My photographic style tends to change with the requirements of the job and what I think best fits my subject matter at the time. If I had to narrow it down to just one or two types of photographic styles, I would say I prefer a photojournalistic style and I have a tendency to throw in a fine art flair to it because of my strong art background and influence. Therefore, I guess my photographic style is fine art photojournalism. There is a fine art to photojournalism as well, that few people realize. Think about the photos that have moved you the most. Some photojournalistic photos are true masterpieces and thus, can pass as fine art as well.
I completely prefer candid shots to posed shots, and so do my clients. Sometimes, posing a shot cannot be helped, such as when I need a group shot for a wedding or event. But I would say at least 95% of the time, I strive for that realistic, in-the-moment, candid shot.
I always tell my wedding clients to just go about their day, enjoying it and doing what they want to do, and to forget I’m even there. This gives them a sense of freedom to just be themselves and trust that I will capture the story of the day without them having to really participate in the photographic side of things at all. They are free to just enjoy one of the biggest days of their lives and have confidence that I am there to record it to the fullest.
On-location Photography
When I do on-location sessions, I let my subjects just be themselves, live in the moment, and have fun with it. I really try not to interfere by giving a ton of direction. This is where a large amount of creativity has to exist within the photographer, or this type of session could be a huge flop or one giant cliche.
A photo doesn’t have to be really outlandish or over-the-top to be a good photo either. Just a subtle, in-the-moment glance can speak volumes if done correctly, and that is what a photojournalistic style is all about: knowing when to take a shot and when not to. Having the skill with your gear to know how to push it to the limits if necessary to reveal something about the subject that would otherwise be hidden from normal view or lost forever. As the photographer, you can’t think about it. If you take the time to think, the moment is gone. This is where years and years of experience gives a photographer the instincts necessary to know where that “wow” shot is hiding and bring it to the surface; to the lens.
A Seasoned Photographer
These types of moments live in a split second, and then are gone forever. A seasoned photographer has an intuition and can see it coming – that “wow” shot, that moment in time worth freezing forever – and just has a gut instinct as to what to do with it in that split second of time. This cannot be taught, or learned, by just anyone. This is what they call the “photographer’s eye”; that ability to see and record what others do not know even exists and fail to see when it’s right in front of them. A person either has this ability or they don’t. The photographic style comes later.
