Portraits that Thrive on Food and Music with Kwaku Alston

Photographing a celebrity, or any important subject, is like meeting a wild animal – they can smell fear.

You need to bring confidence and calm to the shoot. Surround yourself with a team who communicates with you seamlessly, so that your trust in them is high. The subject is the vulnerable party, the photographer is the one in power – they need you to represent them well.

Food and music are two of your greatest tools for creating a comfortable atmosphere. FEED THEM. Good quality catering or, for the smaller budget, some simple but effective snacks can put everyone at ease.

Know the subject’s favorite music and create a playlist – music with variable ranges of style and tone can take the shoot on a journey through several emotional planes. This can create a desirable movement and flow in your images, resulting in the most captivating scenes.

Learn more from Kwaku in his workshop
The Essence of Portraiture
June 27 - July 3, 2010

Visit his blog kwakualston.com/blog/ to see what he's up to.