Tomie (image by author)
Let’s take a moment to set aside one of the most widely held notions about portrait photography.
Yes … we’re artists. Yes … photography IS an artistic medium where expression IS valued, artistic license IS encouraged, and photography CAN (and should) take its rightful place alongside other artistic mediums such as painting, sculpting, and musicianship when seeking to elevate and illuminate the human condition. However … photography is ALSO a workaday, blue-collar endeavor that places physical and mental demands on its practitioners that can leave little room for artistic expression.
Don’t believe me? Ask the event photographer that’s on her fourth 12-hour day in a row photographing one keynote speaker after another in a large convention hall, followed by multiple breakout sessions each hour, and followed yet again by filming award ceremony after award ceremony – all while juggling the logistical demands of archiving her photos and video at multiple points throughout the day in a way that will allow her to successfully reconstruct the day’s events later during post processing.
Or … ask the headshot photographer in that same convention hall who is on his 400th client over the previous four days with little more than a bathroom break and lunch from a vending machine.
Do you see ANY room in those scenarios for artistic expression? Most carbon-based photographer life forms I know won’t be thinking about artistic expression in those moments. They’re thinking focus, composition, exposure and (yes) focus. They’re thinking “GET. THE. SHOT.” Those moments only happen once, so if you miss ‘em while trying to elevate the human condition, you might find yourself in breach of contract.
PRACTICE DOES NOT MAKE PERFECT, BUT IT’S BETTER THAN NO PRACTICE AT ALL
Notion setting aside time (finally). When you hire a photographer, you’re hiring a practitioner whose work – for you specifically – began long before you met him/her and will carry on for days (maybe even weeks depending upon the scope of the project) after the shoot is finished. Here’s how THAT works.
Professional photographers (i.e., the ones you can count on to show up for the shoot on time, to be READY when needed, and to ACTUALLY GET THE SHOT) plan and prepare for the shoot, WAY WAY longer than they actually shoot.
Because when you fail to plan, you really plan to fail.
The skill to operate multiple cameras and flashes, the understanding of light and all of its properties, and the use and placement of light modifiers on a set, doesn’t just happen overnight. Those “hard” skills are honed over months and years of study and trial and error.
More importantly, the skill in which a photographer can relate to, empathize with, and direct different people on a set is something that is even more difficult (maybe impossible for some) to learn. Those “soft” people skills are often the defining intangible on a shoot. If I’m hiring a photographer, I’d much rather have one who can quickly and easily relate to me instead of one who has memorized the exact details of the inverse square law or (says he) has mastered all 28 composition rules and techniques but can’t look me in the eye. Didn’t quite catch that? Give me the people person who can talk and relate to me easily and confidently while shooting over the guy with gear acquisition syndrome who has fetishized all of his equipment.
Once the shoot is finished, everything must be post processed. Post processing (all of the archiving, storage, and editing that happens AFTER the shoot) is invariably much more time consuming than the shoot itself. The photographer must master a number of complicated software applications (Lightroom, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Capture One, etc are just a few options) in order to archive and edit the photos and video taken during your shoot. So … set aside the notion that photography is a relatively simple way to make a living. Granted … you’re not in a war zone (unless you’re actually in a war zone), but you’re likely not getting stuff just handed to you either.
Tomie: image by author
Once a photographer has mastered the technical components of camera and lighting gear … and if they’re able to easily relate to a wide variety of people from different cultures and backgrounds, and once they’re able to put all of that together in a business frame of reference, well … then … they’re ready to “put up a shingle” and advertise their wares as a professional photographer.
If you’re still with me, then this is where the planning portion of today’s festivities happen.
The professional photographer will want to meet with you prior to the shoot to discuss expectations and logistics and to work out a contract.
There may be permit requirements depending upon the shoot location that will need to be coordinated. There may be additional fees depending upon how far the photographer must travel. These costs will be reflected in the quote you receive from the photographer.
Depending upon the scope of the shoot, the professional photographer may need to rent additional equipment in order to conduct the shoot. This cost will also be passed along to you in the quote you receive.
Most photographers don’t just show up and start snapping away – especially if the shoot is on location. Many will walk the location before the shoot in order to understand existing lighting and possible composition challenges and opportunities.
Lastly, the professional photographer has been on enough on-location jobs that he/she has developed either a “go kit” (or at least a checklist) that contains everything he/she will likely need (outside of rental items discussed above) during the shoot. That includes ensuring all gear is in working order, batteries are charged and ready to go, storage cards are formatted, and everything (including a computer and external hard drive) is packed and ready to go.
Because you see … when you fail to plan, you really plan to fail.
Are you ready to take the next step and hire me for your next family or headshot portrait? If so, then call me at 310.614.5119 and let’s talk!