Mary McCartney

“I'm always trying to make a connection with the person I'm photographing. I don't want to just come away with a shot that I think is interesting - I also want the subject to like that shot of themselves.”

“I think if youre going to cut meat and fish out of your diet, you dont want to feel youre missing out.”

“Ive been in photography for over 20 years now, and I dont think people commission me because of my name. At some point, the commissions would have dried up if I didnt do what I do well.”

“I love photographing people in New York; it has such a great cross-section of people from all over the world.”

“I have all my contact sheets filed, from the first photograph I took to the present day.”

“I love those long country lanes where you have overhanging trees and really dappled light.”

“I dont have a problem with taking photos on phones as they are pretty good quality now. But if you are really interested in creating more artistic images, it would be worth exploring a proper camera at some point!”

“I like meeting people and I like connecting with people, but I still find Im quite shy about it. I find it stressful, but I like it.”

“When I go back through my work, I can see that I knew what I wanted to do. As a younger woman it took me a while to get the confidence and to try, but if anything, my eye has remained the same - though I've obviously learned along the way.”

“It was normal to us, like having a camera or seeing Mum and Dad play live - what you grow up with is normal to you. When you get a bit older and go to school, and see what other peoples families are like, then you start comparing it to your life.”

“Mandarin Oriental hotels are great at making you feel at home. They remember things: for instance which pillow you like. You can get ones filled with buckwheat or lavender.”

“When I became a photographer, I took Mums talent for granted. She would take pictures out the car window and then they became these books or a print on the wall.”

“Id love to visit India; it looks like such an interesting place, so vibrant and full of colour.”

“A lot of my great memories are formed around food in the kitchen, sitting down with friends and family. It just makes everyone happy, the conversation flows.”

“The best thing is when you make something up, and then someone asks for the recipe.”

“I like blending into the background. Its my job. Though I can be quite noisy and direct sometimes.”

“My style of cooking is definitely inspired by my mum. She called herself a peasant cook. Shed make recipes up from whatever was in the larder.”

“There's not a lot of pink in my home, definitely. But I like the chaos, luckily.”

“But I could never in a million years get up on a stage, ever. Even thinking about it makes me feel like fainting.”

“With my mum, I grew up watching her taking photographs, but with your parents, you just go, Those are my parents. Then you get to a certain age and, if youre lucky, you have the opportunity to talk to them.”