In this blog, tutor and professional photographer Robert Irving tells us what got him interested in photography, why he enjoys working with students and what makes a good photographer.
Tell us a little about your career/education or progression within the industry.
I’ve been professional since 1999, shooting analogue before the commercial advent of digital in the early noughties. In the early years, I explored the different genres within the industry in order to gain a better understanding of my particular interests / potential options.
What I found was that I really appreciate variety, that to shoot across varied disciplines, photography remained super interesting, so easy to fuel my passion. As a result, as a commercial photographer, I’m in the enjoyable position to service clients mainly across the disciplines of People, Products, Architecture & Events...
What were you doing before you started tutoring at the Academy?
Before joining the Academy, alongside my commercial work, I was teaching photography to private individuals and training junior photographers in a couple of studios I was shooting for.
"35mm B&W film: Very thick freezing fog, mixed with film grain creating a mood hard to achieve with digital. Look as though taken a hundred years ago, not last week!". Image courtesy Robert Irving.
What got you interested in photography?
I got my first camera sub 10 years old. Images from the first roll of film, including my Action Man climbing a wall, sent my imagination soaring. Inspired, I set up photo’ scenarios of adventures/activities I dreamed of doing for real.
Looking back now, I see I was interested in ‘realism’ within the image. At about the same time, a relative dropped off maybe 100 back issues of the National Geographic, which inspired me to explore the World with a camera for sure!!!
What do you enjoy most about being a photographer/teaching photography?
As a teacher, it’s that ‘penny-drop’ moment when it all comes together for a student when they feel the magic and know-how to conjure such for themselves into the future. If they’re excited, I’m excited.
I also recognise that learning how to see as a photographer opens up our visual World enormously; its patterns, details & inherent beauty, which I feel are missed by those outside of our passion. I also learn a great deal from teaching my passion.
As a practising professional photographer - across varied genres - my job is to look closely & engage with a variety of subjects and people across broad industry/social contexts… so very, very interesting.
"Shot with a Rollei B35 - world’s smallest 35mm film camera". Image courtesy Robert Irving.
What photography styles do you lean towards? How would you define your style?
My style would be, on the whole, realism. I wish my images to represent reality rather than some dreamed up hyper-reality. I like to be close; recognising the importance of engagement with my subject(s), I shoot from close quarters so that my viewer too feels the engagement and so emotion.
Do you think there are must-have skills for photographers? If so, which do you believe are relevant for the industry?
Photographers need to be confident, which fortunately can be learnt/developed. People communicate the whole time on a subconscious level, picking up upon mannerisms, body language, etc.
Being ‘on-the-spot’, your subject needs to feel confident to show their true self. The more ‘on-it’ and in control the photographer is, the more confident the subject will be, resulting in the best images for sure.
How do you choose your subjects?
Assuming there’s an open brief, there’s no criteria, just something I feel interests me about an individual. Though I guess what they have in common is a level of self-confidence as good photography reflects another's true being, their confidence will allow them to show this to you (and your camera).
"Streets of East London." Image courtesy Robert Irving.
Do you have any funny or peculiar photography experience you would like to share? And what did you learn from that?
There have been many such is the nature of servicing a broad spectrum of clients. I’ve travelled a great deal, the more adventurous photography being in North & Sub-Sharan Africa, Central & South East Asia, including the occasional war zones.
But closer to home, I’ve shot a couple of events hosted by the Late Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace. On one occasion, during cocktails in ’The China Room’, I whispered to an attendant that it was time for me to leave and who was to show me out. The Duke overheard, and addressing me warmly & directly asked if I thought I could find my own way out; I confirmed & he said ‘off you go then young man’ - upon which I found my self, unaccompanied, wandering the corridors of the Palace...
If you could spend a day with any photographer, dead or alive, who would that be and why?
Jakob Riis - the young Danish Photographer who immigrated to America at about the age of 20 in the late 1800s. I feel that I can relate to his sense of adventure, a young man outside of his comfort zone, looking for interest & excitement. An early pioneer of the documentary style, he gave a voice to the underprivileged.
What advice would you give for someone who is looking to start their own photography business/career?
Photography is about the best job going, simply so interesting and creative. Many would love such a lifestyle, so recognise that those who make it, and will be your competition, are passionate. Without passion, it’s hard to compete; and with passion, you can achieve anything!
"Shot on 35mm film but through a medium format camera which allows for wide panoramas with the rather charming sprocket holes." Image courtesy Robert Irving.
Robert Irving is a Commercial Photographer who specialises in PR, Advertising, Architecture, Events, Products, and Editorial photography. Rob also writes feature articles and has been tutoring for a number of years. You can see and follow Robert's work and portfolio on his website or Instagram page.
To find out how you become a photographer, visit our courses page.