The Links #282--3/23/10

I hate having my picture taken, and there is plenty of evidence of this: In the last twenty years or so, there have been precious few photos that have proven useful for marketing, publicity, etc. Of course, this very frustration makes each new shoot even more of a challenge. This feature profile, therefore, offers a very personal perspective, as the efforts of one of our members recently resulted in some welcome exceptions to the previous rule. The photographer is Rochelle Martin, and she is our Featured Provider* for March.

A favorite from my shoot with Shelly!

Shelly got interested in photography several years ago, after a trip to Europe with some very photogenic friends. She's learned her craft both through formal classes and private study, and her natural sense of lighting, location and texture are put to good use as she captures people of all sizes and shapes in headshots and portraiture. Working primarily outdoors, Shelly schedules shoots to take advantage of the best possible light, favoring early morning and late afternoon. "Although you can't capture as much contrast as when working in a studio, natural light is great for skin tones and hides imperfections," she says. However, she's versatile, and interested in many types of photography: Shelly also works weddings and offers her services as a set and character photographer to opera and theater companies.

Shelly loves a challenge, and excels at putting her subjects at ease. "They'll say, 'I've never taken a good picture in my life' and then finding great shots in them is even more fun." She encourages her clients to wear clothes that make them feel their best, and as she works mainly with singers and musicians (for now), she uses their common vocabulary to get them talking, creating a low-pressure atmosphere. The goal is both simple and complex: allowing the subject to be as natural as possible, finding what's unique to them, and creating an image with dynamic compositional elements. Then she finds a way to bring out the eyes. "If we can bring 'the person behind the table' into the picture, it's no longer just a headshot. It's you."

--LDG

To view Rochelle Martin's S2S listing, click here.
To visit her website, go to http://www.rochellemartinphotography.com

* This is the first appearance of our new monthly feature,
offering a glimpse of a vendor or service that may be useful to you.
We'll select from those listed in our S2S Directory as well others.
To suggest a product or service, Contact us!