Every once in a while, I’m drawn to click on an article about how to improve my photography — human nature, I guess. But, as you’ve already undoubtedly experienced, it’s nearly always the same recycled list of tips about leading lines, looking up, getting low, rule of thirds and the like. It’s not only disappointing, it’s cruel — and perhaps even inadvertently designed to keep you from growing as a photographer.
I handle notes no better than many others. But the pauses; That is where the art resides. – Arthur Rubinstein
A Photo Shoot
A few months back, at a photo shoot, I was with a lot of people. There were clients, dancers, crew, photographers, catering — it was a busy set and a lot to do. Time was of the essence and we were pushing through the day. It got to be about an hour left and I felt stressed — there was barely enough time to manage all of it. It was me against the clock. The dancers for the shoot gathered in a location and were doing their thing, we got the shots and were about to run to a final location for the last pieces of the day when the choreographer suggested we stop for a second. He said these words, “Hey, I know it sounds corny, but could we just pause right now for a moment of silence? It’s just something I want to do. I just want us all to remember this feeling and place right here.” It did sound corny to me, actually. Until we did it. Then it felt like the most amazing thing I’d ever done. And something I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. I’ve been trying to make sense of why it made me feel that way and how best to describe it, ever since.
From just-starting-out to novice to experienced, there’s something we can all learn to improve our craft.
1. No Matter How Pro You Get, It’s Still a Passion Play
Don’t ever lose the spark that got you into photography. Your passion for creating beautiful images of things that interest you is the underlying motivating force behind every shoot you do. When that spark goes out, it also leaves your images. So, treat your inspiration and creativity as the most vital skill you have. Honor it, cultivate it, nurture it.
Humans react in one of three ways to stress — they move against, move toward or move away. These are our defense mechanisms in life and we figure out early on which one is going to work for us, and that becomes the crux of our personality. This is one theory on personality — but it’s the one that makes the most sense to me as a photographer.
It all depends what kind of photography you’re into.
Professional Studio and Professional Portrait Photography
I would only bring full frame SLR or medium format camera into a studio or to a high-end, professional portrait or headshot shoot, especially if I’m tethering or firing off strobes. My Nikon D850 is tailor made for a studio shoot with reliable performance, great dynamic range, easy access ports, Capture One compatibility, better/bigger/faster QXD and SD slots and a suite of available/rentable glass and backup bodies. The second most-important skill of a professional photographer, after getting the shot, is dealing with problems. There are always problems — it’s the nature of photography and humanity. I was reading a long complaint in a Fujifilm forum just yesterday about the camera locking up. It happens. But it happens less with Nikon and Canon than any other camera, because they’ve been iterating on studio-ready equipment for decades. But when things do go wrong, Nikon and Canon are prepared — as are the crews supporting you — with quick solutions to get you back shooting.
