You may or may not have noticed, but I like headshots. 90% of my shots are 3/4 length and tighter (sometimes to my wife's dismay). I like filling the frame with as much of my subject as possible, and it's pretty clear in my work. You might be asking "Why?" right about now and the answer is simple...emotion
This is the part where I list off two pages of people who have inspired me....right? Well, I was going to do that but there are people that inspire me every day and not just photographers. But if you'd like a little list of photographers...here ya go (in no particular order): Gregory Heisler, Zack Arias, Joe McNally, Frank Doorhof, Scott Kelby, Lindsay Adler, David Ziser, RC Conception....and a slew of others that are all well known. What about those that aren't? Ever heard of Nick Fancher, Dani Diamond, Regina Pagles, Suzy Mead, or Roberto Olivadoti? Probably not, but look them up. I am inspired by my fellow photographers in my photo club as well, we have some very talented people there. So, I can't just thank one or two people for getting me into this...I have a lot!
Anyway, back to the topic, why I shoot like I do. Simple really, I very much like having a connection with my subjects. It's what photographers are supposed to do isn't it? Our job is to illicit an emotional response from the people viewing our work. It could either be a warm and happy feeling, or cold and sad. Either way, it is a success if we make our audience feel a connection with our photos. And for me it's shooting in tight with my subject looking back.
I like having my subjects eyes connect with me or the viewer. I know there are a lot of photos that don't have the people directly looking into the camera that are amazing, and maybe I just suck at doing those, but they are out there. I often try to keep it in the back of my mind, but end up falling short during the shoot. For some reason, most of them don't translate well after I view them...they look awkward to me...something for me to work on I suppose. To me, there is just something that seems to draw you in when you have that eye to eye contact.
Perhaps it's something rudimentary engrained in us of wanting to know we are being noticed. Think about it, when you're having a conversation with someone, would you prefer to have them looking all over the place or looking attentively back at you? For me, I would definitely want them to be looking at me. So, I bring that into my photos. I want my subject to "engage" the audience. It's still crazy to me how an inanimate portrait can still interact and evoke emotions even if it was taken a couple hundred years ago. That's pretty powerful stuff.
For most of my portrait work, which right now if focused on Seniors, I want to have that senior engaging their friends and family through their portraits. To me, that's what Senior photos are all about. Having their friends and family feel as if that photo was taken for them. Something to say "Hey, you are special to me". Capturing that special moment in their life for everyone to enjoy for years to come. It's why you don't see me using a bunch of filters or effects on my portraits.
For me, filters are a fad. It's either black and white, or color with my portraits. Those will always stand the test of time. A few years from now when all the "Instagram" filters have run their course, there are probably going to be a few people that are going to say "Man I wish I had one of these without that effect". Of course the client gets what they want, and if they want a selective colored, sepia toned, distressed image...I'll be happy to oblige. But...I still keep one unaltered image around...just in case.
I just try to create images people will enjoy and cherish. Something they will be proud of and be able to share with future generations. Everyone deserves it...everyone.