via helenrice,  noahkalina

“your typical photographer might use a professional large film format camera, worth thousands of dollars…” 

see photos here: Terry Richardson

I have often thought of showing up to shoot something like a wedding with a point and shoot camera. I know I could do a better job than most people simply because I’ve been making pictures a long time, i’ve used almost every kind of photographic process and technology and I know what I can get from each. I am still learning a bunch but I’m pretty confident with a camera. It comes down to your creative vision of the scenario and the ability to get there. Your familiarity with your gadgets has to become transparent when you are shooting people anyway and why not make it easy on yourself like Mr. Terry?

Of course most people want the same look to their photos so you lug the big camera with the big lens (there are of course some advantages). Or maybe I will get that Canon G9 and call it a day?

Richardson also has a look that a lot of people like now (hip and such but is really just an offshoot of pornish imagery like the American Apparel Ads). What sets Mr. Richardson apart is his direction, suggestion, and intimacy—obviously, people respond to intimacy they wouldn’t normally see (ref: reality TV). He gets people to do stuff they wouldn’t ordinarily do. They probably also want to please him since he seems like a one-man party guy.

I recall seeing him in a bunch of shots with different famous people. He seemed to have a specific, sympathetic attitude for each person he was framed with. Sneering with Hulk Hogan, chugging champagne with a trashy model, devil signing with some punk…you get the idea. Maybe he mirrors people’s exact true selves so they are relaxed and are convinced it’s a generally good idea to take their shirt off?