One of the aims of my photography workshops is to answer questions that are hard to find online.  There are loads of sites that give excellent technical information, but what about the more subtle areas of artistic development, where are those answers to be found?

 

An area that confuses many photographers is style.  What is it, where does it come from, and is it something you are just born with? 

 

An area that confuses many photographers is style.  What is it, where does it come from, and is it something you are just born with?

 

 

During the A/MARELLI Florence Workshop we discussed the nuances of developing a photographic style.  In my own journey, I’ve drawn influences from many worlds to develop a style.  I wanted to share some of this experience first hand with the workshop this year and legendary tailor Simone Righi was happy to join us for the ride. 

 

 

Simone Righi blossomed into a Florentine icon over the last two decades.  In the world of men’s suiting, Simone does a fantastic job of setting himself apart from the crowd while still being entirely approachable.  His style is laid back, free from all pretense, and he manages to pull it off effortlessly … with “Sprezzatura” as the Italians say.  It seemed like a little time with him at his shop would be a unique way for the photographers to consider their own styles.

 

 

The DNA of a man’s suit is unchanged for 100 years.  There is a jacket, pants, and some shirt underneath tying it all together.  The assembly is not rocket science, but the interpretations are endless.  And in the mass of ready-to-wear clothing that dominates the manufacturing world, creating something distinct is no small feat.

 

 

 

 

 

The first time I saw a picture of Simone online, he looked intense.  He was wrapped in a British tweed, in a Florentine cut, looking like a general from a bygone era.  Known for his piercing stare and imposing figure, I assumed that in person Simone would be a little rough.  In truth, Simone is a teddy bear, much more mellow than he looks in pictures.   He has a playful personality that was good fun for everyone in the workshop. 

 

 

Working With Models

Over the years, we have done all types of shoots – from craftsmen to models. I like to offer photographers unique opportunities to hone their skills in a controlled environment.  It takes the pressure off of getting a shot in just a few seconds.  With a model, a photographer can slow down, ask questions, and re-shoot pictures when things go wrong … and trust me, in the learning process things always go wrong.  It is the nature of the beast. 

 

 

Tips For Shooting Models

• • Meter the scenes first and shoot on all manual.
• • Clean up the backgrounds first.
• • Look at your test shots once, so you are not chimping every ten seconds.
• • Watch your distance. Remember the strongest punch in the world only matters if it is at the right distance, otherwise all it hits is air.  The same goes for photography.
• • Make sure someone is talking to the model.  It can be you or someone else, but there is nothing as deafening as a silent model shoot …”Can you say awkward?”

 

During the shoot, the photographers learned that when they have a dedicated subject, the camera operations are secondary.  When working with a model, you want to be able to use the camera, on manual, without looking at any of the buttons and dials.  And forget about chimping … that is a sure fire way to create a disconnect between you and the model. The chemistry between the shooter and the model makes all the difference.  If either of them are uncomfortable it shows in the pictures. 

 

 

When working with a model, you want to be able to use the camera, on manual, without looking at any of the buttons and dials.  And forget about chimping … that is a sure fire way to create a disconnect between you and the model. The chemistry between the shooter and the model makes all the difference. 

 

The more relaxed the model, the better the pictures.  With Simone, he is a man who is comfortable in his skin.  Whether he was sitting on the sidewalk or smoking his Antico Toscano cigarillos, he is perfectly natural.  It is something that comes with age.

 

Throughout the shoot, Simone gave the photographers a bit of history behind his shop.  He walked us through archival photographs of himself and some of his clients, so everyone could see the evolution of his shop, Frasi, over the decades.  This personalized tour seemed to ease everyone’s urgency to find their own style so quickly. 

 

 

In an age where the speed of life is almost a fetish, it seems hard to slow down.  But the speed is an illusion.  Underneath the surface of instant communication and fast paced news are people like Simone enjoying the speed of life at a human pace.  Maybe it is one of the reasons Florence attracts so many visitors each year.  Coming from busy hubs around the world, we might hope to absorb some of the ease of life that the Italians do so well.  And if we can’t, we can at least bathe in the Florentine atmosphere for a few days and take a few hours on the bench with Simone enjoying the afternoon slide into the night. 

 

We will be back next year in Florence, so if you are interested in spending time with Simone, drop me an email and I can send you the dates in advance of the announcement on the site.   

 

 

You can see more of Simone’s work on the website for Frasi in Florence and on Simone’s Instagram account.