Art is quite often a non-linear process. Artists tend to stay away from words like "processes" and use more fluid terms like "journey" or 'path".
Blogs don't usually have forewords but for this one, I think it's necessary to add a short one:
Professional photographers sometimes have a disadvantage when they accept a heavy volume of client briefs for shoots because, the scope and constraints of those photography briefs often condition the creative artist to think and act a certain way. In my humble and professional opinion, this stunts their capacity for self-expression over a longer period of time. Thinking creatively - in the truest sense - requires us to be free of any unnecessary mental blocks and commercial pressure. This is why the term commercial photographer or videographer is often used to describe someone who will follow a brief in exchange for payment.
Take any given skill. You will find that there is always a price to dictate how that skill is used.
Recently, Martin Creates teamed up with a model called Ana-Maria who is based in Birmingham. She came to London and we did a dark-themed Valentine's Day shoot in Barbican. We didn't mood board much, we only bookmarked a few videos as reference points for outfits and music that we might use.
The whole point of being experimental and open-minded when organising passion projects or collaborative shoots is because you can make mistakes without anyone reprimanding you. Competition is stark and clients are unforgiving. The work required to maintain a healthy reputation can make the difference between financially being able to start a family and barely making rent. This is why we need an open environment to practice, make mistakes, learn, try again, laugh, not have that commercial pressure looming over us all whilst knowing that the world is still watching.
But and there is a happy end to this story, it's all worth it because it brings us joy and pride when it comes together and you have added yet another milestone and positive life experience to your legacy.
I won't go into details but feel free to comment on this blog in comments section I will answer any questions asap.
These street portraits were relatively straightforward to compose. Using a professional model makes such a difference. They were taken with a Zeiss 55mm 1.8 which is my favourite prime lens for street photography and event work because it's versatile without being too wide. There is enough compression to make it a pleasure to use and it's very light and sharp.
These images are mostly black and white because I used a flashgun and the ambient colours welcome monochromatic contrast. This made editing these photos relatively easy. These were taken using a Sony 35mm 1.8 which you can learn more about in my article about "My Favourite Lens" https://www.martincreates.co.uk/post/my-favourite-lens-written-by-a-professional-photographer.
Same shoots, same camera, same model, same outfit and yet a difference of 20m means the lighting clearly changed and it enabled us to unlock two completely different looks.
Lastly, here is a video we did too which I deliberately challenged myself to do in under 10 seconds. There will be a longer one released soon. Stay tuned.
I'd love to hear your thoughts please comments below. Don't forget to like and share if you enjoyed this article. If you have any experimental photos you'd like to share, please don't hesitate to reach out.
I am a professional freelance photographer and videographer based in London, UK. I started Martin Creates in order to help empower people and brands worldwide. One of the ways I do that is by publishing blogs with free information to help any creatives out there reading this. I welcome you to check out my work on this website as well as my newly launched site martincreatesweddings.com. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out.
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