Francis Hills picked up a camera for the first time five years ago. Now this rising star on the celebrity, beauty and fashion photography scene explains how his artistic style and trademark smile helped launch a new career.
Francis Hills has been called The Accidental Photographer. He earned this name from his friends because of his strikingly steep climb to the top levels of portrait and commercial photography in less time than most people spend in college. And this digital evangelist admits to having no intention of becoming a professional photographer. He had never taken a picture before his enlightened journey began five years ago. But there are hidden truths inside this tale of instant success.
It might have been an accident, for instance, that he was born in an era that put him in the middle of the Internet explosion, giving him business roots in a competitive and creative industry. Francis was running a web solutions agency when the dot-com bubble burst, leaving him without a job. It might have been an accident that he happened upon a point and shoot camera only after his wife kicked him off the couch. "Actually, she kicked me in the butt and told me to do something to keep my brain active," admits Francis. But once he started shooting, his practical ambition took hold and his new discovery became his life's calling.
As he set out to occupy himself in a season of his life that others would consider dismal, his whimsical brilliance opened new doors of opportunity. A fan of Alan Cumming, Francis did the unthinkable. He wrote the English star of television and theater a personal letter. Not an email, but a letter. Francis wrote that he was a fan, a fellow Brit living in America, and would Mr. Cumming possibly allow him to take his picture. "Lo and behold, about two days later he called," Francis says with a still-fresh amazement.
Alan Cumming invited Francis to take the production photos of an Off-Broadway show he was working on in New York. He admits freely that he was literally faking his way through the job. "I really didn't know quite what to do half the time and I just kept smiling through it." The photos he took, and subsequent portrait shoot images ended up in a couple of magazines. Then Mr. Cumming's publicist asked if Francis wanted to shoot some of his other clients. And thus, the celebrity connection was born, in less than a year and a half.
His meteoric rise as a shooting star led to high-profile exposure in publications like Elle, Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, Ocean Drive, Oprah, Parade, Time and Zink. He has become a regular guest photographer on TV shows, including Scandinavia's Next Top Model and TLC's Covershot. He has developed corporate relationships with Time Warner, Eastsport, Hasselblad and HP. For the last three years, Francis has traveled the world giving talks on high-end digital capture for Hasselblad and HP. And he has passionately pursued something closest to his heart: a philanthropic endeavor to benefit breast cancer research.
What began as a project to get his work noticed, Clothing Immaterial morphed into an upcoming book and exhibit of black and white nude portraits to support breast cancer awareness. "I wanted to present a strong statement through my photography to raise simple awareness," says Hills. "But I also wanted to send a message to those women with breast cancer that you're beautiful, no matter what." Francis is dedicating the book and exhibit to his mother, a two-time breast cancer survivor.
Whether his day involves shooting celebrities, fashion models, French Foreign Legionnaires in Africa or portraits for a large shopping mall conglomerate, Francis Hills brings out the emotion of his subjects because he connects with them in a genuine way. "I'm a people person. I like people, and making them comfortable is key," says Hills, flashing his mischievous smile. "Laughter is my favorite thing. I often do my Austin Powers impression. It's corny as hell, but it always gets a smile."
And that's no accident, baby.
Editor's Note: "The Accidental Photographer," an exhibition by Francis Hills, will be featured at the Calumet Photographic flagship store and art gallery in New York during June through July. The store is located at 22 W. 22nd St. All images appearing in the gallery will be printed on HP's new Designjet Z3100 and Photosmart B9180 Professional Photo Printers using HP professional photo papers. All the images will be signed personally by Hills and sold online in a charity auction to benefit breast cancer support organizations.
