Simona De Michelis Photography

There are many reasons that I wanted to become a photographer… to spend more time with people, exercise my creativity, problem solve and of course to do something that I have a passion for.

Having your picture taken can be daunting (all of a sudden the spotlight is on you!) and I get a real buzz helping people to relax and enjoy having their portrait taken. Since I love taking photos period I'm just as comfortable talking to a person as I am to a product, interior, building, landscape or pet (yes some would say this the first sign of madness!).

Something else I bring to my job is an understanding of what it is like to be client side. Having spent several years as a Marketing and PR manager I have a thorough grasp of what makes a good publicity and marketing shot. I also know how a supplier can make a positive difference to a manager's workload and stress; by communicating clearly, bringing ideas and energy to the project and delivering services when promised (what a joy it is not having to chase someone!).

In terms of formal photography training I have a Diploma in Professional Photographic Practice from the London College of Communication (formerly the London College of Printing). My informal training began as a teenager when I bought myself my first SLR camera (wishing to this day that I hadn’t sold it!), and I assist other photographers from time to time as there is always something you can learn from others.

People often think of photography as a documentary medium, you hear the adage “the camera never lies”. I don’t see photography this way. From the moment a photographer frames a scene they instantly add their take to the picture, editing, influencing, story telling. So in a photograph you can be anyone or anything you want to be….yourself, your alter ego, or that film director you daydream about being…

Either way there is something magical about capturing a moment. Whether my job on the day has been to create the space and atmosphere for that moment to present itself, or to be discrete so that people forget a photographer is present, there really is nothing else that I would rather be doing (not even directing films!).