What do you do in the winter when you’re not photographing boats?

I was actually asked that question after the first Sunday sailing. I explained that I dabbled a bit with models! Perhaps I shouldn’t have phrased it quite like that. It certainly caused a couple of raised eyebrows.

Of course, anyone who has ever explored this sort of photography knows that there are very strict rules about interaction with photographic models. Very often it is their main job and they need to be reassured that there are very definite guidelines.

It’s the same with any profession if you think about it. On the other hand, they don’t simply walk on to the set and position themselves. Quite a lot of preparation goes in to taking studio photographs.

Setting up the camera takes quite a while and the lighting expert has to be considered. The backdrop has to be arranged and the colour of this may be crucial. Even so there is usually very little tension on the set. It is terribly important that models should know and feel easy with the photographers.

In this respect conversation is an essential part of getting a good picture. I tend to use too much humour and my models have to keep breaking their poses in order to quell attacks of the giggles.

Personally I like it when a model laughs but that isn’t necessarily the sort of picture others might be looking for.

Nevertheless it is a happy way to spend an afternoon in the sorter days of winter and apart from street shoots you tend not to worry about the rain.

We are just about to go sailing again so the blogs for the next few weeks may possibly be about boats – there are a number of regattas coming up  – so enjoy the pictures of the young ladies while you can.