Photographing People

I am lucky to meet a lot of interesting people in a job that brings me a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment.

Through my free lance work with a large studio I come across a lot of young photographers, some with Degrees or those that are self taught wanting to make the jump from keen amateur to professional.

All interaction with people requires people skills, to produce the kind of work that accurately reflects the person in front of you rather than create a generic image/style needs you to study them.

Maybe for the duration of the shoot fall in love with the subject, at least try and understand them, this may sound strange but some shoots are very connected, it is a great honor to see into a person and get images that show their own unique personality, mood or capture the moment.

Like a good therapy session the best results will come out of the blue, some of my most satisfying have been in the first few shots, other times in the last few shots of the shoot or when I was pushed past the point I wanted to stop.. you will get times when you feel exhausted and creativity has left you...but for some reason you decide to push on. This happened to me just the other week, I got a cracking image that made the whole day worth my time and effort and the client loved the image.

Photographing people isn't always easy, if you research the subject or spend the time getting to know them as much as possible you stand a better chance of getting some good shots.

A few quick tips for better results.. recap
1) Preparation, research your subject
2) Pre-visualize get some ideas in your head but also be prepared to let them go
3) Abandon - if it doesn't come together, go to plan B or free style it,
4) Look at a lot of images, study the history of photography and the great shooters that went before
5) Emulate a good style of work
6) Make time - to do what you enjoy
7) Review your work from time to time, are you making time to try new ways of working?

My work goes in cycles, where changes happen in my work and I take a new creative direction.

Keep pushing yourself, if you don't you'll get stale for sure.