About Me

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The State of Portrait Photography

Nowadays, photography is more popular than ever and it seems like if you’re looking for a local photographer, there are plenty to be found. But with many photographers, their portrait photography seems almost like an afterthought, a service sometimes in addition to wedding photography that ends at taking a photo, rather than creating an image. It begins to look the same from place to place, photographer to photographer. Some of the work I see is so bland, clichéd and uninspiring that it demotivates me that people will actually pay for it.

For me, photography has always been about artistic expression and the image, not just capturing ‘cherished moments’. Shouldn’t it take you by surprise and be a bit edgy? Shouldn’t it be punchy, vibrant and colourful? Shouldn’t it step away from being clichéd and conventional, and make the viewer say “WOW”?

Shouldn’t it be different?

Who Am I?

I’m Chris Richards. A portrait and commercial photographer in my early 30′s, and while I opened my doors officially as a photographer in late 2007, art and imaging has been a part of who I am since I was a child.

Early on, I had a love and passion for art, drawing and painting all the time. At the age of 12, one of my paintings was selected by Northwest Airlines to be featured on the side of a Boeing 747 – an opportunity I shared with a select few artists from 20 countries around the world, including the United States.

My love of art continued through school where I studied graphic design and design technology. Unfortunately, my GCSE art teacher turned me off art and I plunged myself into music and music production. After my exams, I never pursued art and opted to study Music Technology at a nearby college instead.

Early Career & The Move to Photography

After college, I worked in a variety of creative and performance related fields, giving me exposure to an array of personalities and situations. After an initial 3 month tour as a lighting technician with a small theatre company, I worked for 4 years in theatre and performing arts providing lighting and sound design for professional and community productions. I also supplied skills freelance for various local groups. Working in theatre meant I had the opportunity to work with all levels of clientèle, from the ‘stars’ to the community players. This gave me invaluable experience in dealing with people to reach a specific result in a limited time-frame.

I did a stint of self-employment with 18 months of freelance location recording for bands, orchestras and ensembles, and then I joined a video production company filming music videos and corporate promos. From video shoots on location to green-screen stages at Shepperton Studios. I worked at all levels of production, from shoot planning and conceptual design, to editing, compositing and grading videos. Working in video production further instilled in me the work ethics that are a part of a full commercial photography business, knowing every aspect needed to go from concept to final products as well as giving me more insight into creating effective visuals. I understand what the client needs, and how to give the results they demand.

One evening I saw an episode of The Apprentice where the team had to select, market and sell photographic art. The quality of the work I saw both inspired and shocked me, and I felt this was the new direction I had been searching for – something that allowed me to release my inner creativity in a way I could share with the world. I had wanted to use a DSLR for some time, but this was the turning point and I set out to learn the craft and return to my artistic roots. The rest as they say is history.

My Approach To Photography

I’m here for all the people who don’t want their portraits to look like everyone else’s. I strive to make each and every shoot as individual as the person who hires me. Having no formal photography training, I feel, gives me an edge, a chance to think for myself and forge my own style.

My approach to photography is to rage against the average. I baulk against the mediocrity in today’s photography. I strive to create great photos that serve their purpose. My studio shoots are individually lit and styled to work with the subject, not just lit evenly to shoot against a white backdrop. My location shoots are about using the environment, natural and flash lighting for maximum visual impact with the subject, not just standing someone in a field on a sunny day and pressing the shutter button.

I feel I’m the antithesis of production line photography – the sort of shoot where the lighting and background are set and clients get a generic 20 minute shoot that looks like everyone else’s. I prefer to spend time with my clients, discovering their needs and the look they want me to create. With most shoots, as well as shooting to requirements, I also like to ‘draw a wild card’ and experiment on-the-fly. It’s the most satisfying feeling when my clients love the results of this.

I take a holistic approach when working with the people I photograph to create a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere. New clients love how I put them at ease for their photo shoots and my existing clients come back time and time again for this same reason.  I pride myself on going the extra mile, working with you to achieve a comfort level that will give the best photographic experience possible.

Whilst I can provide beautiful wall prints, I decided the best way that clients could receive my work was by providing the high-resolution digital images themselves. This gives my clients maximum flexibility when it comes to enjoying their images. Every image purchased is meticulously edited to ensure it’s of the highest quality possible and not only that, I offer 100 percent satisfaction guaranteed.

So, if you are tired of the canned look you’ve seen from other photographers, and want something above the standard fare, let me show you how a portrait experience should be.

Chris