Blog | 56 - Whose Lifestyle Is It Anyway?
| Freelance Photographer in St Ives Cambridgeshire: Food & Drink Photography; Commercial Photography, Product Photography & Packshot Photography; Event Photography; Portrait Photography; Corporate Photography & PR Photography; Engagement Photography & Wedding Photography and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Bedford, Ely, St Neots, St Ives and London. Professional Photography Services in St Ives, St Neots, Huntingdon, Bedford, Peterborough, Ely & Cambridge. | |||
 
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Alistair Grant Freelance Photographer Cambridge & London |
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bokeh photographic: Blog No: 56 → TIP: Click any image to view in LightBox |
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Whose Lifestyle Is It Anyway? From the beginning I have always ensured that bokeh photographic Active Portraiture is completely natural. Keep reading to find out what I mean by this but, for the time being, the simple reason I shoot completely natural portrait photography is that it works so well that even the odd 'outake', as here, are great photographs. To ensure excellent images that will be treasured my underlying approach to each and every session is that a photoshoot should be an enjoyable experience. An enjoyable experience equates to relaxed clients which in turn equates to excellent images. I’m always at pains to point out that I regard Active Portraiture as authentic lifestyle photography. A significant amount of family & children’s portrait photography is described as 'lifestyle' when in reality the photographer instructs what they want people to do regardless of whether those concerned actually want to carry out whatever command is being barked out at them. Personally, I can’t think of anything more off putting when having my photograph taken. When I first started offering Active Portraiture I was inadvertently given a helping hand by a well-known high-street studio photography franchise. Despite promising to ‘capture the story of who you really are’ clients found themselves being told to do things on the whim of the franchise photographer that had little or no relevance to who they were. This frequently pushed people outside their comfort zone. To make matters worse, after signing up to an attractive introductory discount offer, most found themselves pressurised into buying an expensive photography package. The hard-sell tactics meant that people spent more than they could afford. Thankfully, after years of clients subsequently approaching me for lifestyle portrait photography complaining what they had been asked to do by the studio franchise ‘just wasn’t me’, contrived lifestyle photoshoots are now recognised for what they really are. Perhaps the biggest compliment is that more often than not it is my print or canvas that hangs above the mantelpiece and not the franchise’s (much pricier) signature photographic product. Active Portraiture is the perfect antidote to contrived lifestyle photography. So what do I mean by completely natural? For starters clients choose the location (for indoor and outdoor shoots), what they do on the photoshoot, and for that matter, what they bring along: toys, bikes & pets are all welcome. There’s no ordering people about or cringeworthy posing. That’s not to say that I don't guide clients but what people they do is entirely up to them – I’m simply there to capture the candid moments that staged photoshoots can't achieve. Whilst I always have a box of props on hand the difference is that I let clients spontaneously discover it (some don't - which isn't a problem) and instinctively decide whether to have fun with the ball, bubbles, foam tubes etc. Rather than endless sitting poses, or perhaps even worse, poses where people are asked to pretend to move around Active Portraiture is all about natural activity. People don’t have to run around but most do and not just the kids. This type of photography can help fill important gaps in the family album: action shots are tricky to photograph so Active Portraiture is ideal for quality action images of mum, dad and the children enjoying family fun and games. Although many different choices are available the most popular post-production finishes are those that emulate the very best characteristics of classic portrait film such as Kodak Portra 400VC i.e. warm-toned, vivid-colour, fine-grain images with good skin tones and slightly compressed shadows. Finally, absolutely no hard-sell - guaranteed! |
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Call Alistair Grant on 07775 365507, Email [email protected] or click Booking Enquiries if you have any questions or would like to make a booking. |
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bokeh: "the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens" Freelance Photographer offering Food & Drink Photography Cambridge; Commercial Photography Cambridge, Product Photography Cambridge & Packshot Photography Cambridge; Event Photography Cambridge; Portrait Photography Cambridge; Corporate Photography Cambridge & PR Photography Cambridge; Engagement Photography Cambridge & Wedding Photography Cambridge and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge. Also covering: Huntingdon, St. Ives, Ramsey, St. Neots, Peterborough, Bedford, Stamford, Newmarket, Sawtry, Alconbury Weston, Brampton, Hartford, Warboys, Houghton, Wyton, Godmanchester, Hilton, Hemingford Grey, Hemingford Abbots, Fenstanton, Whittesley, Yaxley, Needingworth, Somersham, Chatteris, Ely, Bar Hill, Grafham and Buckden. |
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bokeh photographic - Alistair Grant | Freelance Photographer | Cambridge, London, UK - Creative Natural Photography And Outstanding Customer Service At Competitive Prices - Food & Drink Photography | Commercial Photography & Product Photography | Corporate Photography & PR Photography | Portrait Photography (inc. 'Active Portraiture', 'Naturally You' & 'Poptraits') | Event Photography | Engagement & Wedding Photography | Photography Training Courses & Camera Tuition | Videography & Film Production Tel: 07775 365507 | Email: [email protected] |
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