Last week I sat down for a coffee with a fellow photographer at her office, and we got on the topic of portrait photography. She asked if I have experienced feeling tired, almost exhausted, after photographing a person.
My answer? “Oh yes, often”.
As a photographer, it can be very draining, depending on the circumstance, and person. Almost everyone says they don’t like to get their picture taken, but with some you don’t notice it much. With others… You have to drag it out of them. Find something deep within them that helps them relax, look happy and natural. That is so difficult, and tiring.
I’ve been to many companies where the boss has hired me to take staff portraits. And there’s always someone, working on a computer by their desk, that definitely does not want to be photographed. What ensues then is me opening myself up and turning my energy up to max: Chatting a lot, about everything and anything, trying to tell stupid jokes, digging for who they are and what they like. But I have to get to know them, and them me, and find a way to get to them, in like 10 minutes.
I am exhausted afterwards.
But then sometimes, it is oh so very different.
Once a month I work at a local event, where the host has invited a famous person working within the cultural scene: An author, actor, writer or musician. For one hour people get to sit and enjoy listening to a conversation between the two about culture: What they consumed as a child and what has shaped them, what they consume now and any and all thoughts and stories that come up around the topic. It is a lovely concept and enjoyable evening.
My job? To document the event, but also to portray each guest prior to the talk. I usually only have 10-15 minutes with them, in a dimly lit hotel.
Portraiture to me is not a closeup of what someone looks like. I want to find something deeper, I want to work with the environment I am in and I want the person being portrayed to move within that scene. Someone standing still, stiff and straight is not what I want to capture.
My goal is to capture the person residing on the inside of the physical body.
Last week I had the honour of photographing a female author with a doctorate in philosophy. I had of course image googled her (as one does) and there were not a lot of photos of her, which immediately led me to believe that she did not like being photographed, I sensed a challenge approaching.
I was so wrong.
Because I am so short on time with each guest, I threw her in deep right away. This venue is a place I know well now, and there are a few locations I end up using over and over. This evening I wanted to do something new. For the client getting something different, and for me to feel creatively challenged and inspired.
In the lobby, by reception, there’s a mirror on the wall, and I asked her to stand and look into the mirror, and “pose with herself”, move a lot and I told her that she did not need to look at me all the time.
She nailed it and I immediately knew I was wrong, this photoshoot would be a breeze. We went to one other spot I like using, but after 10 minutes I knew I had what I needed. I felt euphoric instead of drained. I love so many of these images, and several will definitely make it into my portfolio.
Do you engage in portraiture? If so, how do you find the process of not knowing someone, and having to find something deeper than just capturing the way they look? Let me know in the comments!
Live slow and stay wild / Rania
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Beautiful portraits indeed, not the usual stuff.
This is a lovely series of portraits Rania, beautifully lit and you can tell she was fully engaged with you.