Charlie Chich is a photographer, producer and creative director based in London. He is also the Head of Creative at Mission Statement Magazine.

Spotlight Awards judges from VMLY&R, Hearst, CHANEL, TBWA\HAKUHODO and Vogue voted Charlie’s image as the winner of the Fashion Photography category.

Additionally, Charlie was collectively voted as our 2021 Spotlight Awards Grand Prize winner.

"I used to be a musician in Brighton, England, but after having to leave my music career due to a chronic illness that brought my life to a standstill, I picked up a camera. Jumping quite a few years forward, I found myself doing a short season in Cape Town fumbling around with my camera and I became hooked.

My love for music and its natural tie in with fashion definitely dictated the path I’m on now. There’s no buzz like photographing a musician you listen to on repeat or idolised as a kid."

Title: A Journey

"Upon seeing that the twins had dyed their hair blonde, I messaged them immediately due to a concept I’d had in my head for over a year.

Our two-hour journey to the shoot location turned into seven hours due to a four-hour breakdown but, eventually, we arrived at our location by sea on the edge of the New Forest, in the middle of nowhere, in complete darkness. 

What we awoke to can only be described as a preternatural paradise. Running off pure adrenaline at seeing our new surroundings we sprang out of bed at 5:30 am, with the early morning sun regally dancing off our faces accompanied by the sound of the ocean waves hitting the shore. 

We headed straight to our savanna-like shoot location. 

Within the image I wanted the twins (Kevin & Karl) to embody love, loss, peace, duality and hedonism... not a big ask at all! The moment before the photo was taken came eerily naturally and organically, I hardly had to think or direct the twins as we were so in sync. This image couldn’t have been achieved without the pure chemistry we’d built between each other despite this being the third time we’d met. The environment was our canvas and the twins were my illustration, together, in pure synergy. 

As the shadows from the sun lined up and I composed my shot, the twins as if by telepathy, fell into the exact pose my imagination had been craving."

Charlie Chich is a photographer, producer and creative director based in London. He is also the Head of Creative at Mission Statement Magazine.

Spotlight Awards judges from VMLY&R, Hearst, CHANEL, TBWA\HAKUHODO and Vogue voted Charlie’s image as the winner of the Fashion Photography category.

Additionally, Charlie was collectively voted as our 2021 Spotlight Awards Grand Prize winner.

"I used to be a musician in Brighton, England, but after having to leave my music career due to a chronic illness that brought my life to a standstill, I picked up a camera. Jumping quite a few years forward, I found myself doing a short season in Cape Town fumbling around with my camera and I became hooked.

My love for music and its natural tie in with fashion definitely dictated the path I’m on now. There’s no buzz like photographing a musician you listen to on repeat or idolised as a kid."