The Executive
[by Sean Kernan]
Someone once said that executive portraiture is basically a still life problem. Still, crabby execs do things like turning up for their portraits early while you’re still setting up and insisting that you shoot right away because they have a meeting. On one annual report shoot an angry VP of Something-Or-Other walked into the setup and said, “I don’t have time for this crap!” I replied that I understood completely, but that it was his company’s project, not mine, and could he tell the chairman that he was too busy to do it. Otherwise I would tell him if he didn’t have time. He relented, and I got my picture of my guy…a little graceless and angry, but there it was.
Most people are not like that. What they are is a bit afraid, unsure of what they are supposed to look like. The best approach is to behave as an equal, which you are, of course, and let them know that they are supposed to look like who they are.
You can’t think of everything that might dislocate your location plans, but then preplanning is not the solution to the more baroque problems that come up. Best to just be present and let solutions arise from the situation.
2 Responses to 'The Executive'
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Sounds like it was a wonderful day at the office. Thanks for the post.
brilliant way to put a doofus in his place, sean, telling him that you’d tell the chairman if he didn’t have time.
i’ve met quite a few of these self-deluded “execs” in my day and, no matter how my business may be doing at the time, i always count myself lucky to work for myself.