Jim's Blog - Portraits

Sometimes, you couldn’t make my job up.

Over the last couple of weeks. I’ve photographed business people for a corporate brochure, newsreader Fiona Bruce surrounded by rubbish; footballer Les Ferdinand and poet and ditty writer Pam Ayres.

But shooting such a variety of people makes what I do so interesting and unpredictable.

I’ve had to learn, of course, how to get the best out of everyone.

When it comes to having their picture taken, people are all different. Some are consummate professionals ( even if they’re not celebrities) and manage to click into a perfect pose and facial expression as if by magic.
Fiona Bruce was one, Kate Winslet  -who I shot earlier this year - is another.

Others can be quite nervous or self conscious, some simply bored, and a few, well, challenging.
The trick to making people of all looks and personalities feel at ease is to be confident in yourself and engage with them.

Sometimes it can be hard if you’re pushed for time, or someone is barking orders and ideas in the background.

But, when doing a portrait the thing to remember is: the most important person in the room, at that time, is the subject.
That doesn’t mean that you have to be a simpering yes- person and cater to their every whim. Well, not always!
But what it does mean is that you have to make eye contact with them, smile, compliment them in some way ( don’t be creepy, of course ) share a joke or a bit of banter.

It’s also important to work out their ‘best’ side. Everyone – other than top models – has one side of their face that photographs better than the other.
You can usually tell which is more dominant, but if in doubt try both.

If you’re working with digital you’ll be able to see straight away, if on film then you should shoot both.

In my next blog I’ll go into more detail about how to shoot a great portrait. It’s something that everyone wants to do, and with a few tricks up your sleeve there’s no reason why those pics of mum, mate and granny shouldn’t be perfect.
In the meantime : I’m looking forward to the final of The Apprentice. I shot all the publicity pictures for this ( and the last ) series and have an inkling who’s got the job.

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