You’re a chef - why not start with a community you have intimate relations with and cache in?
I’m a former line cook and the cavalcade of characters, reprobates, folks coming from all walks of life and grinding it out on the line is such an amazingly rich community to explore, document and develop a project around.
You’ve got some lofty, but attainable goals for editorial projects. Before a total stranger (whom often works in circles where outsiders can bring a risk of exploitation, danger or, at the least, leeriness) would necessarily offer you intimate access to document their life - you’ve gotta have some proof of concept. The best and least thorny way to document people, especially without it raising suspicion of your intention, is to develop relationships first - projects second.
Start with the folks around you, being earnest in your interest in them and why you want to document them photographically. Build relationships and the work will follow.
You’re a chef - why not start with a community you have intimate relations with and cache in?
I’m a former line cook and the cavalcade of characters, reprobates, folks coming from all walks of life and grinding it out on the line is such an amazingly rich community to explore, document and develop a project around.
You’ve got some lofty, but attainable goals for editorial projects. Before a total stranger (whom often works in circles where outsiders can bring a risk of exploitation, danger or, at the least, leeriness) would necessarily offer you intimate access to document their life - you’ve gotta have some proof of concept. The best and least thorny way to document people, especially without it raising suspicion of your intention, is to develop relationships first - projects second.
Start with the folks around you, being earnest in your interest in them and why you want to document them photographically. Build relationships and the work will follow.