"What really excites me about fashion photography is the fantasy," begins London-based fashion photographer Ian Hippolyte, who has shot for magazines including GQ, institutions such as the Royal Opera House and record labels, including Atlantic Records and Sony Music – all attracted to his bold, polished and dark-edged signature style.

Born in Saint Lucia but raised in London, Ian says the capital's richly diverse mix of cultures fostered his artistic upbringing. "There are times when the city can feel alive and vibrant and other times where it's dark and moody," he says. "There's always a juxtaposition of glamour with grit and I think this is reflected in how I approach my work."

Ian's love of photography stems as far back as he can remember, to when he first experimented with using a camera phone to capture macro shots. At 14, it became clear his mobile was no longer fulfilling his creative needs so Ian's parents bought him a Canon EOS 600D.

"I made YouTube vlogs and started taking photos of my friends, trying out different shooting techniques," he says. "But after studying film when I was 16, I quickly realised that I was drawn more towards the aesthetic, visual side [of image-making]. I loved the idea of capturing a singular moment that looks beautiful but could also tell a story if you look at it for a little while longer."

Ian's Instagram photos quickly garnered attention, leading to paid gigs, from which he reinvested his earnings into test shoots with agency models to boost his portfolio and attract more clients.

A central theme in Ian's work is his ability to depict strength, particularly when photographing women. "Strength can be shown in different forms," he says. "It can be shown through power, through sexuality, through vulnerability."

His mastery of colour and light serve as other cornerstones of his distinctive style. "Lighting is something I'm very meticulous about as it really shapes how we see things and the little details can make a big difference to the overall image," he adds. "I love to include deep, rich colours in my work. Red is a particular favourite. You won't find many pastels over here!"

How did you master your craft?

"I learnt through doing! I would just experiment with the camera and anything I wasn't sure about I'd Google or watch a YouTube video. I learned a lot through various online creators and courses. It was really exciting to see how others worked and I implemented some of their techniques. I also researched the work of photographers I admired and simply studied the photographs to figure out what kind of lens they shot with, what lighting was used and so on."

What are you looking for in a shot?

"That moment where everything aligns – the light, the pose, the garment, the subject's expression. Everything has to line up to create 'that' photograph, so sometimes it takes a little bit of playing around to get into the rhythm and capture the moment."

What do you think separates you from other fashion photographers?

"Just my vision; everyone sees things differently. We all have access to the same tools and the knowledge is out there, but the results can vary drastically as our vision is different."

What do you do to ensure your style stays current and in demand?

"I'm always keeping an eye on what's new and what's happening in the world of fashion. I'm also always looking for new teams with whom I can collaborate, who can contribute different ideas and perspectives."

What's been your most memorable shoot to date?
"Shooting for an outerwear brand on the Isle of Skye in Scotland was pretty eventful. Standing on the side of a mountain, in the rain, wind blowing, feet soaking wet. A far cry from the comfort of my London studio."

And finally, where do you hope your career will take you next?

"To the pages of Vogue! It's always been my dream to have a Vogue fashion story. I'd also like to travel more and shoot in different cities around the world."

"In terms of challenges I've faced, I found the fashion industry is a very closed club and they only let one person in at a time unless you can pay your way in or know the person working the door. I've felt ignored at times by the industry so have had to constantly remind myself that my work is valid and I deserve to be here as much as anyone else."

Instagram: @ianhippo

Website: ianhippo.com

YouTube: @ianhippolyte