I was recently contacted by a High School student that wanted to interview me for a Senior/ Graduation project. I was flattered to be chosen for this and completed the interview. Below are some of the questions that I answered….
What type of photography do you do? and how would you classify it?
Primarily, I am a portrait and wedding photographer. I am particularly interested in capturing people, relationships and telling a story.
In your opinion, what is the most important thing to keep in mind about portraits?
When photographing portraits, it is important to be honest and open minded as well as to develop a relationship with the client. In my opinion, capturing the best light and most interesting composition is secondary to creating an enjoyable experience for the subjects.
Each portrait session offers me a chance to grow and learn more about photography, myself, the people that I am with and life in general. Developing a relationship with the subjects and making them feel comfortable is very important to me. I am always open minded to other people’s situations, personalities, cultures, interests and so on. It is heartwarming to me when a person opens up and lets me into the private moments of their lives. It makes me feel that what I do is important.
What are some challenges that you face and how do you overcome that?
Some of the challenges that I face as a photographer are often in regards to lighting, weather and location. Uncontrollable elements constantly keep me on my toes and challenge my creativity.
Staying fresh, inspired and creative can be difficult. I try to approach each portrait session as a unique challenge. I have to constantly push myself to see things in a new, different and unique way. I chase light and reflections and am always looking for a new way to capture a location/ situation/ person(s).
How do you come up with the ideas and settings for your photo shoots?
I am drawn to locations with texture and personality. Particularly, I am drawn to urban settings. I love a location where there is proof that people have been there or that time has passed.
In addition, locations that are significant to the subject is always very important. Finding places that they feel comfortable in or represents them well is always a priority. I strive to have my photographs tell a story or capture a time in someone’s life.
Often times choosing a location is a collaboration with the subject(s). Again, with getting to know them a little bit and understanding what they want to capture through the portrait session, I can often suggest places based on that information.
Some days, I will just walk around areas that I may like and take photographs. Then I store ideas away for a client that I think would fit that particular location. There are lots of venues and locations that I look forward to working at in the future!
What type of lighting do you use and how is that achieved?
Choosing how to light a subject is dependent upon many factors such as what the effect I am trying to achieve is as well as how the location lends itself to creating that effect.
I often prefer to use natural light. Photographing just before sunset often gives a dreamier, more saturated and gentler light that is often ideal for portraits. I also love to find unique and dramatic light through windows, streetlights at night, car lights, etc.
In certain situations I use my on and off camera speedlites (Canon 580 EX) for fill flash or backlighting to achieve a particular effect. Speedlites are ideal for me since I tend to work fast and move around quite a bit. This system allows me to move the lights around without wires or bulky/ heavy equipment. To trigger the speedlites, I use a wireless transmitter system that syncs the lights to flash at the precise moment that I press the shutter.
I also, at times, use softboxes, umbrellas, reflectors and gobos (which block the light).
How do you attempt to create eye catching photos?
Creating an eye catching photograph has a lot to do with trial, error, effort planning and good luck! I always am looking for ways to see things in a unique way or taking the ordinary and making it extraordinary. An eye catching photograph is usually a combination/ perfect storm of composition, subject, lighting and exposure. This can be something that is well thought out in advance or something that happens organically. Often times it is about being in the right place at the right time…. with a camera!
I do feel that the more practice and time that one spends photographing and pursuing the craft, the more likely they are to create eye catching photographs.
How do you incorporate your subject’s personality and style into your photos?
Again, getting to know my client and asking them questions about themselves is very important to me. Finding out what they are passionate about, what their personalities are like, what is important to them, etc… I have a list of questions that I like to ask before the portrait session to help to better understand the subjects.
As the client reveals aspects of their life, I often reveal aspects of mine as well. This is often how we become friends. It is a two way relationship. Though it is their life and relationships that I am photographing it is my eye and personality that is capturing it.
Ansel Adams once said, “There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”
In the case of portrait photography there are at least 3 people: the photographer, the viewer and the subject.
Please describe your style in a few sentences.
Through photography, I aim to capture natural moments that tell a story in a unique and interesting way. My style is unrehearsed, patient, quirky, passionate and fun.
“If I could say it in words, I wouldn’t need to photograph.”
– Lewis Hine