FP X Russh Magazine & an Interview with Photographer Pierre Toussaint

Free People and Russh magazine pair up for an exclusive fashion spread shot by Pierre Toussaint. 

If there is one fashion magazine I continually draw inspiration from, it’s Russh Magazine. The bi-monthly, Australian fashion and beauty magazine delivers some of the most groundbreaking persons, places, and goods in art, photography, fashion, music, travel, beauty and film. Always intelligent and cleverly written, Russh has been serving up original editorial and photography since 2004. Their features on brilliant pioneers like Cass Bird and Devendra Banhart, and articles covering all things innovative beauty and fashion, make Russh a one-stop shop for today’s cool girl.

Just last month, Free People and Russh coupled up to shoot Never Not Going, an editorial piece showcasing Free People raw denims, soft suedes and 70s silhouettes. Shot by the talented Pierre Toussaint in a Los Angeles hotel, Never Not Going whisks you away to the long golden days on Sunset Blvd. Pierre is an Australian-based photographer/director and has worked with many prestigious fashion publications such as Vogue, Harpers BAZAAR and GQ. Lorde, Miranda Kerr, Rachel Bilson, and Free People alums Erin Wasson, Daisy Lowe and Jessica Hart are among some of the beauties he’s so brilliantly captured. To watch him on set is extremely captivating — he’s calm, directive and complementary. Soft-spoken and detailed, every shot is intentional, focused. Keep scrolling for an exclusive interview with the photographer himself.

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Fitted Denim Jacket, Lightweight Stretch Skinnies

Where did you grow up? 

I was born in England and started school there but mostly grew up in Perth, Western Australia.

When did you first realize you were interested in photography?

I always liked our family photo albums as a kid and started taking photos as soon as I could. I never thought to become a photographer until after I finished studying Fine Art at university.

Who are some of your favorite photographers?

Wolfgang Tillmanns, Juergen Teller, Viviane Sassen, Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Max Farago.

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If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, whom would it be? What’s for dinner?

I’ve been away for work all week so would probably say my wife Charlotte and our 3 kids :) We’d probably go out for Japanese.

Do you remember your first paid photography gig? How did it go?!

I think it was for a street press magazine. It was a menswear story.

What was your first camera?

A compact 110 fixed lens/focus/exposure camera. I still have it.

What do you love shooting?

I love shooting portraits. Obviously I do a lot of fashion and, these days, more celebrity which I think is actually a great middle ground between fashion and portraiture. But I shoot a lot of personal projects as well.

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What does a typical day off look like for you?

I have 3 young children and live by the beach so usually my wife and I end up taking them all down for a swim/surf.

…And an ideal evening?

Watching a movie.

Where do you find inspiration?

Locations. Anything in front of me. I take pictures constantly.

If you could shoot anyone, dead or alive, whom would it be?

Not sure…but I always like the idea of shooting celebrities in their everyday life…the more famous the person and the more normal the activities — that’s my dream shoot day.

Where in Australia do you and your family live?

We live in Bondi on Sydney.

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Some Like It Hot Jumper

What do you guys love doing in your spare time?

Beach. Little weekends away.

Any cool neighborhood spots that you don’t mind sharing with us?

In Bondi – The Shop on Curlewis St, Lox Stock & Barrel.

Do you have a favorite shoot thus far?

I have a few…mostly involving travel to amazing locations and/or shooting amazing talent/personalities.

Any cool projects that you’re working on or have coming up that you don’t mind sharing with us?

Trying to finish a book and exhibition in 2016. Also working on a script for a film I’ve been thinking about for years…standard photographer stuff…

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All photographs by Pierre Toussaint. Modeled by Sophia Holzmeister. Styled by Billie Iveson.
Hair by Anna Lyles. Makeup by Sarah Uslan.

+Check out more fashion stories on the blog!

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