Mike Tittel Photography - Role Reversal - A mountain biking and portrait photo shoot with Michael Clark | The blog of Salt Lake City, Utah based commercial and editorial photographer Mike Tittel.

Role Reversal – A mountain biking and portrait shoot with renowned adventure photographer Michael Clark

Last week my good friend and fellow adventure sports photographer Michael Clark was in town for the Outdoor Retailer Show here in Salt Lake City. He commented on how great the Salt Lake area was for adventure sports photography due to its proximity to a wide variety of shooting locations, and expressed an interest in shooting mountain biking while in town for the show. Knowing I was an avid mountain biker myself and extremely familiar with the area, he invited me out on a shoot as his model. We ended up shooting on the ubber-classic Wasatch Crest trail at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. As someone who spends his time making a living behind the camera, it was a great reminder of what’s it is like to be a model or athlete on the other side of the lens.

The following morning I asked Michael if he could shoot a couple portraits of me using his killer high-contrast B&W technique shot on white seamless. Having virtually no photos of myself I thought they might come in handy for self promotion. And who better to capture your personality than a close friend?

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Both experiences got me thinking about an often overlooked role of a professional photographer — directing models/athletes and other professionals involved in a shoot while on location. It is an essential skill that has a huge impact on the final outcome on any given project. A photographer must be able to effectively communicate with everyone involved to get them to do what it is you need to get the shot. One must also make the environment fun and welcoming. Below are a few tips I have found effective over the years:

- Be specific – describe in detail what it is you are after and what it is you want your models/athlete to do. Give direction on body position, facial expressions and the general mood you are after.

- Observe – this is specific to action sports but watching the athletes you are photographing will give you an understanding of their abilities and specialties.

- Talk to your subjects – this is more specific to lifestyle and portraits but conversing with your models will help them get their mind off of being photographed. It will help them to loosen up, relax and forget there is a camera on them.

- Be open – although having a clear vision for a shoot is critical, remaining open and ready for unexpected moments can yield results that surpass what you pre-visualized

- Keep the environment professional but fun. Nobody likes being around people who are difficult and hard to work with.

- Be patient – Michael reminded me of this one. I am not at all comfortable being in front of the camera, and it took awhile for me to loosen up and get comfortable with being photographed. The portrait above was one of the last frames Michael took.

If you are not familiar with Michael’s work check out his website at www.michaelclarkphoto.com. In addition to outstanding work he produces a quarterly newsletter that is top-notch. It is full of information and stories that appeal to both creatives and anyone interested in photography. You can check out the back issues here. You can also subscribe by e-mailing Michael at mjcphoto@comcast.net. Tell him I sent you.