My Approach to  Portrait Photography

Throughout my professional career I have always enjoyed portrait photography. 

Approach: Whether it is a famous celebrity, a company director or family portrait shoot, I have the knack of capturing the personally of my subjects. My portrait sitters have included: Sir Richard Branson, Sir Clive Sinclair, Alan Rickman, Steve Davis, Barry Hearn, Anne Robinson, Juliet Stevenson, Patricia Hodge, Bill Oddie, Miriam Stoppard and Melvin Bragg. 

Exhibitions: My portrait work has been exhibited at a nationally at the National Portrait Gallery www.npg.org.uk, the National Museum of Media: nationalmediamuseum.org.uk,  also at the AOP Association Gallery: the-aop.org and the Flowers gallery: flowersgallery.com

Style: I always shoot very clean graphic images in terms of composition, use of light & shadow and attention to detail. Some of my peers consider me as a master of lighting and the use of lighting is a very important part of my work.

Technique: I often shoot portrait groups, individual Portraits and head shots using a simple white or light gray backdrop (and occasionally Black for a more dramatic result). My portrait subjects are simply lit with light weight studio flash units that are diffused to give a softer even light. The use of this type of set up enables me to work quickly and efficiently and gives me the opportunity to achieve spontaneity and build a great rapport with my subjects during my sessions. 

Art Direction: When working to specific brief, I can arrange lighting to achieve a particular result. This is important for the retail sector or photography for corporate brochures and Annual reports where the Brand is very important, requiring a specific style or look. I would in that scenario work with or be briefed by an art director to achieve a particular result

Location: My portrait set ups can also be mobilised and can be set up in any large room, church hall, business premises or wedding venue thus enabling me to work anywhere.

Corporate and Editorial shoots:  I will usually use portable lighting as these shots are mainly on location. The lighting is used to create drama or a stlylish look.

Family Portraits: I often shoot family portrait groups and individual portraits at locations that are special to my subjects. These can be riverside locations, parks, gardens, family homes or famous landmarks. There are plenty of great riverside and park locations right on my doorstep and I also own a dutch barge on the Thames that has a large deck and offers superb panoramic views up and down the river.

Wedding Portraits: I usually diffuse my lighting to create a more natural looking shot. This works particularly well at wedding venue photoshoots where there is a lot of portrait work to be done efficiently within a limited period of time. The art of good wedding photography is to fit seamlessly into the day allowing everyone to enjoy themselves.

Mobility: I will travel to any chosen location in the UK, Europe and Other parts of the world. I carry portable flash that can be very effective in backlit situations in both corporate locations and wedding receptions.

Rates: The vary according to the client, brief, location number of people to be photographed, number of hours of photography and copyright terms.

For further enquiries: Please use to contact form to get in touch for a quote or further information: specifying the client, shoot date, location, brief and usage/copyright terms

simonlewisphotography.co.uk/contact/

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