The truth about my famous ‘Party girl Kate Moss’ shot

I have photographed Kate Moss a fair few times, the first probably around 1990 during the Johnny Depp days. I also shot her with Jefferson Hack and many of her other boyfriends, but only on official occasions, Topshop launches and things like that. For her 33rd birthday I was asked to cover her party at the Dorchester hotel, then got a call saying she was at the Donmar Warehouse watching a matinee with Rhys Ifans.

When I arrived the front door was surrounded — there must have been 200-250 people outside, photographers, camera crews and fans — and I realised getting a decent picture would be very difficult. I decided to head back to the party but walked past the back door on the off chance.

The door was open and Moss was sitting on the stairs, with Pete Doherty standing to the right of the picture. She recognised me, I started taking pictures and she didn’t react. As she came out I opened the waiting car door for her.

kate moss, party girl, pete doherty, dorchester, donmar warehouse, rhys ifans, johnny depp, jefferson hack, topshop, party photo