Mark Nelson : Photographer

Fashion Shoot by Mark Nelson

I recently did some photographs for a tapas bar in Didsbury, Manchester thanks to a contact made via Twitter with DidsburyLife. Now DidsburyLife is friends with other photographers, one of whom phoned me up to ask if I would be interested in doing a photo shoot that he was unable to do. It was last minute, rushed and unpaid (he was originally approached to do the pictures as a favour to a friend). The photographer in question suggested me because he had seen my small exhibition – still being shownin the DidsburyLife offices if you fancy picking up an original piece of art for a very reasonable price – and thought I might be interested.

My initial response was to say no and run a mile. But, this would mean passing up the opportunity of working with someone who actually wanted to be photographed (i.e. a model, or in this case two models) and I’ve been keen for ages to do some more portrait work. Also, I find it quite difficult to say no, even when my brain is screaming NO! at the top of its voice. And so it came to pass that I found myself at a wedding fair in St Margaret’s church, nr Altrincham in Cheshire having agreed to photograph head pieces and fascinators for Sophia Couture, a fashion studio based in Manchester. As I was not getting paid I figured that I had nothing to lose provided I was up front about my amateur status and tried to do the best I could.

To say I was outside of my comfort zone would be an understatement (landscapes don’t tend to move and don’t ask me to direct them) but both models were really kind and humoured me as I went about my erratic business. Now I took a lot of pictures and I’m currently in the process of whittling them down so I can send them to Sophia Couture for use in their press materials but this picture is one that I took in an unguarded, unposed moment (note the cup of coffee) so I figure that I am OK to blog this one.

I’m quite proud of the posed pictures, given the pressure I was under, but I like this one because it is natural and unposed and captures a break in the proceedings – a chance to grab a coffee, hat still perched precariously on head. Sure, there are some obstructions in the foreground (more hats I think) but I hope it works. Hopefully, she won’t mind me blogging this picture (and if she does I will of course remove it from the blog).

So, did I enjoy it? Yes and No. At last I had the chance to take some portraits that weren’t family members, which was good. However, I also had to contend with some serious lens envy (the place was awash with pro wedding photographers) and at one point being verbally abused by a wedding photographer who thought I had had stolen his gig [he quickly backed down when he realised that I posed no real threat]. Lens envy is the amateur photographer’s curse; everyone you ever meet is better equipped and it can be intimidating, especially in this arena. I have tremendous respect for wedding photographers (apart from the one, obviously) given what they have to contend with and given that they are charged with capturing the most important day in someone’s life. At least landscapes don’t move.

I’m glad I did it. But at the same time it was very stressful. I now realise that I need a dedicated flash unit and a decent zoom lens and these things don’t come cheap [did I mention I have some pictures for sale :-) ]. It was invaluable practice for when I shoot my friend’s sisters wedding in the Summer though and has given me that bit of confidence that I won’t cock it up completely, particularly as the brief is unposed, natural shots to ‘capture the day’.

Mark Nelson - www.zardoz67.wordpress.com