People
For me, in portraiture, the story telling element is essential. It has to be open to different interpretations, making people look more carefully at a picture and coaxing them to create stories out of it. Best of all, I like it when viewers of a photo create their own stories. In my photography, I want to catch and captivate my viewers, bringing them into my world.
Creating a portrait does require preparation. For me, I tend to shoot no more often than once a month. This process requires setting out all my ideas onto a mood board, putting together the best team I can get, choosing a suitable location, and organizing the props. It is a time-consuming but rewarding process. Don’t forget your make-up artist and stylist. They can bring such wonderful details into your work. I am convinced it is not the photographer alone who makes the picture; it’s the entire team that’s pushing the release button.
I noticed that working with a team creates a situation to work together in cooperation and with an open mind. Most of the time it leads to satisfactory results and a happy team.
Working in a studio offers the optimal control of light, props, and the best circumstances in which to work with my models. In Holland, rain is common, so being inside does create a more reliable environment. The lighting during my shoots is mainly two or three strobes, with a big softbox. I do keep my ...
