My London: Photographer Mikael Klasson
Name: Mikael Klasson
Work: Technical support agent and photographer
Living: Hammersmith
Time in London: 2 years
Instagram: @Guteklasson
Who is Mikael?
Well, my name is Mikael Klasson, I am 24 years old and I live in London, for 2 years now. My favorite interests in life are photography and fashion but I also have a big interest in cooking and love spending time in the kitchen trying new recipes.
…And which is your favorite dish to make?
Actually a classic lasagne, because it is both delicious, easy to make and you can always make it vegetarian, with quorn. Lasagne is also the best dish for meal prep, just put in a huge plate (the biggest one you have) with a delicious, lasagne in the oven and you have food for several days!
Where in London do you live?
I live in Hammersmith.
Which are your favorites in Hammersmith?
My favorite place in Hammersmith is the riverside where I spend a lot of time, either running or taking photos of the buildings and surroundings. Ravenscourt Park is also a place that I love, and I would really recommend anyone to visit that park, especially during the spring/summer time when its filled with beautiful flowers!
What was it that made you break up with Sweden?
The reason I decided to leave Sweden and move to London, is that I wanted the chance to meet new people, get new experiences, and a new adventure. And I knew that London was a popular city when it comes to creative professions, which I knew would suit me and my photographer dreams. Creativity! So I quit my job back in Sweden 2 years ago, packed my bags, and moved here. After staying at hostels for 4 weeks I found a job and an apartment to stay in. 2 years later my decision to move to London was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
By me: London eye at night
Tell us about your dream within photography!
I have been doing photography for almost 10 years now and was pretty successful In Sweden and did pay jobs which encouraged me to try taking my photography to a new level by moving to London. My dreams when it comes to photography is to work with fashion and portrait photography but also other things. Right now I am working on a project where I take portraits of homeless people on the streets in London, so my photography dreams are very versatile because I love so many types of photography. In my free time, I love to take street photos and pictures of the architecture in London.
Which is your favorite photo-project of all times?
My favorite project that I have done is the project I’m doing right now, where I take portraits of homeless people on the streets of London. The reason that this is my favorite project is the fact that I help people that usually don’t have a voice in our society to get heard. Each and every portrait has its own history and every person I meet have their own life stories to tell
How does your current work situation look like?
Right now I work full time at a call center with customer support but my future plans are to work full time with photography and build a bigger network…
Behind the scenes when I took a portrait of a homeless man in central London
Where do you wish to be in 10 years?
10 years from now, I see myself working as a photographer full time and also traveling the world to create different projects.
What is the hardest part about that?
The hardest part about trying to work within photography is to find the time. Each and every photo takes several hours to edit and since I am also combining photography with another job it can be a struggle to keep the energy up.
What is always in your fridge?
Milk, sriracha-mayo and tofu!
Which are your favorite dining-out-places in London?
Three restaurants/cafes in London that I love is:
ScandiKitchen – well, of course!
Angies in Chiswick, a nice little foodshop!
Zizzi – if you want to eat a nice pasta.
Behind the scenes, coffee is very important when doing a photoshoot
What would you say are the biggest differences when it comes to Swedish and British culture?
The biggest difference between British and Swedish couture in my opinion is how you interact with other people, the social atmosphere in London is very different if you compare it to Sweden. For example, if you want to hang out with somebody in London you go to the pub and have a beer, whereas in Sweden you will have a Fika. Another social difference is that I feel it easier to get new friends here in London since people feel more openminded when it comes to social situations and have fewer problems hanging out with strangers which feels rarer in the Swedish culture.
Give your tips for a person thinking of moving here:
1. Start to live at a airbnb, do not sign any apartment contracts before you have seen the apartment IRL. So make sure to be in London and live at a hostel/BNB before you starting to look for a flat or a room.
2. Don’t stress, make sure that you find a flat/room and a job in areas you want to stay in and don’t stress anything you feel uncomfortable with, take your time and it will be better in the long run.
3. Don’t give up, you will experience setbacks and things that might want you to move back to where you come from, but just give it some time and you will love London.
By me: A picture from a fashion shoot in Central London.
What is the most fun thing you have done in London, so far?
Unfortunately, I did not do that many things here before the pandemic hit London so I don’t have that many memories to share with you. But one of the funniest things I have done here is when I visited Winter Wonderland, I loved all of the attractions, the food, and the christmas spirit. Also, one of my favorite things to do in London is to visit Camden market, it is such a nice area with a lot of cool shops, great street food and for me as a photographer there are a lot of things to capture there.
