Photography is an entertainment industry.
I've recently discovered, while working on a side project, that photography is very much an entertainment business.
I've been shooting portraits of some local architects to be used in websites, brocures, etc. In the process of shooting them, I've discovered a few things that I need to work on.
One of those things is that I need to engage them more. I keep getting asked to tell a joke while I'm shooting...to help the interaction along and to get natural smiles. Usually it's pretty easy to get a smile out of them, but sometimes it's difficult, and that joke might really help break the ice.
I think as the photographer, you see things through the camera. I try to look in all of the corners, the background, the lighting, the glares. Is the focus sharp? Is my flash going to make the lighting look bad? Is my exposure correct? It's a challenge to keep concentrating on the photos that are being taken and also get on the other side of the device that's taking them and engage in a conversation with the subject.
I feel like I'm getting better at this, but this experience has definitely made me realize again how much work is involved in being a photographer! I truly think that once a photographer has mastered the art of shooting in a lot of different environments and different subjects, that they could be the best photographer on earth but be unsuccessful if they can't come through the camera and entertain the subject (and the client). That's a very valuable lesson for me to learn at this stage in my career, and I hope not to forget it anytime soon!
I've been shooting portraits of some local architects to be used in websites, brocures, etc. In the process of shooting them, I've discovered a few things that I need to work on.
One of those things is that I need to engage them more. I keep getting asked to tell a joke while I'm shooting...to help the interaction along and to get natural smiles. Usually it's pretty easy to get a smile out of them, but sometimes it's difficult, and that joke might really help break the ice.
I think as the photographer, you see things through the camera. I try to look in all of the corners, the background, the lighting, the glares. Is the focus sharp? Is my flash going to make the lighting look bad? Is my exposure correct? It's a challenge to keep concentrating on the photos that are being taken and also get on the other side of the device that's taking them and engage in a conversation with the subject.
I feel like I'm getting better at this, but this experience has definitely made me realize again how much work is involved in being a photographer! I truly think that once a photographer has mastered the art of shooting in a lot of different environments and different subjects, that they could be the best photographer on earth but be unsuccessful if they can't come through the camera and entertain the subject (and the client). That's a very valuable lesson for me to learn at this stage in my career, and I hope not to forget it anytime soon!
