FOR OUR EARLY fall catalog we asked Valerie Phillips to take the photos. This was a no brainer as she has shot kick-ass work for magazines we love like Nylon and British Elle (and even did the cover of our favorite Manic Street Preachers record). Working with her we got see first hand how her unique point of view and individuality permeates her work. After the the shoot she took some time to talk to us about her take on photography, creativity, and how her personal vision unites the (many) diverse projects she works on.

"I just try to keep everything I do, whether it's client work or personal stuff, as close to one another as possible. That way people or companies I work for know that it's Valerie Phillips' work." Erasing the boundary between commercial work and fine art photography is one of the reasons she is so prolific at both. She has self published four books to date (these images are from her book, Monika Monster, Future First Woman On Mars) and has another in the works that's slated for a Fall '07 release. She also runs an art project disguised as a skateboard company called Cherryvale Skateboard Company.

Part of what makes her work so appealing to fashion clients is that she's not overly concerned with fashion or the trappings of being an in demand photographer. "I'm only interested in the pictures. Lighting, stylists, hair, make up and all the rest are integral to a shoot but I try to let them do their thing so I can concentrate on capturing the image in front of me." This laser-sighting allows her to focus on seeing those authentic moments that define her surprising, supremely natural images.

Beyond photography, Valerie loves horses and the moon and outer space pursuits and making books. When she's shooting she's usually armed with a Leica Minilux point and click camera - though for our catalog shoot she sported a digital Hasselblad (not a bad toy, that). She makes her bed in New York and London but can't wait for any time she can spend in Hong Kong or Kansas. She's our type of strong woman... inspiring us with the passion she brings to her work, her sharp eye, and her determination to do it her way.