Street Style Blogger Vanessa Jackman's Top 10 Looks

By Chris Frey
May 20, 2011

For fashion photographer and street style blogger Vanessa Jackman, taking pictures is what she calls “a great big love affair”—but one that she came to devoid of a background in neither fashion nor photography. Before relocating to London in 2007, Vanessa Jackman spent five years as a lawyer in Australia. She claims—as hard as it is for us to believe based on her gorgeous images—that she was “essentially useless” with a camera and had no interest in using one until she picked up her husband’s Fuji point-and-shoot and starting playing around with it sometime after their move.

Vanessa Jackman

Street style fashion photography from Vanessa Jackman's blog

In March 2009 she began shooting street style fashion, and in the two years since, has managed to distinguish herself and her eponymous blog within the continually growing and fiercely competitive world of street style photography. Both fellow fashion bloggers and magazines utilize her images, noting her incredible sense of light and talent for portraying emotion in a fleeting moment. She's also done freelance work, including a regular column in the soon-to-be relaunched Grazia.it magazine.

We talked to street style blogger Vanessa Jackman about the “aha!” moment that changed her life and requested that from her thousands of photographs she give us her current personal Top 10.

The Inside Source: Tell us about how playing with your husband's point-and-shoot camera led to a full-time street style photography and fashion blog career?

Vanessa Jackman Vanessa Jackman: In December of 2007 I joined the photo-sharing website Flickr and became part of a project called "100 Strangers.” It was the first time I had ever photographed people other than snapshots of my friends at parties back home in Sydney. In the beginning I was completely and utterly terrified: the thought of approaching a random stranger on the street and asking if I could take their photo went way beyond my comfort zone. However, I persevered and the project built up my confidence in terms of approaching strangers of all ages and backgrounds. Gradually I started to learn more about light, composition, my DSLR camera settings (I upgraded from the Fuji camera) and editing techniques. I have always loved fashion and style, however, and moved into shooting street style images in March 2009. (left: Vanessa Jackman)

The Inside Source: You describe what you do as a love affair. Do you photograph fashion every day?

Vanessa Jackman: Yes, almost every day I take photographs. Even if I don't physically pick up my cameras or my iPhone camera, I am constantly thinking about making images. I absolutely can't switch my brain off from thinking about ideas for shoots—the people and places that I would love to photograph. And I really believe that practice, practice and even more practice is the only way to become better at taking photographs.

Vanessa Jackman

The Inside Source: You live in London. What defines London street style?

Vanessa Jackman: I think the girls in London have certain edginess and cool that is completely unique to them. I love it, but the light can be difficult for my style of photography. I think I would be better suited to living in California!

The Inside Source: Do you have a favorite place to photograph street style fashions?

Vanessa Jackman: Absolutely anywhere with good light! I am obsessed with light. I love the vibrancy and energy of New York—there is nowhere else like it in the world. Plus, I adore Paris. It is such a beautiful place any time of the year.

Vanessa Jackman

The Inside Source: Having been shooting for several years now do you have certain people you’re always on the lookout for?

Vanessa Jackman: There are a number of girls I have met since I started shooting during Fashion Weeks that I could take portraits of over and over again and never become bored. It is a combination of unique beauty, style, energy and, most importantly, personality. I love happy people—or at least people who are happy to have me photograph them!—people who are willing to trust me and who understand my vision.

The Inside Source: What’s the most difficult part of being a fashion photographer?

Vanessa Jackman: The weather, for sure! So many days I have to shoot something in London and it is rainy, grey and dark. I religiously check three weather forecast websites in the days leading up to a shoot.

Vanessa Jackman

The Inside Source: Your images often have a very candid, personal feel. How do you get comfortable so quickly with your subjects?

Vanessa Jackman: I just start chatting to people! I know some photographers prefer not to say very much to their subjects, but I like to give the person I am photographing lots of encouragement, even if they are a stranger. Hopefully it makes people more relaxed and confident in front of the camera.

The Inside Source: Would you like to transition away from the streets and into editorial?

Vanessa Jackman: I didn't know anyone in the fashion industry when I began shooting street style, so it was my way of meeting and photographing stylish girls. However, street style was never the end goal. While I love the opportunity to meet new people and to photograph in a "documentary style,” it can sometimes be incredibly frustrating. There are so many people I meet that I spend only 30 seconds photographing that I would love to spend more time with, to make portraits. Even from the beginning when I started photographing street style, I immediately craved a more intimate, longer interaction. And yes, editorial and advertising are the dream. That is slowly happening.

Vanessa Jackman

The Inside Source: Who are your favorite fashion designers?

Vanessa Jackman: If I had an unlimited budget I would wear Celine, Aussie label Scanlan&Theodore, Chloe, and Lanvin flats and sneakers. Unfortunately I do not have an unlimited budget!

The Inside Source: Do you ever shop on eBay online auctions?

Vanessa Jackman: eBay is my absolute go-to place for film cameras. I am in love with the look and feel of film images and eBay is excellent for sourcing older cameras.

From Vanessa Jackman's 10 Favorite Looks from her blog, we chose the six most seasonally relevant fashion trends to snag on eBay now.