Today something strange happened to me in my life as a photographer: someone I would like to photograph asked me how I am.
I mean, there’s nothing unusual about the question. Hundreds of millions of people around the world ask each other how they are every day. What was strange in this case was that the person who asked me how I was apparently expected a thorough and complete answer. In other words, they wanted me to tell them how I really was.
I confess that it took me a while to understand what they wanted. It’s just that I’m not used to it, you know.
more pictures of Thomas here
Normally, I’m the one who asks the question to the people I photograph. The most common time to ask is while the person is watching me set up the flashes, arrange the objects, trying to do everything very quickly to make the most of the time.
I always warn them: ‘Even if I’m not looking at you, I’m listening to you.’ And I’m telling the truth, because the answer to the question ‘How are you?’ also phrased as ‘Tell me a little bit about yourself’ is by no means trivial. And it helps me a lot to take good photos.
First, I get an idea of what the person I’m going to have in front of the camera is like. I evaluate factors that are decisive for the success of a photo shoot, such as how relaxed the model is or their mood, or I get an idea of what their visual culture is like (sometimes it’s necessary to give visual references, and there’s little point in giving them if the model doesn’t know what you’re talking about).
Also, somewhat related to the above, I assess how ‘open’ they may be to suggestions. When approaching a photo shoot, everything is much easier if the person is receptive and trusts you.
Then, out of courtesy, I tell them how I am. And, above all, I try to summarise how I got here.
more pictures of Kenji, here
I tell them that I’m Spanish, but that I’ve been living in Austria for many years. That I started taking photographs for another project. That I like photographing people (although I like talking to them and hearing about their lives even more). Then, I ask the person to stand in a certain spot (I usually point it out with my foot), take a test shot, and, if everything is fine, we begin.
Today, thanks to this person who wrote to me, I realised that I don’t usually talk about how I am. Perhaps because photographers tend to be rather introverted people—although, in my case, it may seem the opposite—the camera offers us refuge, it offers us protection. The camera is placed in front of our faces, perhaps precisely so that we don’t have to say how we are, who knows. In my case, because I think it’s more important to know how the other person is.
Besides, I’m generally (let´s knock on wood) doing very well. In other words, my life is boring.
