For how long have you been taken pictures?

For as long as I can remember back, I’ve always loved taken pictures. I love the idea that you can in a sense stop time and freeze a moment to make it last forever. As so many others we didn’t have all that much money while I grew up, so I started out experimenting on some really cheap analogue cameras and then in 2005 I decided to go digital.

You must have a really big expensive camera to make pictures like this?

….Haha….this is probably one of the biggest misconceptions, I get from people in general, who are not photographers themselves and therefore don’t know what they talk about. Yes indeed, I have a fairly nice camera, but however the camera DOES NOT make the photographer!! Anyone who has a lot of money can buy a great camera, but that is not automatically going to make them a great or even good photographer for that matter. You need to have that “special eye” for what makes a great photo (composition, lights, subject) and then many hours learning all you can, so you are controlling the camera, NOT the other way around. Most pro photographers shoot on manual most of the time, they never touches the so-called AUTO mode.

Which camera / equipment do you use?

Currently I use my Nikon D300, which I really love. I also have several Nikon/Sigma lenses, which are equally important for getting those nice sharp portraits. I also own a studio flash kit and some Tungsten lamps with a softbox/umbrellas, reflectors and a Nikon Speedlight.

Do you always retouch your own images?

Yes!! I would never allow anyone else to edit my work, and as many other photographers, I never give away raw. (un-retouched) images. To me my work is an art form, which is never done until it’s been edited into whatever vision I’m going for.

So do you consider it as cheating, when the models look completely different or much better from what they do in real life?

NO!!! The most important thing to me is, that my models/clients as well as myself are getting some nice images. The outcome for me is what matters! However I’m not one of those photographers, who allow editing so much that the model no longer looks like her self. There is a very fine line, which you as a retoucher have to be aware of. It’s really no different from what you see in the fashion industry or on a cover of a magazine. It’s an illusion.

So where do you find your models?

Some of them are simply people in my life others are people who hire me for a personal / commercial shoot through this website or my profile on “Model Mayhem”

www.modelmayhem.com/VisionEyePhotography

Where do you get inspired?

Lots of things can inspire me. Other artists, emotions, music and colours also tend to inspire me a great deal.

What is your favourite subject to shoot?

My favourite subject are without a doubt people who are great at taken directions and are not afraid to pose in front of the camera. Models that are aware of their body and facial expressions are a joy to work with.

Do you shoot stock?

Not traditionally stock. I really don’t like pictures that most of all just look like snaps, I feel it’s to easy that way, I guess. I am however represented by agencies in the UK who sells my work as book covers etc.

I don’t compromise my work, and I won’t put my name on something I don’t like myself.

Studio or natural light – which do you prefer?

Natural light is what I enjoy the most. Whenever the light allows it, I rarely use flash.

Studio is mostly something I use for commissioned shoots.

What are your terms for shooting TFCD?

This is all stated at my Model Mayhem profile http://www.modelmayhem.com/VisionEyePhotography

So do you always require models to sign a release form?

YES!!! When working on TFCD basis I always require a signed model release form. Any photographer with respect for her/him self and its work does, I think. Without a release form, you as a photographer are not allowed to use your own hard work for anything commercial and the model can at any given time tell you to take down a photo you’ve created of her/him. With a signed release, they can’t and you then control you own work.

Does the photographer always own the full copyrights to his/hers images?

Yes!!! The creator of the images is the solely owner regardless of the models that are involved in the picture. A lot of models are not aware of this, and feel they must own the picture since they are the ones posing. THAT IS NOT THE CASE!!! Unless the model has a signed agreement from the photographer, that they have been given the full copyrights, then they are not allowed doing anything with the images. No photographer in their right mind would ever sign away copyright unless they been paid a fair amount of cash from the model. Therefore it is very important that the model always remembers to get a signed usage license from the photographer, which states the terms the model are allowed to use the images.

I always sign a usage license which allows the model to print for portfolio purpose + they are allowed to post a small file on their profile community sites, personal webpage etc.

Working on TFCD basis – do you think it’s fair that the photographer owns the images and can sell them etc.?

YES, I do think that’s more than fair! Think about when doing a TFCD shoot, we might all be working 3 - 6 hours + a little prep time for both model & photographer. But whenever the shoot is over, I still have to put in between 25 – 50 hours of editing. That is more than a full workweek, and I get paid nothing for it, and also might have to decline on other jobs in that time. However, most of the time, I only use TFCD material for my portfolio (showcase). Also, I tend you be very fair when it comes to how many images I retouch and give my models (usually around 15 - 30). A lot of photographers only give out 2 or 3 final images.

Can anyone book you for a TFCD shoot?

No, but anyone is free to ask me though! I only do TFCD when I feel it might benefit my portfolio in a positive direction. Otherwise I’d never earn any money for my business, cause everyone wants free photos!

So first of all it has to be someone, that I see some potential in as a model, she/he has to be professional and has to be able to take direction and also act freely in front of the camera.

Also when doing TFCD it is mostly my visions there will be used. It’s great if the models have some ideas as well, but if they want a specific look or idea used, then they should hire my on an ordinary paid basis.

So do you see yourself as a photographer or a retoucher?

I see myself as a photographer with retouching skills. I’m not a high-end retoucher though, and probably never will be. There is always room for improvement, otherwise we’ll never grow and get better at our jobs, but I’m fairly okay with my skills so far.

How seriously do you take sites such as Deviant Art etc.?

I enjoy being on Deviant Art a lot, but let’s be honest, It’s not a pro. site, even though there are a few pros on there, yet a lot of the people uploading are young teenagers and a lot of them are therefore, looking for something totally different from what someone my age might look for, which is fine, but for that reason I can’t take it to seriously.

How popular you are there has a lot to do with how active you are, I think – so actual skills and popularity does not necessarily go hand in hand. One of the most popular people on dA has uploaded a picture, which has been given like 5000 favourites, then the model in the picture upload the exact same picture and then it only get 4 favourites. It can be really frustrating for a lot of people, but you just have to keep going and grow as an artist.

I do however appreciate every single comment, favourite and so on that I get, and always try my best to answer everyone who writes me, even though at times it’s not possible, when I get hundreds of messages in a day, but I always do my very best.

Are you very selective when it comes to which jobs you want to take on or can you be hired for anything?

Well, for right now I have to admit I’m fairly selective. I do not do weddings etc. – I don’t think it allows me to be as creative, as I want to be, and I don’t like to rush my work. One of the things I hate the most, is when people think just because I own a great camera, they can just get me to take pictures of them whenever. Ohh... and often they would say, “ It only takes 2 minutes, you don’t have to do anything to the pictures”. WELL, I DON’T WORK THAT WAY!!! I wouldn’t want to put my name on that and wouldn’t feel good about handing over an unfinished piece.

You’re website has been down for a really long time

– what is going on?

I had my heart set on a completely different look for my website, since my work has changed a lot over the last year. However hopefully, my work is going to get a little more fashion into it over the course of 2009, so I decided that this look I have right now goes well with my portraits, so I’m keeping it for now! At the end of this year I might go for an overall different look.