Portraits of Luke

I recently had the great opportunity of photographing a subject different to my usual. I got to create portraits of a 19 year old boy. And I say boy because he's the friend of my step daughter and I've known him since he was about 7. Its times like this when I feel old, very old. If he were a stranger I would have seen him as a young man and I wouldn't have felt nearly this old. Instead though, he was a grown boy, still the sweet young child I used to see at the school gates when doing the school runs. Where did all this time go?

Anyway, before I embarrass him too much, it was great fun being able to use different lighting setups than I typically use for babies, children and families. I like to take opportunities like this to experiment and really stretch myself as a photographer. Its a great chance to take out the lighting kit I don't often use (and in some cases have never used) and give them a go. Its a wonderful learning opportunity that I consider incredibly valuable.

Luke understood the nature of our session and was up for being model for the evening. He brought along clothing choices and we had a go with a variety of setups, often assessing the images as we went so we could both see how we could improve what we already had. This is vital to my workflow in such a session because even though I meter the light and I'm quite confident in the results, I always want to be certain I'm getting it right. Seeing the results up close on my calibrated monitor will show me whether any tweaking is required. Constantly changing the lights could easily mean errors are made, particularly when I am using multiple lights for various functions.

In the run up to this session I collecting some inspiring images both online and in magazines. I wanted to try and replicate an image I'd come across of Leonardo Di Caprio in a watch advert and the image below is a pretty good representation of that look. I love looking at images and trying to figure how they were shot. It's even better if I can get the lights out and to try and replicate it. Its a really good exercise in expanding my skills, skills I will be able to apply to a great number of portraits, particularly with my corporate headshots.

Work such as this, experimenting, researching, planning and playing, is a regular part of what I do. Its important that I know my equipment inside and out as well as have a continuing changing collection of images so my clients have a great deal of choice. I prefer to listen to their likes and interests and create something that suits their needs and wishes rather than just stick to an easy and basic formula. This is not only important to me for my clients benefit but for me as an artist as well. I don't want to be bored and I definitely want my clients to feel like they've got something special in booking me to be their portrait photographer.

So if you ever think that a photographer charges a lot for just taking your photo please try to remember that any good photographer (certainly one worth paying) will often spend a lot of time continually developing and improving their skills. Any professional in any field must regularly invest in continued education and photography is no different.

So I will be doing more of this throughout 2014. Luke has already volunteered to come back again so I can only assume it wasn't a terrible experience. I just need to come up with something unique so its worth his while. Planning is underway and my eyes are always peeled for new inspiration. I can't wait to see what I can come up with next year. As this is clearly my last post of 2013 have a great new year everyone and see you all next year!

Comments

I am Still Me: A Story about a Transgender Boy

Meet Leo. Leo is 15 and currently going through an epic transformation that has momentarily turned the lives of himself and those around him upside down. A mum who once had the daughter she always longed for is now coping with the realisation that she will be living the rest of her life with a son instead. When your child is born you have certain expectations of the typical life they will lead but most of us know and accept that it won't necessarily end up the way we imagine. Not every person wants to marry, have kids or be involved with the opposite sex. Most of us have come to accept this and can adjust to whatever comes our way relatively easily. But few of us have expected to have to deal with a change in sex. Its not that we've hoped it won't happen, but just that it never occurred to us that it might. This is a new adjustment that we as a society are being presented with today, just like so many others that have come before. When I first heard that Phoebe ...

5 Reasons you Should Consider Getting a Professional Headshot

Headshots, or profile pictures are becoming a requirement of so many tools we regularly use or reference today. From Facebook to Linked In, Instagram to Twitter and often any website that represents a company for which you work or own will have a place to include a photograph that is meant to show your audience who you are. And how you present yourself there will tell your audience so much about you. 1. A profile picture is your first opportunity for your audience to see you. Its often the first impression you make and we all know you only have one chance at a first impression. A professional photographer has the skills to show you in the best, most suitable way to give a great first impression. (These headshots were created for recruitment firm Optima UK who asked to have their logo placed behind them. I think it makes these headshots quite eye catching and they should do their job well.) 2. Using a professional to create your headshot will ...

Portraits Even a Teenager Boy Loves

Finally I've had the opportunity to photograph a young man in my studio again. And funnily enough this was the second time that week which is absolutely superb. In both cases these young men were just as enthusiastic to be involved as I was, which is something I don't often get when I'm working with very young children, my usual subjects. With young children I find my energy in their cuteness. But with young adults I get energy from their excitement over how the portraits are working out. I get such a buzz from the experience and that can keep me going for hours, often editing the photos straight after the shoot for hours more. Shoots for teenagers is something I've been wanting to focus on for some time. Its not something that I often get asked for though unfortunately. It tends to be parents of very young children who want to capture moments that are slipping through their fingers at lightening speed. Maybe its teenage moodiness that means these moments don...

London in Spring, Whats Not to Love?

Well I know there is still a lot not to love but I'm choosing to see the great things about London at the moment. I am having a ball this year visiting London as often as I can. Which is unusual for me since I usually prefer the comfort of my own home, in rural old Leicestershire. Staying home and avoiding people has always been the easy option. But this year, possibly due to the wonderful weather we keep having, has me longing for venturing out. Again, just like my last trip, I headed out with my good friend Panikos Hajistilly . Living in North London he finds it easy to meet up for our shoots. This time though I had more of an idea of the sights I wanted to use as the backdrops for my portraits. With it being spring I was in search of colour, preferably flowers. Admittedly. I didn't quite get what I was looking for. The white fronted terraced houses with pink magnolia trees we did not find unfortunately. But I did make it to Peggy Porchen's which was a must see on m...

Fine Art Portraits of a Beautiful Young Girl

So this is really becoming my thing lately. I am having so much fun working with children individually where I can direct and interact in ways that bring the best out of my subject. This has certainly become a process now of creating rather than taking photographs. And its what I have always wanted to be, a portrait artist rather than a photographer. I cannot put into words fully just how rewarding this is. For each of these shoots (as with nearly all of my shoots) we begin with a consultation where we discuss what we would like to achieve in the shoot. Here we will consider the type of clothing and any possible props. We will look at both the clients clothes and my ever growing collection so we can pick what will work best. In all circumstances we are heavily guided by what the child in the portraits wants to wear as I see this as vitally important. If he or she is uncomfortable its going to show and the portraits won't work. But most are happy to play dressups and wear a com...

Christina Lauder Portraits

Search This Blog