BEHIND THE CROWN

Chris Jackson talks about what it takes to be the photographic companion of the British Royal Family

- Kim Bunermann

The title of this interview was borrowed from Chris Jackson's talk at The Photography and Video Show in Birmingham earlier this year and, although we have already heard him give out some excellent pro advice and tell some fascinating stories in his talk, Digital Photographer is eager to find out more about him and share the inside scoop on the work of one of the best photographers in his field.

Chris has worked with the Getty Images agency for 21 years, covering some of the world's biggest news stories on assignments in places ranging from Los Angeles and Nigeria to Japan and Dubai, among many others.

He has photographed diverse events, such as the drought in the Horn of Africa and the inauguration of Pope Benedict XVI.

Along with capturing official portraits of Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, Queen Camilla and The Prince and Princess of Wales, Chris has documented royal events, including weddings, births and christenings and has accompanied the Royal Family on every major royal tour over the past two decades.

Hey Chris, could you please tell us how you became Getty Images' royal photographer?

I studied physiology and psychology at university but my passion was for 'creating' art. Photography seemed to fit the bill of the personal interaction that I loved but also offered the possibility of creating. After spending a disproportionate amount of my student loan on a Nikon F70, I bought a darkroom and set it up in the dilapidated cellar of my student house; it all started from there.

Over the next couple of years, I worked with the fantastic student newspaper at Cardiff University Gair Rhydd ('free speech' in Welsh) and was sent on assignments photographing everything from rubbish on the streets of Cardiff to university hockey matches.