I had just started to think about being the other side of the lens when I read an article by Russell Squires my old Open College of the Arts tutor about that subject.
In the articles he tells how he asks his students to sit in front of the camera, something most of them show an aversion too as they are 'photographers not models' their words. He then goes on to explain that this is a necessary process to go through so that they learn to hand control over to the photographer. This helps them to understand both the position of photographer and subject, by putting yourself in your subjects shoes you can learn a lot, particularly in relation to engaging with your subject and also poses and the comfort factor, all this is important in being a portrait photographer.
I also asked myself the question, why don't people like having their photographs taken? could it be what they think the photograph might reveal, the days of people thinking a photograph will 'steal their soul' maybe past but many people are still uncomfortable with having taken. I have approached several people that I know and asked if I can photograph them their usual response is yes, when I have lost more weight, toned up got a tan etc etc. Is this partly due to the amount of photographs they look at now where actors, singers and the like have been photographed and then the photos 'worked on' to make said person look slimmer, taller, and everything else in between that can be done. The normal people seem to feel if they can't measure up to this imagery they don't want to be photographed a great shame for most people. I have been asked on many occasions can you make me look slimmer younger, no wrinkles when I have finally been allowed to take the photographs.
This may be partly true for photographers too, who know how much post production can be done, they may be worried about seeing their true image.
I had the opportunity to put some of my ideas to the test recently when I said I would stand in as a model at my local photographic society's portrait evening. www.sittingbourneps.co.uk. I was fairly happy about handing control of the evening over to another photographer, although it did end up being a bit of a paparazzi evening towards the end when other members decided to try and take their own photographs using on camera flash and horror of horrors the 'pop up flash'! I could tell when looking at the photographs taken on the evening when the strain of looking in all directions started to show.
Although as I have just stated I was happy to hand control over when the photographer first picked up the camera I did say only half jokingly can you hide my wrinkles. At 50 years of age I am lucky to not look my age but I did still have a couple of minutes panic about handing over control. I can report that after a couple of frames I relaxed and enjoyed myself even having a friendly dig a couple of times.
So what have I learnt? I have learnt that I can hand control over to someone else so long as they engage with me, this is something I have always done my best to do with my own subjects and have often found the best photographs are the ones I have taken as I have been chatting to them. I am still not convinced that all photographers will be able to hand this control over and I did want to pick the camera up my self on a couple of occasions.
Finally another article from Russell Squires about self portraiture opens a whole new debate and is something I will maybe consider exploring at a later stage.
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