Ben Cook uses his camera as a passport to unfamiliar territory. He is drawn to renegades & rejects, and his subject matter ranges from portraits of the beautiful, through to society’s underbelly.
Ben started his career in South East London as Fashion Editor at Ministry of Sound Magazine ‘Ministry’. He discovered his passion for photography and remained for 6 years. During this time, he was also contributing fashion editor of Hip Hop Connection and Touch Magazines, shooting and producing various artists and editorials for them.
He then moved to Paris for 2 years, where he assisted photographer Hanspeter Schneider and learned to retouch at a 3D/post production house Foret Bleue.
In 2003 Ben was hired by Anthony Mascolo to work at his studio in London, Bedhead Studio. He worked for TIGI/UNILEVER for 10 years where he learned to sculpt light, shoot hair and work as an artist in the corporate setting. Ben shot and retouched campaigns for TIGI and helped create many exciting projects for the brand. He was also concurrently contracted to be the photographer/retoucher for BH Salon Brand in Italy.
This experience gave him access to some greats in music and fashion, including Miles Kane, Ronnie Wood, Soul II Soul, Jazzie B, Tinie Tempah, Eminem, Billy Idol, Ian Brown, James Lavelle, Pras Michaels, Wild Beasts and Vivien Westwood.
In 2013 Ben decided to go back in his hometown of Sydney to be closer to his family. He worked as Creative Director for the magazine ‘Culture’ and picked up freelance work including directing TVC’s and music videos and documenting for Nike Asia. In 2016 he was the Creative Artist in Residence for BBH advertising Agency in Singapore where he worked closely with Nike Asia. Ben has agents in Sydney, New Zealand, Singapore and the UAE.
Gonzo journalism & urban reportage are his influences. He’s inspired by human nature, subversive 20th century London, and the aesthetic of Jurgen Teller & Hedi Slimane. He’s equally at home shooting in the studio or trawling the Favelas of Brazil.
CLIENTS
EDITORIAL: Clash, Culture, Dazed and Confused, Disorder, I-D, Intercepted, Hunger, Oyster, Teenage Cancer Trust, UK FHM, UK Arena, WIG, Another, UK Esquire, W, Vice, Turkish Vogue, Untitled, Hairdressers Journal
PERSONALITIES: Lebron James, Pras Michaels, Miles Kane, Ronnie Wood, Jazzie B, Soul II Soul, Tinie Tempah, Billy Idol, Bring Me The Horizon, Good Charlotte, We Are Scientists, Chew Lips, The Golden Silvers, Hockey, Bombay Bicycle Club, Herve, Jagga, The Holloways, UNKLE, Ian Brown, Richard File, Jodie Harsh, Kano, Frankmusik, Loick Essien, The Fangs, We Are Scientists, Wild Beasts, Hockey, Choong family, OFX, MC Lionhart, Kid British, Glen Hughes (Deep Purple), Vivien Westwood
COMMERCIAL: Sony, EMI, Warner, Puma, Adidas, Nike Asia, Maurice Malone, Toni & Guy USA, TIGI / UNILEVER, appearing in Dazed & Confused, i-D, Clash, Vogue, Harpers UAE, Another, Another Men, Hunger, Clash and W magazines. B4men, Nomination Jewellery Italy, BH Salon Italy, Zalora Singapore, TIGI Colour, Rockaholic, Hightitude, Leust Paris, Aganovich
MUSIC VIDEOS & TVC’S: Fox Sports 1, Mischa B & Jagga for Sony records, Zalora
HAIR COLLECTION BOOKS: TIGI: Unity, Anthems, Masterbrand, DIY, B4Men : BH Salon Italy : MashUp, Generation Now, Noblesse Oblige
LOOKBOOKS: PUMA, Chocolatte [AUS], Vivien Westwood, Elite models Brazil, Chiara Cola, Nike
PROJECTS: Gang members in Compton, LA, Woking Boys’ Boxing Club UK, bare knuckle boxing, blue collar boxing, Celebrity Gangsters [Mitch Pyle, Joey Pyle, Dave Courtney and Mickey Goldtooth], New Zealand Hell’s Angels, UK punks and skins Camden, UK riots, Brixton's Jamaica, Festival portraits, streetball in Manila
MISCELLANEOUS: Backstage and front of house for several European fashion houses, Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader bikini calendars, Nike RISE basketball