An Interview with Photographer Nikola Tamindzic on Portraits, Fashion, and Influence

Before "influencer" was a term, there was Nikola Tamindzic, documenting the scene with a discerning and iconic eye. As Gawker's house photographer in its mid-2000s heyday, he was the definitive chronicler of New York's media and nightlife world. But that was just the foundation. In 2008, he launched the next act: the influential blog Home of the Vain, a curated gallery of portrait and fashion photography that became a destination for insiders. Today, that sharp editorial perspective has made him a regular shooter for Vogue and a sought-after name for major publications. His journey, as he puts it, is simple: "I picked up a camera, played with it, and fell in love." But his work—informed by masters like Guy Bourdin and Helmut Newton—is a complex and captivating love letter to the world of fashion, portraiture, and the vibrant characters who define it.

You capture a lot of "raw" moments in your nightlife photography, what has been some of the more interesting reactions to that?

People love having their photo taken in 99% of the situations, so usually they step the action up even higher.

Most Memorable Shoot?

Shoot with Fever Ray. 45 seconds total, and we came out with one of my favourite photos of all time: http://nikola-tamindzic.com/portrait.html

Favorite Websites/Blogs/Publications?

I subscribe to so many via RSS, too many to mention. People who follow my Tumblr (homeofthevain.tumblr.com) or my Twitter (twitter.com/NikolaTamindzic) get the digest version of everything I keep an eye on.