I think Emma photographs very well, she can also take direction and doesn't mind short bursts of being followed and photographed. The pictures are co-authored and co-inspired in the moment by the two of us and I think this results in Emma unknowingly stamping her personality on each shot. That said, the process is more captured than designed and I think that helps the process be as painless as possible given most people don't particularly like having their picture taken.
This series of photos are intended to reflect the individual not a style - both in terms of the subject and myself, of capturing moments off guard and not playing up to the camera.
1. Close up
Although I had some head shots that were closing in more on her face, I wanted to include more of the hat and also the scarf for a burst of colour. Overall this would be my favourite of the 5 shots included. I didn't want an obvious smiley shot - I wanted it to feel more contemplative.
2. Torso
Emma admires herself in a store changing room. I am stood in the cubicle while Emma is looking past me at the mirror.
I wanted to capture her looking at herself rather than me giving direction and so I was snapping quite quickly. If I had the time to set things up then I would have moved the curtain to the right of the picture so that it was out of the way - unfortunately to do this then I wouldn't have caught Emma off guard and looking so lovingly at herself as she would have been more self conscious given we were shooting quickly in a changing room and I would have been directing her to look at herself rather than catching her doing so. (She didn't buy the outfit!)
3. Contextual
Emma in the office where she works as a PA and here she is multi-tasking - on the phone, on the pc, writing, doing it all at the same time but doing it in a calm manner. Although I am giving her direction I was quite pleased with this picture as this is how she looks while doing her job - always smiling, always professional (although she is usually surrounded by more clutter which has been removed for the purpose of this picture).
I've cropped the original picture slightly at both sides as there was a fair amount of grey wall either side of her and I wanted to focus the attention onto her - and her remaining clutter.
4. Full body, seated
I turned this picture to black and white mainly as I felt the beige stone surrounding Emma seemed a little overwhelming - by turning it to black and white it made the figure stand out a little more. The casual outfit also suits the casual stance.
5. Head & shoulders
In a lift where Emma's coat is blending into the surroundings. I like that the overall darkness to the picture means the face stands out. If there were more room I would have like to have moved my position to make more of the reflections but couldn't do it without getting into the shot myself.
For me, knowing Emma well, I think these pictures are very much her - no acting for the camera, the images need to be favourable and honest - and they have a calm feeling to them. These pictures would confirm who Emma is to anyone who knows her. If I had time I would have like to have captured her interacting with her children as that is when she releases the hold she keeps on herself in public.
I noticed through this assigment that I prefer not to use the whole body for shots and focus more on the upper half of the body. I've also noticed that I don't mind being quite close and getting close up shots of the face which I had thought would be something that I wouldn't have been that comfortable with. Close up shots, I think, would be an area that I would like to explore more.
