How-to's

The human factor in Shooting the $2million image

Martin Turner (Martin Turner)

Keywords: martin_turner, studiophotography, concept, planning, composition, lighting, shooting, postprocessing, pro, professional_photography, human_factor, working_with_people, studio

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This is the third part of the series Studio Photography: Shooting the $2million image - Working with people.

The pinnacle of the studio photographer’s art is concept. With everything set up according to your wishes, nothing will ever be better than your concept. The rest of the work is about making the final images live up to it. Of course, your concept may improve once you start photographing: in fact, it almost always will.

The next factor, though, which can disrupt whole shoots or, equally, turn dross into gold, is what we call in the trade ‘the human factor’.

One survey across many industries suggested that technical skills only accounted for around 20% of career success. The other 80%? Ability to work with people.

Final eye image © MartinTurner
Click for an enlargement

Let’s look at a shoot I did in 2012 for a business called Marksman Leisure. If you’re based in the UK and want to learn to shoot, or want to take a group of friends or businessmen shooting, then you should definitely look Marksman up. The brief was to put together a set of brand images for a rebrand.

Now, Mark, the owner, is a pretty easy guy to work with. I could come up with lots of examples of nightmare shoots, but what I want to talk about here is working with a good client to get an extraordinary result.

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5 comments

Martin Turner (Martin Turner) on December 7, 2017

Thanks for the comments, guys.

Eric Bowles (ericbowles) on December 6, 2017

Great article, Martin. I love the perspective you provide - and the fact that the c lient is right and you make the image. That's a great lesson learned. Wonderful images - but better story!

Doug Nickle (fivesense) on December 5, 2017

Great article and exciting subject, Martin. Thank you. The rifle in the photoshoot is a BSA 0.177 Lightening XL high powered break barrel. It is a piston-driven, single shot, hence there is no bolt action. https://www.pyramydair.com/s/m/BSA_Lightning_XL_SE_Air_Rifle/3208

Ernesto Santos (esantos) on December 5, 2017

Great article Martin. I also believe details are important. I notice that in the first two images of the right-handed model shouldering the scoped rifle he is using a left-handed rifle - the bolt action opening and handle is to his left and the cheek piece/rest is on the right side of the stock. For someone who is interested in the shooting sports this is a noticeable detail that might hurt the brand. As an avid and life-long gun enthusiast I noticed this immediately. As a photographer I can see how this can be an issue, especially when creating images that will be tied to branding efforts.