I did some magazine work this week that included creating portraits of local brewers for a story I wrote about current trends in the local industry. They were so silly and playful, that all their posed photos still had a natural silliness to it. They were excited to be around each other and talk shop, so even the candids are just full of feeling. I was especially reflecting on what u/MSonga briefly wrote the other day while I was shooting yesterday about taking photos that convey emotion.

Photojournalism will always be my first love because even with lighting and studio setups, I feel like I can be a little more loose with my subjects, play around and let them be themselves. Plus there’s a story we’re all mutually trying to tell or that they are telling me, so that feels more natural.

I feel like it’s “easy” to get emotional photos because that’s kind of part of the job and it can sometimes by done but just being at the right place and not getting in the way.

But when you are the director of the scene, to those of you who do more studio/model/portrait work, how do you get more emotional/storytelling with your subjects? Am I just making that division in my head? Love to hear your thoughts on merging the two. I don’t think I’m quite there with my subjects yet when I do model work.