Teamwork makes the Dream work

I'm fortunate to have met some very interesting people through the course of my work, and the last couple of months has proved no exception. I've really enjoyed trying to create some interesting portraits of those featured in this blog post. Being able to build up a rapport with my subject is vital in ensuring a photoshoot is as productive as possible.

Dennis Cheesebrough proved and engaging and interesting character to photograph. The 81 year old co-founder of Saks hair and beauty salons was full of life and easy to work with. His home just outside of Darlington offered interesting backdrops and Dennis was clearly comfortable in front of the lens. The most difficult part of this shoot was the very strong light and hot temperatures. I certainly wasn't prepared to put on a three-piece suit unlike my suave subject.

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I would have liked to have had much more time with artist Elizabeth Tooth who was visiting Bishop Auckland to see two of her stunning paintings on display at Auckland Palace. I'm alway slightly nervous when photographing fellow creatives as, and I suppose it goes with the territory, they can be more particular about how they are portrayed. Elizabeth proved no trouble at all however, and I loved her almost gothic style which suited her creative persona. The difficulty with this shoot was trying to avoid a reflection from the studio lights on the surfaces of the paintings.

I've met Bill Scott OBE many times over the years through events and features I've attended for various publications. This was the most time I've spent with him one on one however, chatting away as we drove around the Wilton Engineering site on the north bank of the River Tees looking for suitable locations/backgrounds for the shoot. Extremely generous with his time, he revealed snippets to me about the governmental projects the company were involved with. A rain shower delayed our progress but produced some impressive storm clouds and lighting for some of the images.

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Last but not least, I was commissioned by Tees Business to shoot their cover feature with Stephen Robinson, the founder and CEO of digital marketing agency Outrank. I've met and photographed Stephen several times and was well aware that it wasn't his favourite thing to do. Before a frame was taken, we discussed ways in which the shoot could be a more comfortable experience, and, through this collaborative process, I'm hopeful that he may even have enjoyed our time together.

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Creating eye-catching visuals is very much a team effort between those I photograph and myself, and it is this interaction between subject and photographer that brings images to life.

@MichaelMcGeary @Saksknutsford @aucklandproject @owentooth @WiltonEngineer @Tees_Business @BillScottWilton @OutrankAgency @profoto @CanonUKandIE