I was having a great conversation with my friend Johnny last night over some Shabu Shabu. He was telling me about this video of Terry Richardson and his best kept secret of the Yashica T4 point and shoot. (If you’re unaware of who Terry Richardson is, he’s one of the hottest photographers right now. Look him up.) There’s another video of him shooting Lindsey Lohan for the cover of GQ with his Yashica. So simple.
It inspired a conversation that this video adds to the point that equipment is only the entry point. Knowing how to light is only an entry point to creating a good photograph. It’s the quality and composition of the elements you put into the frame that is the most important. This includes, good models, locations, styling, prop styling, hair, makeup, and most of all how you direct your subject. What is your subject doing? What emotion are they exuding? How are they interacting with the environment, or with the other subjects? What is the concept of the image? All these are key elements in making a good photo.