WELLNESS WEDNESDAY WITH PHOTOGRAPHER BARRY MCCALL
Welcome back to #WellnessWednesday and this week we are talking to one of my favourite photographers Barry McCall.
Barry is one of Ireland’s most influential photographers and I have shot some of my favourite covers and editorial shoots with him down through the years including this Social and Personal cover from 1997. He always brings out the best in you and captures the true personality of the person he is shooting.
For ‘Be Complete’ I wanted to know a little bit more about Barry, his interests outside work and how he juggles everything. As you’re about to see he’s really inspirational and manages to find a really nice balance between family, work, exercise and fun.
Barry specialises in fashion, advertising, beauty and portraiture and his distinctive style brings a classic and timeless touch to contemporary photography. His book PHO20GRAPHY is a 20 year retrospective which showcases his work with some of the world’s top supermodels, including Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christensen, Yasmin Le Bon, Sophie Dahl and Erin O’Connor. He has also worked with everyone from Michael Fassbender and Richard Branson to Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, U2 and Gabriel Byrne. This book is in aid of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
He has been commissioned by leading creative agencies such as Ogilvy, McCann Blue and DDFH&B, while his clients range from Coca Cola, Bulova and Sony to Adidas, Universal Music, L’Oreal and Chanel. His work has appeared internationally in magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone and Tatler and continues to be inspired by his first loves: classic art, old movies and the ever changing fashion of our times.
How would you describe your lifestyle?
Busy and active!
What’s your favorite food? Naughty or nice.
For nice it would have to be a lovely grilled hake with steamed veg. Coppinger Row also do a great hake and chorizo. Naughty would be minimal really but I do love pecorino cheese and also dark chocolate.
Do you exercise and if so what do you do to keep fit?
I go to the gym twice a week and also try to cycle twice a week, usually anywhere from 100 – 150km, taking me anywhere from North County Dublin right down to Wicklow.
How do you find balance in your day-to-day life?
My schedule can be completely different from week to week but no matter how busy work is I but I try to keep my gym sessions regular two mornings a week and then try to get out with the pooch over lunch or in the evenings.
How do you manage stress in your life? Do you meditate? Have you ever tried it?
I’ve never tried meditation in the sense that we’d associate with classes but I would be prone to taking a time out in a quiet room, especially on hectic days. Taking ten minutes in the quiet can be great for keeping the heart rate down and quieting the mind.
People often set goals or intentions as they go through life. Is this something you do?
Absolutely, it’s always good to have goals to work towards to keep you motivated and moving, in work and in your personal life. I will be doing an international charity cycle later this year for a second year running, and building up your training in the run up to this kind of an event is a great way to keep motivated and to prioritise your health and fitness levels.
How do you unwind after a busy day?
I go for a stroll with my dog Boo or chat with my wife Kari.
It’s the weekend, what do you do for fun?
Go for a big cycle or have a nice, long relaxed Sunday brunch with Kari and our friends.
What’s your top health tip for our readers?
Exercise and have fun doing it so that it’s something that makes you feel good, rather than a chore. Keep a balance in your life, (almost) everything in moderation!
Finish the sentence – Being complete for me means…
Being on top of all work, having a good level of fitness and generally feeling well, having a happy home life… and a well fed pooch!
Check out Barry’s Website and follow him on: