This portrait made it on Mad about Portraits (MaD), a site dedicated to exhibiting portrait work from Portrait Photographers around the World!
Here is my interview, given by Matabum:
M: Can you please tell us the story behind this portrait? How you took it and why you choose to shoot this person?
A: I love editorial images – images that tell a story. Many of my favorite images were taken when people weren’t expecting to be photographed.
I took this image at the end of a family photoshoot. We were saying our goodbyes in the parking lot, and my clients were putting their kids in the car. When I noticed Ian was being mischievous by climbing into the driver’s seat instead of his carseat, I knew this could be interesting, so I was ready to take the shot even while I was talking to Julie, Ian’s mom.
This image was taken the moment Ian realized his mom spotted him! In a matter of a couple seconds, I stepped back and composed the shot to capture Ian through the window and Julie in the reflection.
M: What photography gear you used here and why? What is usually in your photo bag?
A: I used a Nikon D90 and a Sigma 30mm/1.4. I choose the D90 for shooting families and children because of its light weight. I run around a lot during shoots with children, and I need to be able to carry 2 camera bodies and a bag of lenses, so weight is a large consideration for me.
For a typical lifestyle photoshoot, I will bring 2 Nikon bodies and several lenses, such as a 70-200/2.8, 24-70/2.8, 30mm/1.4, and 14mm ultra wide.
M: What do you love most about shooting portraits?
A: That it’s never dull or mundane. Every person has a different story, different experiences and different personalities. As an artist, I get to translate their uniqueness in my photographs.
M: Do you consider yourself mostly as a “portrait” photographer?
A: That’s a great question. Although 98% of my photographs are of people, I still don’t consider myself a Portrait Photographer. I define “portrait” as an image of a person. I capture moments and emotions.
M: Do you work with available light or do you use additional lighting often?
A: Available light! Even for evening and indoor shoots, I still prefer using available light. I find that photographing with available light creates a greater variety of moods and has a more organic feel in the images.
M: What/Who are your photography muses and influences?
A: I was a painter before picking up my first camera, so I’d say the Fine Arts influences a lot of my work. From how I compose a shot to my attraction to light, patterns and colors, it all stems from my years of watercolor and oil painting.
My recent influences are the production of movies. I love watching how the Directors of Photography shoot each scene – ie, how the camera pans into a room, how they set up the lighting, how they compose the scene to unravel a story.
M: Any tip for taking better portraits?
A: Be ready with your camera at all times.