Hospital Ancillary staff and key Workers
Commercial portrait photography has changed a lot in recent years. Increasingly my clients are ditching posed, stiff professional headshots and asking for portraits of their people that feel relaxed and ‘more real’. This was definitely the brief when the Greenpea Agency commissioned me for a project taking portraits of ancillary staff and key workers at hospitals across the country. The aim was to celebrate the individuals working behind the scenes in the NHS and capture the spirit they bring to the hospitals they work in.
The Photography Brief
When we think of the NHS, we naturally picture the people delivering the medical care. The reality is there are many more staff working behind the scenes making sure hospitals operate effectively. This project was about these people and appreciating what they bring to the health service. For this reason, the portraits were shot with blank backdrops to put the staff members in the spotlight.
Elated Commercial Portrait Photography that Celebrates individuality
This project was about celebrating individuals. So, it was important the portraits provided a glimpse of the personalities of the people at the hospital. For this to happen, as a photographer, I needed to capture that person in a moment of candidness, where they show emotion or a natural reaction that reveals their true character. This might be a cheeky grin, a thumbs up, a head thrown back in laughter or a playful salute.
The people in these photographs were real people working in hospitals. They are porters, catering staff, office managers and cleaners – they aren’t models. When I work on projects like this, I don’t expect the workers I photograph to know how to pose or to understand exactly how to tilt their head to find the light or a flattering angle. What I do expect though, is for them to feel uncomfortable (at least initially) in front of a camera. Part of my role is to diffuse these feelings of awkwardness, so they don’t creep into the final photographs too.
I’ve learnt the best way to direct a person for a personal portrait is to make them feel at ease. By talking to the person, I build a connection with them, and this helps to take their mind off the camera. I can always call upon my Client and director of Greenpea Agency Mark Hoy to help put everyone at their ease including me, once they start to let their guard down and shrug off any self-consciousness, that’s when they show me their true personality.
Looking to Hire a commercial portrait Photographer ?
Whatever you do, I will use my years of experience to put your employees at ease, so you get natural photographs that capture the real people behind your company or organisation. Get in touch to talk about your brief.
