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It’s all about the people

By on February 27, 2009

Husband and wife photography team, Geoff & Rebecca Letchford,  shed some light on their craft. 

How did you get started with photography and design, respectively?

Geoff: I originally was heavily involved in fashion and commercial photography. I realized it was the people I loved to work with most and creating artistic compositions that captures their relationships and personalities. Rebecca worked in graphic and interior design and was similarly restricted by her role, she wanted to do something original and more creative. Now her final works of my photos sit next to Monet’s and other stunning feature pieces in people’s homes.

Tell us your favorite part of the job.

Geoff: Seeing families grow and change. Being invited back regularly to update the family photographs. It’s an amazing experience, getting to know their personalities, their likes and dislikes and using that knowledge to portray them with a depth way beyond just superficial looks. When you get that photograph that everyone says “Wow, you have really captured exactly just who they are,”  there is satisfaction beyond words.

Rebecca: Definitely the individual creation. I don’t like any of my clients to have the same thing; if they do, I’m not doing my job!  I love the design pursuit of the piece that is going to be a one off just for that family.

How do you contribute to each other’s work?

Geoff: Even though we have our own very defined roles in the business, mine is photography and Rebecca is design, our synergy is what originally brought our work together. When I am photographing, Rebecca plays the role of artistic director and constantly stimulates/pushes my imagination to find the absolute best in every photo-session. When it comes to the design part, I push her hard to make the best of my images.

Rebecca: Geoff is incredibly talented at doing what other photographers can’t, taking an image of a person/family that truly is them as an individual and a group, all the while keeping the composition of the photograph, unposed and “real” like a scene in a beautiful painting.

What are your favorite subjects to photograph and why?

Geoff: I love photographing kids. This is a hard question to answer without sounding cliché, but it’s true. Kids are honest subjects. They don’t give you anything you don’t deserve. If you don’t genuinely connect with them they will let you know, and it will show. I think in some ways I am actually probably more of a psychologist than a photographer, because I love working with people, and understanding what they are thinking and wanting.  It’s definitely all about the people.

Where do you find inspiration for your artwork?

Geoff: We both love art, and in particular paintings. I really love renaissance paintings and would endeavor in an artistic way to emulate the thought, composition and depth that the painters of this period gave to their subjects. 

Rebecca: Traveling is a big part of what we do and that in itself is inspirational. Whether it be the hundreds of places, sights, smells, even moods we interact with when we travel, often we will draw an idea even if it’s just a color we love or a scene we see – we madly jot it in one of our note books and inadvertently the idea will show up in one of our pieces.

Why did you start focusing on family portraits?

Geoff: I started doing some shoots for commercial clients, families, and friends as a favor. To my surprise I actually started liking it, which isn’t cool where I come from. I intuitively just seemed to know how to make people feel comfortable, look good, and enjoy the process. Fifteen years later, I enjoy it 10 times as much as I did then.

What makes your work unique and loved?

Geoff: We make it so easy for our clients in the two main parts of the process. Easy for the client at the photo-session equates to relaxed, happy subjects which makes for much more real photographs. Easy in the design process means listening to the clients’ ideas, and then doing all the work before showing them the perfect answer to all they wanted. People say our work is genuine art, and could hang in peoples homes even if they weren’t the ones in the image. I love that, because I genuinely believe done right, family photographs can be the most personal art, and warmth to a home.

To find out more about Letchford & Letchford visit www.geoffletchford.com

 

 

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