It is not all me

“It’s not the photographer who makes the picture, but the person being photographed.” –Sebastiao Salgado

As a photographer I have been approached on several occasions and asked about my camera. I received comments or questions such as "what kind of camera is that? What kind of photos does it take? Does it make your photos look professional?" I try to be polite, I really do. However I must admit it is hard for me to be nice and not be rude when giving an answer. People just don't seem to understand photography. They seem to think that it is just point and click. However there is so much more to it then that. Let me explain.

First a client comes to me with a request to have a photo session. They are not coming me because of the type of camera I have, they are coming to me because they have seen my work and they like "my style". A camera alone cannot create a style, however it can record it. When a client comes to me we talk about what they are looking for. Are they looking for a studio shoot, an outdoor shoot, a senior portrait, wedding, maternity or newborn shoot? When a client makes the decision on the type of shoot they are looking for there is so much more that must be discussed. These things include location, clothing, people involved, the feel of what they are looking for. I want my clients to be able to portray a story with their photos and I want them to love every photo that I produce for them. 

The next step is the actual photo shoot. There is a lot that goes into it. I as the photographer have to be rested, excited, confident and ready to shoot.  I have to be ready to show this confidence to my client and I have to be ready to excite my client and make the shoot fun. If the shoot is a run of the mill "ho hum" shoot what does this really produce? It produces run of the mill photos. These photos will not be any different then snap shots taken by big name companies. They will not be personalized, and above all they will not be unique. There will be no emotion captured, the moment will not be special. These are all things that a camera can just not add to a photo. This is my job to bring it out of the client in order to produce the memories that they wanted to capture. 

Up until now I have discussed everything that I have to do as the photographer in order to try and make sure that the photo shoot goes the way that it should, and try to reduce the photo that the client is looking for. However there is one point that I must point out.  At the top you will notice that there is a quote. If you haven't read it, please take the time to read it now before  reading any further. I know the quote sounds crazy, I mean how can the camera and the photographer not make the photo? That's their job right? In all reality it is not. The photographer can make sure that their gear is ready to shoot, and they can prep the client as much as possible, but it is the client that must make the choice to make the photo. If the client is not in the mood to take a photo they are not going to have fun with it. They are not going to "work" the camera. 

A client has to be comfortable in front of the camera. They have to want to be there, and above all they need to have fun. If you are not having fun, the photographer and their amazing camera is going to capture, boring, uninspiring photos. The trick I believe as a photographer is to find a way to help a client make the shoot fun. Laugh with them, be a bit unpredictable, suggest some fun poses, or don't pose at all. There are a number of ways to get your client comfortable in front of the camera. Do whatever it is that you have to in order to help them. This means that you have to know your client. This is something that is important. Knowing your client opens up a whole new world of abilities for you as a photographer. The reason for this is that it opens your client up to you and they trust you. They trust you to make an excellent photo with in your skill level. This same photo that you are going to create with them is going to be something that they treasure for the rest of their lives and they are paying  you to capture this special moment in time. However as the photographer you can recreate the moment, but the client has to live the moment. With out the client there is no moment. 

Just a thought, but I personally think that this is a very, very important one.