Kiren Photography

Have you any advice for people who hate having their photo taken?

When it comes to undertaking a professional photo shoot, it’s totally normal to feel a little awkward. Once we get started though the process becomes very self explanatory and I find even the most anxious sitters start to enjoy themselves. I work with newbies every week and provide full on-camera direction along with lots of useful tips to help people bring out their best in front of the camera.

How long does a portrait session take?

There is no one answer as some photo shoots are more detailed than others. Other times the person being photographed can be under enormous time constraints. There are also many other factors including the location, the lighting, the amount of outfit changes we are doing, Once the initial pre-production has been worked out though you will be given a time estimate.

What should I bring to my portrait shoot?

For individual portrait photography I’d recommend a hair brush, hair spay and a back up outfit or two incase your initial choice is n’t working. Depending on the type of shoot that we’re undertaking, props can sometimes be useful. A handbag, laptop or even a coffee cup can help give you something to do with your hands.

How should I prepare for my portrait session?

What makes a great portrait, as opposed to just a good one very much takes place during the shoot. It has a lot to do with the dynamics between the sitter and the photographer. A lot of it’s about ‘being in the moment’. For this reason there is not a lot you can do beforehand to prepare, aside from checking your clothes are pressed and your skin and hair are looking good. That, along with a good night’s sleep before the shoot.

Where do you photograph your subjects?

Corporate and Business shoots are usually done at the client’s work place. Often this will involve a portable studio set-up. Other projects including individual shoots for Sydney clients take place in selected locations in the Eastern Suburbs, Inner City and Northern Beaches. These areas are selected for numerous technical reasons along with the diverse range of textures and backgrounds they provide. The same goes for photo shoots in Melbourne and Brisbane. Depending on the scale and budget of the shoot, studio photography is either done in Paddington or various studios around the inner city of Sydney.

How long is it usually until I receive my images?

The turn around time from your shoot date is usually 2 to 3 business days

How will the images be delivered?

Your images are delivered online via DropBox or WeTransfer.

What is editorial photography?

The actual definition of editorial photography can often be confusing to both clients and photographers who are new to the industry. In it’s general sense, it refers to the photography that accompanies an article or an interview in a book or a magazine. 

Editorial photography tends to focus more on realism as opposed commercial photography which is geared towards perfection. Editorial photography may include a small credit or caption for fashion designers who’s work is featured in an article, however it is not used directly to sell product. In cases where editorial and adverting merge, we get what is known as an advertorial. This is where a designer or a retailer will commission photography which has the feel of an editorial spread but who’s purpose is to directly showcase their product. Like advertising and commercial photography, it’s usually more glossy and finished in appearance. It tends to use clean and even lighting in order to allow the viewer to see the actual detail in the clothing. The images are quick and easy to access. In the case of clothing you can usually make out each button hole and stitch. 

Editorial photography is produced by magazines or publishers, who in turn commission fashion photographers along with stylists and make up artists to create content for a specific issue. Because of the trend setting nature of fashion magazines, editorial photography tends to be more creative and progressive. Clothing may appear out of focus or in shadow as a way of enhancing the mood of an image. As it works on an emotional level, many high-end fashion brands will use the style of editorial photography for their adverting campaigns in order to appeal to a more refined market. Often the look will be more edgy and sexy. In some cases, the design or product will not even be featured in the actual image.

What is the difference between a headshot and a portrait?

You can think of a headshot as being more of an iconic representation. Featuring only the head and shoulders and set against a plain background without props, the subject is usually evenly lit, with their eye line directed at the camera. Headshots are used in professional settings by both corporates and actors alike. The traditional cropping for a headshot is 8” x 10” inches, however with Facebook and LinkedIn this can also be a circle or a square.

A portrait is seen as more or a realistic representation of it’s subject. Often it will accompany an article in an editorial or feature on a bio where a more in depth representation is required. As the intention behind a portrait is generally to convey mood and emotion, elements such as styling and lighting are usually more intricate. Because portraits are seen as a photographer’s interpretation of a subject there is no specific crop size.  

While portraits can be taken anywhere, they will often use their setting as a way of enhancing their subject’s story. This can also be referred to as an environmental portrait. A studio portrait offers a more abstract representation. Often the sitter will appear against a plain background. This helps to isolate them from their environment and allows the viewer of the portrait to focus in on subtle details.

Can you replicate an image I have seen elsewhere?

Clients who are new to working with professional photographers will often ask if the photographer can create a shoot for them based on an image they have seen in a magazine or on the internet. While this can be helpful in communicating your preferences, there can be however many hidden challenges associated with approaching a photography shoot in this way. 

Firstly, it’s important to understand that the internet is awash with glamours portraits of celebrities dressed in designer fashion and shot in exotic locations. Because these images are so common place in our culture, they give off the impression that they are easily obtainable. The fact is, the budget for some photography assignments, particularly advertising campaigns can be massive. An example would be the iconic Pirelli Calendar, where the budget can be 1 million USD to produce 12 final images.

If you’re a small business in Sydney looking to undertake a branding campaign or an individual wanting some personal portraits, it may be useful to use these sourced images to stimulate some initial ideas for yourself. At the end of the day, you’re going to be far better off choosing a photographer who’s work resonates with you, and creating your ideas from there. The reason for this is that professional photographers spend years developing their own unique style - which is like a creative signature. While a technically skilled photographer may be able to emulate another photographer’s work, it will never be as good as work from the original source, or the work they would have done using their own techniques and ideas. 

When you look at a film for example, it almost goes without saying, the sequel is never as good as the original. This has a lot to do with the way in which the project is approached. When you create an original work, you are in a creative space, where there are far fewer limits, boundaries and expectations. The film maker is free to work ‘in the moment’. With a sequel however, you are working to emulate a style or idea that has already been established. There are rules and boundaries in place, and the approach is far more technical and formulaic. For this reason, a sequel never quite captures the essence and spirit of the original.  

What is the difference between photographers who record images vs photographers who create images?

Photographers tend to be divided into two categories - those who record images such as sports photographers and those who create them the same way as a portrait photographer does. 

When you record an image, you take it from an observer’s perspective. You have little interaction with the subject and so are relying of a random series of events to fall into place. Often, there is a high degree of realism involved with a high emphasis on being in the right place at the right time. You may encounter moments where for example your subject is well positioned in a street scene or the lighting is particularly striking due to a random reflection, however if you miss that moment you have lost the shot. Photographers such as journalists, sports photographers, wedding and event photographers fall into this category. 

When you create an image like a portrait or a picture in a fashion catalogue, you have far greater control of the elements, whether it be lighting, wardrobe or background. You can craft the image to the point where you choose the time of day, weather conditions and the actual pose of the subject. This is particularly so in the case of studio photography. While you have all this control, your greatest challenge in such a contrived situation is to create realism (depending of course on the assignment). This is particularly evident in portrait photography, where even the simple act of getting your subject to smile or look relaxed can be your greatest challenge.

Another important factor for photographers who create images is the ability to direct their subject. Having the ability to guide a subject and bring out a particular emotion without the image looking staged and awkward is a seperate skill in itself. If I were to simply say to a model ‘smile’, what I'd generally get is a conditioned response where the mouth reacts but the eyes look flat. Skilled direction involves guiding the subject to the point where they deliver real emotions. Experienced photographers have their own set of techniques for this (a topic which I will save for a later blog). Photographers in this category include editorial, adverting, fashion and corporate photographers. 

How to choose a professional photographer

As previously mentioned in my article ‘Is there a difference between photographers who record images vs photographers who create images?’, from a client’s perspective, the type of photographer you require will fall into either one category or the other.

The next stage in the decision process should be based on the photographer’s portfolio. If you are looking to create a portrait, fashion catalogue or model portfolio then you will need to work with a creative photographer. The photographer’s portfolio will give you an indiction of the style the photographer works in along with their level of skill and experience. To use portrait photography as an example, you will be looking for the way in which the photographer captures the essence of a person. For example, is there energy in the eyes of the subject? Does the photographer light the face or pose the subject’s body in a way that is flattering? Is the composition of the image pleasing? This is a very different skill set to, for example a technical photographer who shoots sport. As a sports photographer is not required to direct their subject or ever make decisions on whether their subject would look better with hair up or down. Once you have decided on style, the photographer will give you an indiction of what can be achieved based on your budget.

If you require a photographer to record an event, such as a corporate function then you will be fine with just a technical photographer. They will also have a portfolio which you can view online, however the type of skills you will be looking for will be based more around their ability to capture spontaneous moments and give a reliable account of who was there and how the day unfolded.

Technical photographers will often charge an hourly rate with all images supplied, as opposed to creative photographers who charge by the assignment and may license each individual image.