Our latest BLUP50 member is northerner Megan Jepson, award winning British photographer, director and videographer based in Newcastle Upon Tyne. She’s worked with the likes Nike, VICE, END clothing, Levi’s, Selfridges and Wagamama.
Meg’s personal work mainly focuses on documenting communities and sub cultures from around the North to help shine a light and tell their story using documentary photography as the primary medium. Her personal work has now began to heavily influence many of her concepts in the fashion and commercial world.
In both 2018 and 2020, Megan won Portrait of Britain, with her winning photographs shown on JCDecaux screens up and down the country as part of a national exhibition and also featured in the Portrait of Britain book.
// YOUR WORD FOR 2021
Legend
// WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN ONLINE/INSTAGRAM /TIKTOK / TWITTER THAT HAS STOPPED YOU SCROLLING?
The [adultswim] trend on TikTok is like next level marketing / trend it’s been so interesting to watch and develop.
// GIVE US A WHISTLE STOP TOUR OF YOUR CAREER TO DATE
I went to university, started filming club nights in Newcastle which got me jobs with Nike, Selfridges, Vodafone etc, finished university, and won Portrait of Britain 2018, moved to London and worked with more brands such as Nike, Wagamama and flew to Miami, left London as I didn’t like it, moved back to Newcastle and went freelance, won Portrait of Britain again in 2020 and made my director debut with Levis x END and now mending my career after 2020 to push for bigger and better things in 2021/22.
//WHAT DOES 24 HOURS IN YOUR LIFE LOOK LIKE?
Usually I have a lazy morning and a quick tidy around the flat, I check emails constantly through the day and do little bits of editing too. My boyfriend is a great cook so we usually have a nice lunch and then go for a walk around Newcastle either through the shops or round the park. My typical days are quite relaxed until I’m on shoots then it’s all systems go which is definitely much preferred!!
// WHAT DO YOU DO TO SWITCH OFF OR CHILL?
Listen to my easy breezy playlist – Jimi Hendrix, MF Doom, Kendrick Lamar, Rolling Stones, OutKast, Kid Cudi VIBES!!!!
// WHAT HAS BEEN ONE OF YOUR BEST CAREER HIGHLIGHTS?
Definitely directing and featuring in the END x Levis campaign which was at the beginning of this year. Directing is something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time and want to continue doing it and it was such a great project to work on with numerous creatives from around the country!!!
// WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR FUTURE?
Good vibes and hard work (I love working hard and pushing for more).
// IF YOU COULD COLLABORATE WITH ONE CREATIVE/BRAND WHO WOULD IT BE?
Hmmmmmmmm I would like to work a few more restaurants / food / drink brands but not to take photos of the food. More so empowering and pushing the community aspect. Fashion wise I’d love to do some work for JW Anderson.
// WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION?
Mumsy
// YOUR FAVOURITE SONG OF 2021 SO FAR?
Don’t Try To Fight It – Another Chemical Love Story
// WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SAY ABOUT YOU AT THE END OF YOUR CAREER?
Oooh gosh I wouldn’t even know – hard one. Maybe they wouldn’t have to say anything I would just like to see my work in galleries, books and (maybe) hung up in peoples homes or rather just recognise the people I work with / document rather than be about myself.
// WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO NEW CREATIVES?
Just do you!!! I think the best advice I got and I even try to give to creatives who have done it for a while is to make sure you stay in touch with personal / passion projects, that in general is going to satisfy your creativity. It’s very easy to get lost in commercial work / work that pays
the bills or makes you some MONEY but I think it’s very important to always have a personal project either on going or brewing in your mind.
// WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO YOU IN YOUR WORLD RIGHT NOW?
I think just helping the community get back on it’s feet and making sure that the drive and passion that was there before 2020 comes back and pushes through.
Celebrating the North and all the people who live here is a consistent importance to me – I have always known there is a lot to say so I think finding a way for me to help achieve that is something that’s been on my mind for years – just need to find the right time.
// ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MENTION?
Up the toon!!!!
FOLLOW MEG