, despite the countless photographs Ed’s had taken of him, he’s ‘never had a good one’.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, the photographer extraordinaire – real name John Rankin Waddell – reflects on his glittering career behind the camera and what it’s really like working with actors, models, and comedians galore.
The photographer has worked with everyone from Madonna to David Bowie (Picture: Dave J Hogan/Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
‘There are lots of people on my list, but it changes every day,’ says the 57-year-old when asked who he wants to photograph next.
‘I’d love to photograph Sean Penn because I think he’s just got such an amazing face. Angela Merkel, I’d have loved to have photographed because I think she’s fascinating.
‘I’m quite interested in photographing Ed Sheeran because I think he hasn’t really had a good photo taken of him.’
‘I love a challenge,’ Rankin adds. ‘I love the idea of people who haven’t had great photos taken of them. I’d be the first in the queue going, “I’ll do it!”‘
As far as photographing royalty is concerned, Rankin admits there are only two times in his career he’s been nervous – one was photographing Madonna and the other was Her Majesty.
‘Those were the only shoots where I freaked out a bit,’ he confesses, adding that his portrait of the Queen is his ‘favourite’ photo he’s taken.
When he photographed King Charles in 2023, Rankin was actually more confident, given that it had been over 20 years since he worked with the monarch’s mother.
Rankin doesn’t reckon Ed Sheeran has ever been photographed properly (Picture: Timothy Norris/Getty Images)
Rankin believes Angela Merkel would be interesting to photograph (Picture: Getty/AFP)
Rankin is a big Sean Penn fan (Picture: EPA)
Offering an insight into what the process was like, Rankin is full of praise for the King’s team for how they ‘were very keen’ to make sure he took in his moment.
‘Whether you are a lover of the monarchy or not, you’re a part of history when you photograph a King. Whether the photo is good or not. It’s a lot of pressure when you have to take a good picture but, at the same time, that’s my job, my job is to take pictures that hopefully last the test of time.
‘I really enjoyed meeting him. He was so charming, and a very resilient human being, I had a lot of time for him.’
Because you’re bound to be wondering what King Charles is like in front of a professional camera, well, Rankin reckons he actually prefers the outdoors, adding that people would be surprised to learn how ‘human’ the royals are.
‘My upbringing is to treat everybody like a human and not the position. But everybody’s got their insecurities. Especially with King Charles, I could tell that he really wanted the process to be enjoyable not just for him, but the people there.
King Charles was more ‘comfortable’ outside than in a studio, says Rankin after shooting him for his 75th birthday (Picture: Rankin/PA)
‘Everybody’s got their insecurities’ (Picture: Rankin)
Robert Downey Jr lived up to all his expectations (Picture: Rankin)
‘If anything, I would say that he probably is less interested in being photographed in a studio. When we got outside he was much more comfortable there.’
While Rankin’s CV is glowing, to say the least, he’s always keen to turn his camera on members of the public, which is what he’s now doing with Rankin Live.
Initially set up in 2009, Rankin Live offers a unique opportunity for members of the public to have their photograph taken by one of Britain’s most successful photographers, with Rankin having photographed tens of thousands of people over the years.
For 2023, he can be found at his pop-up store at 47 Carnaby Street, London until January 7, 2024, with tickets offering time in front of the lens – either solo or with a loved one – as well as a digital version of your final portrait, and your very own A4 authenticated print.
Speaking about what he enjoys about shooting the public as well as A-listers, Rankin shares that he loves making a ‘performance’ out of shoots and letting the public see ‘behind the curtain’.
‘I think it’s probably made me a better photographer because they (the public) give me immediate feedback on their pictures.
‘In a time when everybody’s taking pictures of themselves, it’s still this very unique and quite original thing to have your photo taken in that way.’
Rankin has photographed some of the biggest names in entertainment and fashion (Picture: Rankin)
His fashion and portrait photography style has been described as ‘high-gloss, highly sexed and hyper-perfect’ (Picture: Rankin)
Rankin enjoys the ‘performance’ element of photography (Picture: Rankin)
‘I don’t think people realise how hard I work’ (Picture: Rankin)
Rankin also promises that celebrity guests will be showing up at his store, but the question remains: who is his favourite person to work with?
For Rankin, it’s a no-brainer: ‘I have to say Heidi Klum. She’s just such a laugh and we’ve got a very similar sense of humour. She’s probably going to go on forever, she just enjoys what she does. It’s such a privilege to be able to experience that with her.’
He adds that the likes of Idris Elba, Bono, and Anthony Joshua are ‘amazing people’, as are Cate Blanchett and Shirley Manson… well, once he persuaded the latter’s team to let him shoot her again after a nightmare first meeting!
‘That’s probably the only time I’ve thought I did a bad job. Luckily, the editor of Q at the time persuaded her to let me shoot her again because I was on her s**t list. Like, “Don’t work with this dude.” But I shot her a couple more times.’
While Rankin’s job is, undeniably, extremely exciting and makes him the name-drop king, he wants people to be aware that there are misconceptions – it isn’t all glamour.
‘I don’t think people realise how hard I work. They just think I press a button. Even now, people who work in the business sometimes go, “Oh, just bring your camera.” I’m not just bringing my camera, that’s not what I do!’
‘I’m not just “bringing my camera”, that’s not what I do’ (Picture: Rankin)
Rankin says his favourite star to work with is Heidi Klum (Picture: Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for MRC)
And while his client list is pretty spectacular, sorry to burst the bubble but he isn’t besties with any big stars.
‘I don’t actually think I’m interesting enough to be friends with celebrities. I’m quite obsessive about having a working relationship. I get genuinely uncomfortable with the idea of being their friend.’
Book tickets for Rankin Live in Carnaby Street now, open until January 2024.
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