The multi-hyphenate method: model, photographer and videographer Tom Goddard on sticking his fingers in all of the pies
This is A HOT MINUTE WITH, a quick-fire interview series championing all the rising talent catapulting into fashion, art and music’s fickle stratosphere. From pinch-me moments to bad dates and even worse chat-up lines, think of it as an overindulgent conversation – like the ones you have in sticky club toilets at 4.A.M. Except these guests don’t regret the overshare…
Courtesy of @mrtomgoddard
NAME TOM GODDARD
AGE 23
LOCATION Salisbury (locked down at home)
STAR SIGN Cancer
BIGGEST PET PEEVE Mess
Never has the good old buzzword of Gen Z hailed so true for Tom Goddard: the multi-hyphenate. What some like to call the slashies, the fingers in many pies kind, the Salisbury-based 23-year-old can pen photographer, videographer and model into his email signature that we all spend far too long making look ‘pretty.’ Describing his style as “stylised, slightly comical, full of imperfections and quirks,” Goddard’s dexterous portfolio boasts Video Editor at LOVE Magazine, Freelance Photographer for The Face and CHARLES JEFFREY LOVERBOY as well as model for unisex London-based label ART SCHOOL.
As Goddard joins the freelance grind - the ripe old debate between good at multitasking or bad at concentrating - her continues to pursue his self-confessed “slap-dash” approach shooting on analogue, film and VHS “with light sprinkling of digital,” for a balanced diet. “I try not to put too much pressure on sticking to a set creative style,” he shares. “I’d say my work is quite polished, rough around the edges with a sharpness to it.” When he’s not spinning plates, he’s usually the last one standing at a strangers house party, so if you ever had a blonde-haired stranger in your kitchen at 5am that you knew not, it was probably Tom.
Scarlett Baker: How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
Tom Goddard: Amibitious, passionate and outgoing.
SB: How did you get your creative footing?
TG: Uni for me was a big creative eye opener. I went to Falmouth - Cornwall, which at first glance does sound like it could be quite mundane and overly tranquil, which at times it definitely was, but I think I learnt a huge amount there. Not only from my lecturers but more so from the people and the creative energy around me. Uni definitely isn’t fully necessary for young creatives, and if I’m honest I wasn’t actually amazing within the course itself, but overall I learnt a lot from the variety of creative people around me.
SB: Was a creative pathway something you always saw yourself following?
TG: I think I’ve always known that in some aspect I would be working within Fashion. I did want to be a stylist for a hot second, but for me, creating a physical image has always been super fun and freeing, I also don’t think I could deal with pickups and returns all across London frequently. Studying Photography from School to then uni in Falmouth, creative imagery and the process has always been very much on the brain. From having monthly subscriptions to traditional (slightly bland looking back at them now) fashion magazines from a young age, to doing hundreds of shoots with my sister and friends at home, it’s always been an industry and a world I wanted to be part of, and make my mark upon - still chipping away at that part!
SB: What’s been one of your favourite shoots to work on and why?
TG: I shot the lookbook for a fellow young creative designer Vanessa Bon - VANEBON in collaboration with Hunger Magazine late last year, which was super fun. Vanessa really gave me creative freedom in terms of casting, style of shooting and post production choices, which tends to work best for me. Within my shoots I love to have a say and voice an opinion on things like casting, styling and hair and makeup, although photography is my overall craft, the whole process to me is still super exciting and if something like the styling is of, the enthusiasm and energy kind of slips. A creative team that all understands each other's style of work is the best.
SB: How does your creative process take place?
CC: My creative process is pretty chill and easy. If I come up with a concept for an editorial or someone approaches me to shoot something for them, if the right energy and excitement is there in terms of concept and details, I like to work quickly and genuinely enjoy the planning process, booking models and deciding on a team etc. Also, I think as I don’t really focus on things being super perfect, like clean lighting or technicalities to a certain degree, it normally consists of chucking a few cameras, wires and rolls of film in my bag and BAM. I bought the basics like a decent soft box, strobe light, light meter etc when I was like 17 and I’m still dragging them around to shoot. Although when a client does book a super fancy studio with kit etc, I do love that.
SB: What’s in the pipeline for 2021? Any exciting projects?
TG: I have something super exciting coming up in March in Paris, if all goes to plan with Covid etc, and a few things coming out in Feb / March, mainly modelling jobs. As of now I don’t have a huge amount planned out in terms of shoots and jobs, although I’m trying not to put too much pressure on myself to create, which I have done previously. Realistically I feel like the world as of now, and the near future is super unknown and therefore restricted. I’m craving a busy creative schedule, so hoping things will pick up soon! Something I would love to do this year if possible, is to put on a mini exhibition, more of a creative evening event/party, but again 2021 is unknown so we shall see and hope. Also, I need to move out of my parents house and back to London, being in a small village is a creative killa.
SB: Lockdown 3.0 is….
TG: Mentally straining. A glacial pace.
SB: Dinner party dates - you’re allowed 4 people dead or alive. Who would you pick?
TG: Demna Gvasalia, Katie Price, Lee McQueen, Barbara Windsor.
SB: What’s the weirdest compliment you’ve ever been given?
TG: You have a lovely Adam’s apple.
SB: Worst fashion trend you’ve participated in?
TG: Spray on skinny jeans, not a cute look for me.
SB: My top three songs are...
TG: The Night - Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, I Feel Love - Donna Summers, Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush.
SB: Most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?
TG: Fractured my leg whilst shooting BTS at Fashion Week, resulting in an ambulance ride from Brick Lane. Glam.
SB: Biggest pinch me moment and why?
TG: Probably being shot by Tim Walker for Charles Jeffrey’s ‘The Healing’ last year. I was actually there to do the BTS video for Charles and Raven, when Charles suggested I be shot also. I mean, from a Photographer’s point of view more than a model’s, Tim Walker is someone who throughout uni and studies etc, I constantly referenced and researched. Someone who’s work I truly truly admire, I was in complete awe.
SB: What’s something that people don’t know about you?
TG: I have a metal pole in my thigh and screws in my knees. Metallic.
SB: What’s your party trick?
TG: Not really a party trick, but I’m the last one standing in a randoms kitchen
SB: What’s your order in the pub?
TG: Honestly anything, it used to be a Vodka Soda Lime - ‘A Skinny Bitch’ just so I could say that at the bar, but any white wine or cider, cheap and cheerful.
SB: Favourite Instagram account and why?
TG: Kind of cliche but NADIA LEE COHEN. I think every creative adores and references her work at some point, but everything she does is so so fab and never gets old in my eyes.
SB: Today I’m going to...
TG: Job search, send some emails and pluck my eyebrows.
