STUTTERHEIM Shot by: Sean Newton
Sean Newton got into photography as a teen when his older brother (and closest confidant) took a photography class at school and bought a cheap camera for the course. Sean became “obsessed” with this camera and borrowed it, with or without permission, all the time, along with his brother’s trainers (which were far better than his own) and ventured to fields at the outskirts of Birmingham to shoot these pedestrian artefacts. After discovering Instagram (which in 2016 was still mainly a platform for photography), he tried his hand at recreating the images he found there, but realising that the West Midlands couldn’t offer the same awe-inspiring backdrops as the Alps or a Manhattan skyline, he switched to shooting portraits. Just ”randomers” at first, but eventually also his friends and family. From there, it all kicked off, and he started working for small brands for modest fees, gradually building his career and never looking back.
Now based in London, the 26-year-old freelance photographer says what inspires him most is American 90s hip-hop culture. Not just the music, although he is a big fan, but the overall aesthetic – the balance between raw, rugged, casual style and high-quality branded gear. He cites Chi Modu and Mike Miller as role models for his photography style, to the soundtrack of Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Biggie Smalls and Missy Elliott, among others.
Other inspirations are the great outdoors, being in nature and the feeling it inspires that there are bigger and more important things outside of yourself, as well as, more recently, a new perspective through his girlfriend Alicia. She’s opened up a greater awareness of the female vantage point and has been a driving force in helping to document women in a more realistic and authentic way. A turning point in that has been a project where Sean photographed soon-to-be mothers in their homes.
For this shoot, with our SS25 collection at the centre, Sean wanted to bring himself into the STUTTERHEIM universe while bringing rainwear from the outdoorsy vibe to an urban setting and touch back on those 90s hip-hop references.
“Much of my direction to the team was: give me the energy that you don’t want to be here. Be sluggish with your body language, be displeased with your facial expressions, be arrogant with your interactions with me, which is exactly the vibe I got from those early 90s hip-hop videos – the style that I resonate best with. I wanted to bring Sean Newton into the STUTTERHEIM world, I wanted to see myself within the final images.”
Music is a huge part of Sean’s life, so when asked what he listens to on rainy days, the answer is that it depends on his mood that particular day. It could be a song that alludes to a sense of mystery (perfect for hiking and exploring), in which case One Call by Gunna is the choice. If at home, feeling tranquil and listening to the raindrops patter against the window, something slow and soulful like These Arms of Mine by Otis Redding would match the vibe. Some rainy days can bring a dark and powerful energy that gives a sense of purpose and motivation, “like a villainous story in a film”, and then it’s Nirvana’s Something In The Way that intensifies the mood.
To see more of Sean’s photography, check out his Instagram @sseannewtonn.
Talents: @jamz.jr, @kirsty.orbell & @hazel_orbell
