Mary McCartney

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.

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

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

I have a really early childhood memory of being in a darkroom with Mum when I was four or five.

Mum always had a camera with her on her shoulder, so I just thought everyone took pictures. Sometimes shed set her camera for us and wed take the pictures.

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.

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!

After leaving college I got a job as a photo editor. Then, looking through my mum's photo archive inspired me to take it seriously.

I got a Leica film camera and just started wandering the streets. What really touched my heart were those unexpected and unplanned moments of life observed.

I often know what my subject is and what my location is. I know my start and my end, and the rest I leave up to the relationship.

My mum was quite a wanderer. She had a real sense of adventure and a cheekiness to her, which is something I like and that I try to take into my style of work.

Ive always loved Jamaica as its weather is so different from that in England. Theres something lovely, too, about walking along the beach in the evening, with sand between your toes, the sound of waves lapping and the breeze rustling the leaves.

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

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.

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

Im always looking and watching people and how they behave and wondering how they got where they are.

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.

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

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

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.

You know, Im directing a documentary about the history of Abbey Road Studios at the moment, so Ive been taken back to those times. There is a photograph of me aged three months on one of the sofas in the studio, so I was there before I can remember being there.

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

My dad, hes quite fun - he likes those unexpected pictures as well, so hell mess around and go wandering with me to get his picture taken.

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.

Thats part of what I love about photography - the images I like are the ones that look the most relaxed, but a lot of skill goes into making them look that that relaxed.