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Candice: I had always wanted to go to art school when I was younger although somehow I ended up at Law School. A couple of years into it, I luckily fell into modelling doing the runway circuit for designers like Louis Vuitton, Fendi and Chanel and shooting campaigns for Ralph Lauren and Versace and serendipitously the idea of a corner office as a lawyer went out the window. A few years into modelling whilst in between shots on a shoot, as I had lights entwined around my body and I was standing precariously in a pool of water, I asked the photographer if I could come with him on his next shoot to assist — I don’t think he could really say no at that point! That was how I began assisting fashion photographers and transitioned to the other side of the camera.

SDC: Why (and when) did you fall in love with fashion – what is it about fashion/ photography that interested you initially, and keeps you inspired?Candice: I fell in love with fashion when I realized that everything associated with it was a powerful fantasy. I remember calling my parents in Australia when my first Vogue story came out and them telling me that they must have bought the wrong magazine, as I was definitely not in it. It was at this moment I feel in love with the fantasy of imagery, photography and fashion. The amazing thing was that with all these incredible elements of photography, styling, hair and makeup you could really make whoever you wanted. I began playing with these ideas and experimenting with my friends with photography. It was also around this time that I also discovered artists Sophie Calle and Cindy Sherman, and the concept of role exchange. These artists really changed my life.

Sophie Calle did a piece where she hired a private detective to follow and photograph her actions for a day which she then compared to her actual actions, thoughts and feelings that day to show the breakdown between truth and perception through imagery. This premise, the relationship between truth and perception, is the basis behind all of my art.

It is interesting the way society still accepts most imagery as truth. I think what is so fascinating about fashion and photography, is the fantasy that we still believe and buy into, despite really knowing that it cannot be real. Fashion and art are so intrinsically entwined and this is what is so exciting.

SDC: Which photographer do you admire the most and why?
Candice: I don’t think you can iscolate just one photographer as your primary inspiration, I love so many different photographers for different reasons. I love rineke dijkstra, katy grannan, katy graham, Alex Soth and Philip Lorca Dicorcia who are so clever at taking the banal and everyday and making it thought provoking and beautiful. martin Parr is also another huge inspiration. I love Thomas Ruff’s portraits from the 80′s

SDC: What makes a great street style shot?

Candice: Street Style is like any type of portraiture. If you have a relationship with your sitter you will get a better photo. That being said, sometime the fact you don’t have a relationship with a new model or girl on the street allows a certain amount of beautiful awkwardness to the image.

SDC:How would you describe your aesthetic—or what is it that compels you to want to take someone’s picture?

Candice: I like the anthropological aspect of street style. I don’t really have a specific formula of who I want to shoot, it is generally as simple as I photograph people that look interesting to me. I have always been interested in faces, my friends are often telling me I should carry dark glasses at all times, because I am constantly staring at people. I love shooting girls with confidence and a really strong sense of style. I love it when I see someone making a trend their own, or when I see girls reinvent their own style season after season and students who aren’t yet aware that they have great style and have a sense of awkwardness to them.

SDC: Which countries have you traveled to? Which one was your favorite?
Candice: I have travelled a lot from being a model and to now as a photographer. I always seem to end up in countrysides of cities shooting… so I suppose I love this the most. I have unfortunately never been to Africa although it is next on my list and hope to get there next year.

SDC: What has been the defining points of your career so far?
Candice: Having my first exhibition in NYC,
Being featured in US Vogue’s best dressed list 2011 issue,
Shooting editorials for various Vogue magazines,
making a successful shift from in front to behind the camera,
Recently shooting campaigns for incredible brands.

SDC: Where do you see yourself in the future?
Candice: I have been shooting quite a lot of advertising, editorials and collaborating with various brands in different capacities, as well as shooting some campaigns, which has been incredible. I would love to continue doing this as well as begin integrating more studio work. I would also love to hold another exhibition this year, although possibly in London this time.

You can find out more about Candice on her site- http://candicelake.com/
All images belonging to Candice Lake, taken from- http://candicelake.com/