The high-end lifestyle is a big draw for those seeking to photograph the rich and famous in their extravagant surroundings. Photographer Mark McKenna — who made history with his moving portraits of Taylor Swift and Lena Dunham at the Met Gala — has spent many months in expensive places like Miami and New York with the subjects of his photographs. His pieces are now on view in the Wells Fargo’s London branch in Belgravia. The Observer spoke to the photog about how he pushes his subjects to accept that perfection comes at a price.
The Observer: Are there aspects of the lives of the wealthy you find difficult to capture on camera?
Mark McKenna: I have been photographing socialites in high society for quite a while now and I have seen changes in people’s personalities, so there is something that I have seen change that seems a bit impersonal.
Do you think people get enough of the attention you pay to them in your work?
It certainly gets them attention but, to me, what matters more is what comes from my heart and mind.
What has surprised you most about photographing the rich and famous?
I am surprised at the number of wealthy people who have a global footprint, but who are as much focused on their homes and memorabilia as they are on spending.
Would you say that glamorous glamour has played an important role in helping to sell properties in Europe?
Obviously, these types of owners will pay top dollar for a property and all I am aiming for in photographing these types of people is to create a photograph of the person in those houses and not necessarily any sort of glamour.
Do you have a sense of what the wealthy world is spending its money on?
It certainly does have a level of social media; it definitely seems as though a photograph of a villa, some artwork, or possibly something from their amazing collection will say “So and so has such a great mansion.”
Can you talk about what other high-end cultural figures you’ve photographed?
To an extent, I am interested in the social networks as well as the houses in the centers of many high society communities, so I have spent a lot of time in Versailles and the Château de Versailles.
Photographs by Mark McKenna, courtesy of Wells Fargo London