The beauty of mobile photography is that it makes photography more available to everyone. David Booker, a masterful portrait iPhoneographer from England, weighs in on this notion. “I think the universal nature of mobile photography is an incredibly exciting development because it allows anyone with a smartphone and an artistic talent to immerse themselves into a creative process that was previously only at the disposal of those who could afford to invest in the equipment. It also takes the emphasis away from producing technically brilliant images with high-end cameras, lenses, etc., to a focus on just capturing and framing a good picture. To then have a wealth of post-processing tools at your disposal anytime and anywhere is nothing short of liberating.”
David’s emotive portraiture, which is often mysterious in nature, reverently captures the essence of the feminine. I asked him if he had any advice for someone wishing to explore mobile portraiture or photographic portraiture in general. He said, “For me, it’s about planning. Think about what it is that you want to capture, what you want the overall look and feel of the finished portrait to portray. Then you can begin to prepare—location, props, lighting, etc. And don’t be afraid to experiment and don’t be afraid to fail.”
“An idea for a theme or finished look or feel is always my starting point, which can often be rattling around in my head for weeks. Once I have the relevant props or costumes, then I’ll prepare the studio in my home, an old prison lockup which has incredible light. I usually take a number of images over an hour or so, select half a dozen of those I’m most pleased with, and then spend the next week or two working on them until I have a couple (or more if I’m lucky) that I’m satisfied enough to show.
“I currently use an iPhone 5 for taking photographs (no lenses or attachments) and an iPad for post-processing. For taking images I use various lens and film combinations within Hipstamatic, an incredibly powerful and versatile app. When it comes to post-production, my starting point for reframing and adjusting levels is almost always Snapseed. I then take my images through a number of other apps, including Cameramatic, Photogene 2, ScratchCam, BlurFX, Decim8 and Slow Shutter Cam and many others.”
“This was a shot that I’d been planning for some time. On this particular afternoon the light coming into my studio from an overhead skylight was so strong and direct that I knew I had a limited amount of time to utilize it to my advantage, so it was a race against time to prepare the props and model.” —David
I Want to Find Myself by the Sea, in Another’s Company. “Anywhere but here is where she would rather be.” —Edi
“These antlers hang in a local cafe and I’d been determined to borrow them for a shoot since the moment I saw them. I love the majesty created by the combination of the model’s striking pose and these magnificent antlers.” —David
Edi Caves, founder of the popular mobile photography site called iPhoneOgenic, not only provides the mobile photography community with a wonderful resource but is also a talented mobile photographer in his own right. His candid portraits are just that—candid. The feeling and emotion, so apparent in subject body language, draw the viewer in. I asked Edi to share his most essential mobile portraiture tips with us, and here they are.
“I browse my camera roll, looking to get inspired. Sometimes my mood helps determine the route an image will take, or at times it’s spontaneous; the image just speaks to me. I try not to force creativity by allowing the apps to overpower the image and become the image. The best results for me are when prior techniques I’ve used blend well with new experiences. Currently my most favorite photo app is VSCO Cam. The filters are well-crafted and the UI (user interface) is flawless and intuitive. Other apps I use include Repix, ProCamera, BlurFX, Popsicolor, Superimpose and Blender.”