Talbot Question & Answer

How would you describe the elusive Qiana Chase and what was it like having her in your lens?

Qiana is very focused, determined and confident in her abilities. The beauty you see is what see wants you to see. Her personality allows her to be an absolute joy to create beautiful images with. She can exude a sensual slow burn while gazing at the camera and pop a mischievous wink at you as soon as you're not looking through viewfinder. As long as you don't waste her time, you'll enjoy each minute in her company.

It seems that you possess an amazing sense of comfort, satisfaction, and depth that is transferred to the images you capture… have you always been that type of person or have those characteristics /skills developed over time?

(Hey thanks, here's a dollar!)  I feel, as I've always been the person I am today. Of all the occupations I can claim differing levels of proficiency in, capturing images with a camera has been ever present. I've realized that mindsets and skills from many facets of my life contribute to being creative visually. I'm constantly learning, taking risks, being curious.

Do you prefer working with professional models or “regular people”?  Between the two, can you always tell the difference in the finished product?

Ahhhh, the best professional models are regular people. What makes them "professional" is the level of preparedness and experience they bring to a photo session. When everybody in a creative moment inspires everybody else, you have a 1 + 1 = 5 environment that makes you wish the moment would linger forever. Judging the finished product can be a paradox - are these regular people taking on the roles of professional models or are they professionals conveying a 'regular' appearance?  Ideally is does not matter if the intended message is delivered.

In a previous conversation, you said that you would really enjoy shooting fashion.  Why?

Fashion is a perfect objective/subjective world; the creative boundaries are nearly non-existent: People, places, possessions, and interpretations of everything around us. Do we shoot the object, or embrace the emotion we want to associate with the object? If fashion does not move forward it will die while being consumed by the following season's ideal. When the emotion of life can be instilled in a fashion image, it then bodes well to represent something classic. Being a classic has an enduring quality that can inspire generations to come. Ah, the circle of life. 

When it comes to the people you work with, how important is attitude, energy, personality, and connection?

I think it was Woody Allen who said something like "80% of being successful is achieved merely by showing up." I view everything after that as being prepared for the task at hand and enjoying what I do. It becomes infectious. It's rare, but if a connection does not happen, it was the result of poor communication.

How long does it take you to “get into” a session/photo shoot?  Conversely, at what point do you realize that a session is just not going to work?

Mentally it happens when I envision what the shot needs to convey. I may "get into" it at the moment an assignment is given. Like a conceptual seed, it then grows until it breaks free. A realistic concept must be something others can identify with and it must not lose sight of the intended destination. Physically, it's the 80% mentioned before. Fortunately, only the weather or circumstances beyond the scope of a shoot have ever kept me from completing what I set out to create.

Before a shoot… do you always know what you’re going to get.  That is, are you able to see through the components [subject, lighting, film, setting, etc.] to the finished product and then the appropriate application [wall art, ad image, magazine cover, portfolio]?  Or do you just set the light, take the picture; hope to end up with something special and “go from there”.

I know, ...all the time, ...what I need to achieve.  The cool thing is that once I've defined, refined and produced an image - and we are still enveloped in the creative mode - I can push it as inspiration guides me.

Where do you find the most beautiful women; State and city please… our readers would like to know where they can find the type of women you photograph?

Ahhh, don't hate me now ............ but they find me.