Photographer Greg Brennan has captured Kate Moss numerous times over the years, but one particular image from 2007 became iconic. The shot, taken at the Donmar Warehouse theatre, shows Moss sitting on a staircase, and it has been widely interpreted as a 'party girl' moment. However, Brennan reveals that the reality was quite different.
The Story Behind the Shot
Brennan was asked to photograph Moss leaving a matinee play before her 33rd birthday party at the Dorchester hotel. When he arrived at the theatre, he found around 200-250 people outside, making it impossible to get a good picture from the front. Deciding to head back to the birthday party, he passed the back door and found Moss sitting on the stairs with her then-partner Pete Doherty nearby.
"She looked at me, she recognised me because I've been photographing her for many years. I started taking the picture. She didn't react, didn't say anything," Brennan recalls. He helped her into a waiting car, and she arrived at her party unbothered. The image was published on front pages the next day, leading to assumptions about her behaviour.
Challenging the Narrative
Brennan emphasises that the photo was taken at 6.30pm, not in the early hours. "If Kate was falling out the door that night blind drunk, it's not a picture that I'd particularly want to take. I prefer glamorous Kate," he says. The image, which he describes as having a 'fallen angel quality,' has remained popular, especially among young women who see Moss as an icon.
Recreating the Impossible
A Vogue photographer once told Brennan that he tried to recreate the image in his studio but found it impossible, describing it as 'a cross between a ballerina and Janis Joplin.' Despite its fame, Brennan's personal favourite from that night is a shot of Moss walking towards him with her hair blowing in the wind.
Changes in Celebrity Photography
With 37 years of experience, Brennan reflects on how the industry has changed. "I preferred the 90s because there weren't as many photographers then. Social media has made it easier for celebrities to promote themselves, whereas in the 90s, we were that social media for them." He notes that celebrities remain receptive at events like film premieres, but harassment at their homes is a step too far.
The Big Shot: Photographs by Greg Brennan is published by ACC Art Books.
