Corporate portraiture
Busy executives don't have time to let me synchronize to their "zone". They've got 12 minutes between meetings because of the standard daily emergencies. This calls for a different strategy on the part of the photographer. In these cases, I usually can talk to a communications person about what the context of the photo will be. If at all possible, I will prelight. In these cases, I prefer to use video lights, because they reduce the chance of surprises, and they blend more seamlessly into the ambient light. I then try to envision the person in motion... what are they doing just before, during, and just after the moment we wish to capture? By presenting a scenario and having the angle worked out ahead of time, we can avoid the look of a standard pose. By being ready before s/he arrives to their office, I am able to shoot a few candids while they confer with staff; then look at their mannerisms during a 2-minute get-acquainted conversation, and suggest a couple of poses that work with the light, the room, and the layout of the intended spread. The shots in this gallery do not yet represent the full range of executive portraiture I have done, or am capable of doing.
