Why Everyone Should Have Therapy with photographer royalty Rankin

Podcast

Show Notes

John Rankin Waddell, better known as Rankin, is photography royalty. I’ve been lucky enough to know Rankin since the beginning of my career, and after all these years it’s an honour to be the one behind the lens, shining a spotlight on his glittering career.

Rankin is one of the best-known and sought-after portrait photographers around; he’s shot everyone from Kate Moss, to Miley Cyrus, to Madonna and to the Queen of England. He's also made a name for himself in publishing by launching ground-breaking magazines such as Dazed and Confused, AnOther and Hunger.

On the podcast today, we go beyond the photography. We explore the sacrifices Rankin has made, the worries and struggles of a life behind the camera, and how he coped with the increasing demands in his life. We discuss how to maintain a work-life balance when the work is non-stop, and why everyone should get therapy.

Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction & Overview

2:43 – Health and Wellbeing

4:01 - Mental health and wellbeing

5:40 – Change lifestyle

8:08 – Insecurities and Parents supporting the choice of Rankin’s career

9:49 – About College

12:55 - Self-doubt ‘Imposter syndrome’

14:22 – Exploring a new route

17:28 – Parents’ death

19:08 – Bjork shoots

20:25 – Label as Fashion Photographer

23:50 – Rankin's favourite photographer

26:06 – Social media

27:40 – The unseen (Algorithm boosting and lowering posts)

30:30 – George Floyd and Black Lives Matter

34:20 – Society

37:52 - Starting therapy

49:00 – Rankin’s Meaning of ‘Live well, be well’