Greg Brennan, the photographer behind the infamous 2007 image of Kate Moss appearing to stumble into a cab, has revealed the truth behind the shot. Taken outside the Donmar Warehouse theatre in London, the picture was widely used by tabloids to portray the model as a 'party girl'. However, Brennan insists the reality was far from the sensationalised narrative.
Brennan was covering Moss's 33rd birthday party at the Dorchester hotel when he was called to capture her leaving a matinee play with then-partner Pete Doherty. Arriving at the theatre, he found hundreds of photographers and fans surrounding the front entrance. Deciding to check the back door, he discovered Moss sitting on the stairs inside. Recognising him, she allowed him to take photos as she exited.
Brennan opened the cab door for Moss, and she left before the main crowd of photographers realised what had happened. 'It was 6.30pm in the evening,' Brennan emphasised. 'If Kate was falling out the door that night blind drunk, it's not a picture that I'd particularly want to take. I prefer glamorous Kate.' He edited six images and sent them to newspapers, waking the next day to find the shot on every front page.
The image remains popular, particularly among young women who see Moss as an icon. A Vogue photographer described it as 'a cross between a ballerina and Janis Joplin', capturing a 'fallen angel quality'. Despite its fame, Brennan's personal favourite from the night shows Moss walking towards him with her hair blowing in the wind, which he calls 'an amazing fashion shot'.
Reflecting on 37 years in celebrity photography, Brennan noted how social media has changed the industry, making it easier for celebrities to self-promote. He prefers the 1990s, when photographers were the primary link between stars and the public. 'I'm not going to turn up at their front door two days later. It becomes harassment at that point,' he said.
