Character photo - where you work.

A gardener in Palm Springs posing for me - I'm sure he's proud of the work he does.

When I photograph people, I like to have something that speaks to more than just the person's image.  I often find photographing relationships to be rewarding.  When photographing an individual, I often like to do what I call a character shot.

Character photos are less about what someone looks like and are more about who they are as an individual.  This may encompass any number of aspects of traits, but I often find that the best associations are with work or hobbies.  They are almost always photos of an individual, often in a setting where they spend a lot of time or find peace, and something that they have positive feelings towards.

In the above photo, I asked the gardener if I could photograph him.  He posed very simply with a pair of shears; there was nothing special about how he stood.  I loved the greenery around him and the flowers in the background.  I used flash to fill and emphasize the subject.  And, I quite like the composition, using thirds and getting the whole scene in focus.  (f/13 at ~35 mm relative)

I have always struggled with selling photos to people until I realized that people have to be emotionally connected to the image.  Relationships, character shots, and special events all rank up there for images that would inspire someone to want one.  A nice photo isn't often enough - if it doesn't evoke an emotion, they won't be interested.

Thanks for reading.

Eric Svendsen     www.ericpix.com

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