Toby Mitchell

Toby appears to have the portfolio of a photographer who’s been in the game a long time. But at 25 he’s only just begun. His eye for detail and clean, minimalist approach has seen him travel to all parts of the globe, shooting campaigns for Cereal Magazine, Facebook, Soho House, Moët Hennessy and Eurostar.

Recently signed to PearsonLyle agency, we’re keeping a close eye on where he’s heading next.

What really inspires me is taking note of the moments which are perhaps normally unnoticed

Why is ‘making’ important to you?

To make is to me, entirely expressive – it’s responding to my humanity; responding to the desire to bring something of myself to the table to share with others. It’s important to me because I believe seeing that little glimpse into peoples internal world via what they ‘export’ is something that makes life beautiful.

A bit more of a ground level, less farty answer would be that ‘making’ embodies a sense of meaning for me, it makes me happy and in my context, taking pictures is something I can do well. So perhaps my why is a little selfish, but I think all art is to an extent.

What or who inspires you?

In reference to people, gosh, so, so many have been wells of inspiration for me so far in my career. I won’t list them all here as there are simply so many, but some that come to mind in a photographic and art context would be: Justin Chung, Jonathan Gregson, Rich Stapleton, Art Streiber, Finn Beales, Carig Ward, Anders Schonnemann… the list could literally go on and on and on. But I feel these names have been references of particular shaping to my eye and how I approach my photography – I’m full of thanks to these folks! All immeasurably exceptional artists in their own lane.

What really inspires me outside of observation and enjoyment of others work would have to be taking note of the moments which are perhaps normally unnoticed; how the light in my house catches the stairs at around 5.30pm in the Autumn season, how nature responds differently at different times of year, noticing how light is behaving across a subject. All of these things, which let’s call nature for simplicity, evoke emotion from me, which has always been the fuel of passion which in turn leads to creating. I’ve also been privileged to travel extensively over the past few years, both for work and for fun – I find massive inspiration in discovering somewhere for the first time. Often I feel my photography is at its best when I’m sent somewhere I’ve never been before and photograph what I’m seeing or finding interesting without any exterior deterrence. I love that.

I also find music stirs something in my soul which has always been massively directional and inspiring. Who doesn’t love music?! Tony Anderson is one of my favourites to enjoy with a cup of coffee in the morning.

When it comes to a maker hero, it would have to be one of my best friends, Joshua Luke Smith. Josh is a spoken word hip-hop artist, but behind that is a man who for me, embodies what it means to live well. He has incredible self-discipline (exercise, spirituality, sticking to his ‘yes’s’ etc.) but also is just a well of creativity that always has an idea of value and worth to bring to the table, even when it’s within mediums that are outside of what you would perhaps call his ‘profession’; There’s been countless times Josh’s ideas have added so much additional weight to a project or really refined an idea or simply said that something wasn’t very good. He’s the best, I regularly take note of how thankful I am for his friendship but also his creative input and leadership.

How do you come up with your best ideas?

To be honest, often entirely by accident. I work very well to brief, so when I bring myself to a conceived idea or direction, my ideas and input is often fairly spontaneous. But I think my minds eye is fully alive when I’m properly rested and I’ve taken good care of myself. I regularly have to resist the relentless desire to be busy all the time; I adore the rush of it. But ultimately it’s not sustainable or healthy. So these days I’m trying to be mindful of what I say yes to and do being steady rather than busy. Which will in turn lead to more meaningful contributions and ideas in my work and my personal life!

In regards to where I feel some good ideas have come from… generally a notebook (or sometimes just people watching, in the least creepiest way!), flat white, massive coffee shop window (Society Cafe in Bath is my go to) and an empty schedule for the rest of the day usually do the trick if I’m trying to intentionally generate some creative direction or ideas. These days those moments are far and few between, but so precious when I get to enjoy them. 

What are you most proud of?

My progress of being more at peace with myself, more secure and happy in knowing that I am not what I do and my fundamental success as a human has nothing to do with a camera. In context to my career, I think I’m super proud of what the past six years has been. I’m proud of myself for the hours I’ve put in since leaving sixth form college, for persevering – it’s really paid off and I absolutely love what I get to do every single day. I think a sustained creative career never happens over night, it takes years to build, but that really is the fun of it. My ego would like to reel off some achievements, but let’s be honest, no one needs that in 2020!

How important is risk taking and failure? 

If you want to live the life you’ve always dreamt of, you’ll always have to take risk and become friends with failure. You’ll never know what true success tastes like until you’ve experienced failure. I would argue failure is important but not something you need to fear or focus on happening as it will just happen; sometimes tiny, sometimes a little more embarrassing, but all failures when viewed correctly, have huge value.

I have to be careful with failure though, that it doesn’t slip into shame, which can happen so easily. Keeping my professional glasses on failure, knowing that it is all helpful despite perhaps embarrassing or bad keeps things level for me.

As for risk, no one ever got anywhere without any of the stuff. To risk is to live fully alive – that is of course in the healthy respect to the word, sometimes risk can simply be very stupid. I do think if you surround yourself with the right people and people you want to become like, you can invite others to speak into the risks you’re thinking of taking to make good decisions.

For me the leading risk in context to my work has been never having a guaranteed income. The benefit now of taking that risk 6 years ago is that I now have a wonderful income, which yes, does fluctuate but on the whole is steady.

I don’t feel like I’ve worked a single day since 2014, but in reality I’ve never grafted and worked so hard in my life

What do you enjoy most about making?

The internal buzz when I’ve taken a photo I know I really love and I’m about to begin retouching it. I love that feeling. I also love the feeling on set where everyone is in the zone and we’re creating great imagery which everyone is happy with – it’s an incredible rush.

More generally though, just the sense of fulfilment and happiness it brings me; I feel lucky that my actual job pivots around me creating – I don’t feel like I’ve worked a single day since 2014, but in reality I’ve never grafted and worked so hard in my life.

Best piece of advice you’ve received?
I don’t have to perform to be loved and accepted. Enjoy the journey. 

What themes do you see emerging in the making world?
Another on my best friends, Dominic Doring is a DOP and Director and is increasingly using super 8 to film some of his music videos. You see it everywhere now with IG filters, getting that sort of video effect but it’s been so cool seeing him and other folks enjoying that medium professionally.

I’m also seeing a lot of switching to mirrorless cameras (bit of a boring answer) which i’m really curious to see how that unfolds over the next year or so. 

How do you keep it fresh?
I talk with a lot of other photographers. The more you realise everyones just winging it the easier you are on yourself to experiment and have fun. I like to observe the ‘trends’ of colour grading that artists who are leading the way are using. Always interesting to see what direction they are taking and who copies it.

Practically I always take at least one day off a week, no questions asked. Helps avoid burnout, which isn’t the goal at all.

Advice to your younger self?
I’m 25 so Im still very young, ha! But I guess to my 18 year old self I would tell him not to be so anxious and that the journey is where all the fun is. Don’t let life be the waiting room in between the ‘big moments’ or ‘big shoots’.

tobymitchellcreative.com