PhotoLife – Mat Smith Photography

This blog post features a selection of photographs from last week’s shoot with the founders and select staff at Melcrum publishing.

The term corporate headshots leaves me a little cold; I prefer to think of them as a series of mini quick-fire interviews and I like to make them last for up to 15 minutes each, depending on how quickly we get the shots. In most cases it only takes 5-10 minutes.

As always, the kit used for a photo shoot often determines the style of the photographs that come out, and in some cases where I want the diaglogue to be snappy, I prefer to go as natural as possible and use a single off-camera flash with a shoot-through umbrella.

During such photo shoots, I sometimes like to engage the sitter in a fast-paced conversation about the exact details of the work they do on a day-to-day basis. I love getting little slices of people’s lives.

In smaller business commissions, it’s often the case that there is not enough room – or time – to use your own backdrop or set up studio lighting.

As soon as I arrive, I look around for a space where the reflected light will be as white as possible, and assess the usability of a wall for a backdrop. Sometimes the backdrop may be too reflective, but in the case of most white walls it’s possible to manage the reflections.

The plus side of this limitation is that you are without the constraints of seating, free to allow the subject to stand and make conversation whilst snapping.

I like to inform the subject that the best photos come just when you are about to laugh or when you are about to sound-off about a colleague I have never met, and so I keep chatting from behind the lens. If this makes the subject a little self-conscious, that’s great, because I can then poke fun where appropriate, which in turn gets a laugh.

Without posing the subject too much, I will experiment with a variety of facial expressions. It’s usually towards the end of the 10 minute slot that the subject feels relaxed enough to look good for the perfect headshot.

The photographer must keep moving the light stand around, however. And this makes post-production that little bit more difficult, as the light varies so much between shots, and people’s skin reflects light differently.

This week my photograph of St Pancras International Station is featured in high-circulation newspapers and journals (London), as well as on large posters adorning the concourse at St Pancras International Train Station.

The photograph – which uses a photographic and processing technique that involves the combination of high-key and low-key long exposure photographs – is featured in the London Metro newspaper (2/3 page), 2 metre prints on billboards within the station itself, on the front page of the website of St Pancras International, as well as in the Camden New Journal.

This is part of a Valentine’s Day promotion for St Pancras International to bring visitors to the station where they can dine, visit boutique shops, and visit the now famous Champagne bar, as well as peruse the statues, beautifully restored architecture, and love poetry penned by historic British authors, which is printed around the station.

The photo: (Copyright 2010 Mat Smith Photography)

To see the work:

• Pick up a Metro (London free newspaper) between Wednesday 10 Feb and  Friday 12 Feb, and look for the St Pancras promotion
• Pick up a copy of the Camden New Journal
• Visit St Pancras International and look for the large billboards in the middle of the concourse
• Download a PDF of the Metro promotion: mat-smith-photography-metro-10-02-2010.pdf
• Visit http://www.stpancras.com/ during the promotion
• View the Metro e-Edition: http://e-edition.metro.co.uk/2010/02/10/ (enter any email address to view, and skip to page 28)
• Download the Metro app for iPhone / iTouch, and view previous editions. Wednesday 10 Feb edition shows the photograph on page 28.

Last Thursday I met talented pianist Ceri to take publicity shots for her website and upcoming album releases of her recordings of Bach. We spent the afternoon shooting in the picturesque grounds of Magdalen College, Oxford.

The weather was perfect for the kind of photography we were doing: overcast with no rain, the clouds producing a good strong diffused light. (I like to think of the British weather as silver, not grey…)

London Marylebone.

I recently had the great pleasure of photographing Ken and Janice, who tied the knot in London Marylebone after over 15 years together.

A snap decision to make a keepsake from something like confetti is usually a decision well-made.

Tom and Emily are to be married next Easter in medieval York, and this weekend we went to take some photos around West London.

Sometimes a shoot is planned in great detail, but sometimes it’s nice to see what happens on the day.

Sunday turned out to be freezing cold, so we ventured indoors for these “on white” shots.

Next year’s 2010 Polo Club Calendar is now in the shops.

All photography for the calendar was shot by Mat Smith Photography.

The calendar can be purchased in store at Polista’s in Burlington Arcade, Mayfair London, alternatively it may be purchased online on Polista’s website.

After an excited trip to Jessop’s, New Oxford Street yesterday morning to pick up my final set of prints for the year, I’m delighted to be able to offer an e-Card system featuring my latest wintry photographs, to send friendly Christmas messages to your contacts.

Free e-Cards: www.matsmithphotography.com/cards

e-Greetings Card Features:

• The Polaroid and Rolleicord (film) photography of Mat Smith
• Your personalised message
• Six images to choose from

Enjoy!

I have never met a single person who, when asked to ‘relax and look natural’ in front of a huge lens pointing in their face, takes a photograph that actually represents their character in some way.

Nor have I ever met a child who will sit still for a photograph.

At least, perhaps they will do for a school photograph. But that’s a school photo for you: well-lit mugshot at best.

But as for any other portraiture of children, they won’t sit still.

I therefore find it takes the stress out of photographing boys when you work with them rather than against them…

Claire and Derrick at Petersham Hotel, London

I’ve just finished editing the photographs of the beautiful wedding of Claire and Derrick in Richmond, London.

The Petersham Hotel has glorious views overlooking the River Thames providing the perfect backdrop for some photographs at early dusk.

Claire and Derrick overlooking Richmond

And here are the happy couple in the hallway inside the Petersham Hotel.

Just Married

As any any Asian-cuisine-attuned Londoner will tell you, there’s a dearth of good sushi places in town.

Cue you me sushi in Marylebone.

What's for dinner tonight?