SPOTLIGHT: Tom Langford - Photographer

1. How long have you been a photographer?

Well I have been taking photos since I was teenager, but no more than snapshots until I began my AS Photography back in 2004. However I would only really say I'd been a 'proper' photographer since 2008 when I began taking on small commissions and photo jobs alongside my University projects, so about 4-5 years.

2. What inspired you to get into photography?

Well as a child I was always interested in art and was an avid sketcher (and still am to an extent!), copying pictures from magazines or drawing from my own imagination. As I grew up my imagination and ideas for drawings expanded and almost outgrew my drawing capabilities, so I found myself looking for a new medium to satisfy my creativity. Around the same time it was suggested by my GSCE Art teacher that I take some photos of people and their emotions as source for my drawing. After this I became more fascinated with capturing something real with film, rather than replicating it in a drawing. But although what I was capturing was real, I could manipulate it with the light or giving my subject instruction. 

3. Do you have a particular favourite style of shooting?

As I nearly always photograph people, whether it be a gig, a portrait or a wedding I always try to chat to the person first so I can get a feel for their personality and make them feel more comfortable around me, as if their is an awkwardness its really reflected in the images. However in terms of style I always tend to shoot and retouch my pictures in a certain way so that people can tell the image is by me without reading the credit underneath. I think if you can acheive this, there is no greater compliment to your style than this. As somebody who really favours prime lenses for portraits, I always tend to shoot them wide open with shallow DoF to really highlight the subject and make interesting compositions. In terms of retouch; I try to do minimal technical editing, with a focus of getting it right in camera but mainly adjust the colours and tones in Photoshop to put my own twist on it. Nearly all of my images have colour tweaks in them from how they are shot to create a mood with the image, which in its self makes it more of a 'portrait' than just a document of a person in a certain place.

4. What would you say makes your photography unique?

I think the things we have spoken about in the above question cover this really, its about my approach to the image and the relationship I develop with my subject really. In terms of styling or production the images I make are quite simple in that respect, but its HOW I photograph that person and how they react to me that really makes it. I want people to feel like they know something more about the subject by looking at my photographs. This is especially the case with my Scooter Rally series, as it calls on so many senses, the smell of the petrol, the noise of the engines; I want people to be able to envision this by looking at my images.

5. Where do your main inspirations and ideas come from? 

In terms of inspiration I am quite selfish and I know what I like to shoot, and this provides the main basis of my photography. I am a crazy art/fashion magazine collector and have every issue of Dazed & Confused from mid 2008 to present, as well as countless copies of i:D and 125. These stimulate me and push me to experiment with new ideas or retouch techniques. I am a firm believer of working instinctively and seeing something I like and tirelessly trying to use it in my work, or work out the method behind it. 

As a huge follower of Mod & Skinhead movements and the young people like myself who are part of them, they form a large section of my portraits. I like to find people who are interested in something so much that it is outwardly reflected in their style and fashion but also inwardly as if it is more than just a phase for them and they 'feel it' inside. Its capturing this, that inspires me most. 

6. Have you got a favourite image? Talk us through it if you do.

I wouldn't say that I have one single image that is my overall favourite, because I think that some images work off of others and give each other strength in a series. However as I have got older I am more fussy about the images that make the cut to my portfolio so the images that are on my site are a collection of my best work, from the many frames that come out of each shoot. 

7. Have you got any exciting projects on the horizon?

Hmm, I have a couple of Model test shoots booked in for a few weeks time where I will be working with some new people which is always exciting to collaborate with different people. Away from my portrait/fashion work I have also been commissioned to photograph at a new Big Ska festival working with some legendary names in that genre, which is a big deal for me. This event is also supported by Teenage Cancer Trust which I am very happy to support.
As the festival season draws to a close, the gig scene around Portsmouth always hots up and has some great gigs booked in, which I will endeavor to get to and photograph as many as possible.

8. What are your goals for the future?
As every month and year goes by that I am in Photography I seem to learn more, and do more and fall in love with it all more!! At the moment, all of my work is primarily based around the South, although I have worked in London a little this year. For the future I'd love to get the opportunity to work in London more. Get taken on to a music magazine(s) or blog and do more musician portraits and editorial work as well as getting Live Photos published.
In its simplest form, I would just like to expand my reputation and branch out to new publications and clients and produce new and exciting work for them! (Shameless plug if anyone wants to book me!) If I can continue making a living and being as happy as I am now taking photos then I'm doing alright!!

9. How can we look at your work and contact you?

All my work and contact details can be found on my website: www.tomlangfordphoto.co.uk
Or if you are looking for Wedding work : www.weddingsbytom.co.uk
Lastly I do upload previews of new work and behind the scenes stuff on my facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tom-Langford-Photography/321735111204976?ref=hl

Photoshoot - Amy Sapphire Photography

You may have seen the incredibly attractive photo I now have on my sidebar. Recently I asked Amy if she'd be able to help me out with some new promotional shots for my radio show, thankfully she agreed and we managed to end up with some brilliant (and some hilarious) pictures!

I'm not an overly serious person so I didn't want the shoot to be really intense with me barely smiling in any of the images. Luckily  with Amy being such a good friend of mine, it was a really comfortable shoot which included lots of laughter and music to dance around to. I'm not very good with putting myself into 'poses' and have always felt a little silly, but Amy worked really well with my personality and came up with several suggestions for us to try!

I liked the idea of having pictures of me doing various poses next to each other and after seeing this picture of Cara Delevingne, I thought it'd be a great way to show my personality through photograph form. As these were for my radio show, I wanted them to represent it well, it's quite a light hearted show, again, which I'm not too serious on, so wanted to try and put that across with the images.

I have to say I'm incredibly happy with the final pictures and I'd definitely recommend Amy to anyone looking for similar shoots as she's friendly and very comfortable to work with!

If you want to see more of her work then click the links below:
http://www.facebook.com/AmySapphirePhotography, http://www.amysapphire.com/

Obviously, because it's nearly Christmas as well, we also had a little fun with some tinsel!

A Week in Photographs

I can only apologies for my complete lack of blogging recently, third year of university is one hell of a toughy! I have my 12,000 word dissertation due in on the 30th March so my life is now pretty much non-existent because of it, oh joy!

Obviously though i don't want to completely abandon everybody and am going to do my best to keep you in the loop with what i've been up to, but instead of blabbering on about it, i thought i'd hop on the picture train and show you all through pictures, mainly taken from my Instagram (tamsynlouise if you want to find me!) So here you are, my week in pictures!

1. Spending my weekend in the garden back home in Brighton
2. Showing off the St Patricks day merch at work
3. Graze box! mmmmmmm 
4. Housemate banter, apparently it's cool to abuse my Gosling :(
5. A spot of payday shopping!
6. Catch up with a friend I haven't seen in ages!
7. Yes, my mother has bought me Cornish Monopoly!
8. Cream tea and cake for mothers day :) double mmmm!
9. Got my dip-dye put back in, very, very happy with it!

Thats pretty much everything exciting thats happened, the rest of my time is spent typing, typing, typing for my dissertation, yawwwwwn!
Also starting to put together a fitness regime, as due to my operation i've done pretty much no exercise since before christmas, not good! Plus i need to get fitter as i have some surf trips coming up which i want to enjoy as much as i can, so the workouts start now! Anyone got any good advice or tips for loosing a few pounds and enjoying exercise?!