Sunday 22 October 2017

Confidence

Much about successful photography is about confidence. Probably as much as experience. And certainly more than the equipment being used.

Three years ago when I decided to become more serious about people photography I lacked confidence in my ability to quickly connect with a person I had just meet. And it's that connection between photographer and subject which can make a photograph. Successful photographers have it. They quickly connect with the subject to steer the shoot in the right direction.

I knew I needed to gain experience in the technical aspects, and in quickly building a rapport. To do that I hired models. I could think about what I was doing, experiment and listen to advice without any pressure. If I came away without a good picture it didn't really matter. My photography had still improved. After a while, as the technical side started to become second nature and I found the initial meeting less stressful I was the one doing the directing. I still listened to the models and learned, but I was confident enough to start to take charge. I don't mean that until then the models had taken charge. Just that they knew how to keep the shoot flowing. Another skill I was beginning to master.

An aspect of a photoshoot I hadn't thought about was keeping it flowing, maintaining its energy.

Now my confidence had grown I could feel myself building and maintaining this energy.

I found it easier to keep the shoot moving. To know when to stick with a setup. How to tweak it and improve it. To know when we had the shot, and it was time to move on.

And just as importantly, move on quickly when it wasn't working.

Anyone you photograph can feel if you aren't in control, and confident about what you are doing. Experienced models cope with it, people not use to being photographed don't tend to. I am the first to admit, I don't really like being photographed. But if it's by someone who puts me at ease, and calmly goes about the task. I relax and that improves the results. So when I'm photographing a less confident person, I know I am better now at putting them at ease. Building their confidence.

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Sunday 1 October 2017

Motivation III


When I shared the two pictures above it was with the line. Contemplative pause during an autumn cycle ride. Or Norman no mates taking a breather.


I can’t remember how many rides I’ve done solo lately.  Matt has been unavailable lately, like me. Life has been getting in the way. So it’s been self motivation that has got me out on my bike. All week at work I look forward to cycling at the weekend. But then on Saturday morning the voice in my head is shouting loudly. “Matt’s not cycling, stay in bed”. I have ignored the voice, got up and cycled. And as always, felt better for it. But it gets more difficult to ignore every week.

Today was about as difficult as it gets. I got the abort text as I was about to get up. It had been raining last night as well so it wasn’t going to be as nice a ride as it was yesterday. Then ten minutes in, it started raining. The voice was back, this time telling me to go home and avoid a soaking. But I kept going. As I write this having had a shower and breakfast. I’m again glad I went out and didn’t turn back. I’m not sure how many more weekends I can cycle alone, especially as the weather gets worse.

Come back Matt.

Yesterday I saw a lot of cyclists. Today just five. So I guess I’m not the only one whose little, stay at home voice, is becoming more vocal.

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