Creative Storytelling

This photo is a couple of years old now but I still think of it as one of my cornerstone images.  It divides opinion.  Which I love.  Because if you’re pleasing everyone you’re probably doing something wrong.  It’s also the most referenced photo from my bride and grooms when they describe what they love about my work and why they booked.  I’ve also had at least two couples whose mums have advised them to point out to me that I’ve cut the head off the guest.. ;-)

I’m not going to elaborate on the contents of the photo because it’s all pretty self-explanatory, but really what I want to say with it here today is you can tell a complete story without having to have a face in it.  The suit, the beer, the doll and the fag taken together tell the viewer everything she needs to know.  You don’t have to show anything else.  All you have to do is look for them in the first place.

Technical details for the photography wonks:

Camera: Canon 5D MKII

Lens: Canon 135mm f2

Aperture: f2.2

Shutter speed: 1/1250

ISO: 400