Don't Judge a Book by its Cover!

April 03, 2012  •  2 Comments

One of the things I love about being a photographer is the variety of people I meet.  I can honestly say that so far I haven't met anyone I don't like.  In doing this job I have come across many people that I wouldn't normally associate with.  Not because there is anything wrong with them.  Just because our paths wouldn't normally cross.

As an example, on Saturday I met Dani.  Dani's reputation had gone before him so I knew what to expect.  However, I was still a little unprepared for the actual event and was still a little surprised.

Dani is a punk.  He has the whole punk thing down to a T - ripped clothing, very tall, spiked Mohican hair cut, body piercings and tattoos.  To be honest, if we were to find ourselves walking towards each other along a street on a dark night, I think I would feel a little apprehensive.  But, as I said before, I had already heard of Dani and I knew about his reputation.  Dani is well educated, well spoken, extremely polite and extremely obliging.  He would do anything to help anyone.  During the shoot on Saturday Dani worked very hard and I don't think he grumbled once about being asked to do some ridiculous things by the other photographers.  He is one of the most likeable, professional people I've met.

When I talk about the shoots I have done or what I have coming up, it's interesting to see the reactions from the people I talk to - particularly non-photographers.  What I've learned is to get to know the person behind the image first and not to judge anyone on appearance.  In fact, not to judge them at all.  It's good advice because they could actually misjudge me (or you), too.


Comments

Webster(non-registered)
Insightful, when I went to uni in manc one of my best friends had a Mohican, we called him fluffy, he went to an all boys selective school in kent , looks decieve. On a slightly unrelated note there is a young lad who buses near American apparel in the Armadale precinct on a Saturday, he's not a superstar looker but my god he can sin and he oozes charisma, if I were an A&R man I'd sign him up. If you can capture his charisma is be impressed
Diane Seddon(non-registered)
Ah yes.... the first time I met Dani - was in Manchester, and I met him outside a pub - he sidled up and oh so politely asked me how I was that day.... it wasn't what I expected. Over the couple of years that I've known him, he's not changed... and when I asked him one day why he decided to become a punk, he said it just grew on him, as a style. He went on to tell me that most punks were like him, very polite and sociable. Like any group of people, there are always going to be 'bad eggs'; but like Terry, so far I've not met any of them.

I reckon photographers generally are a jolly good breed of people - and generally easy to get on with, and polite. I suppose there's going to be the rotton one, but hey ! You can always avoid those.... Nice post Terry.
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Terry McNamara is a Manchester based freelance commercial photographer.  Here you can keep up to date with the projects Terry is working on and whatever he may be currently thinking about.

 

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