HSQ Productions - Adam Smith
Manchester, Manchester
Manchester, Manchester
We are a Manchester based photography and video production firm in the heart of the trendy Northern Quarter.
Our specialism is in high quality, fast turnaround productions and our headline package is called 'Done in a Day'. This is where we turn around a shoot on the same day whilst maintaining a strong emphasis on quality.
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What’s the secret to taking a great photograph?
It has been suggested that a great photo is one which includes: great composition, a well-lit scene and an interesting subject. By having all of these things together, it focuses the viewers’ attention on the subject rather than on a busy background. It has to be able to grab the person attention. This might be in how the shot was composed. Does the portrait shot follow the rule of thirds? Is the subject off centre and are there leading lines to it?
When it comes to a well lit scene, one has to ask can you see all of the subject’s detail. Or is this done intentionally to highlight the mood of the subject, such only having one side of the face exposed to light whilst the other is painted with shadows. The exposure of the shot can help set the tone of the scene with which the photographer is trying to convey. Nice and bright or dark and dreary?
Another secret to taking a great photo is the colours of the scene. Do they complement each other nicely like orange and blue or do they clash like green and blue? Check out this link for a quick reference sheet on colour theory: http://graf1x.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/color-wheel-poster.jpg
It goes without saying; the subject of the photo must be in focus, ideally as sharp as possible. However, this may not be appropriate for fashion photography because it may pick up unwanted features such as spots and cuts.
Lastly we must look at the subject and ask ourselves is it interesting? A concrete slab is not interesting. A smiling family jumping for joy is.
Whilst these are my views, others might have a different set of criteria when determining what makes a great photo.
What questions might you ask a client when starting a new project?
When we talk about the client’s project we like to know exactly what they want. We generally break it down into these areas:
Time spent on the project and budget:
When do you want us to start on the project?
What is our deadline?
How much are you willing to spend?
Shot lists:
What are you must have shots?
What are shots would you like to have if we have time?
Location for the shoot.
Delivery of project:
How would you like us to deliver the completed project?
Any other questions we might have.
