It never ceases to amaze me that a political candidate will recruit a team, including family and ask them to devote hours handing out flyers and banners with material featuring below standard portraits of the candidate. The portrait is often the only thing the voter knows about the candidate - so why do candidates short change themselves ?
I am not going to show the worst pictures from my local electorate but I did wander around Wentworth (In Sydney) where the some of the portraits were still below what I feel should be acceptable for a political campaign photo.
Poor lighting in the top image versus the overuse of photoshop in the lower photo - neither are good.
I have photographed Dr Kerryn Phelps before (quite a few years ago) and here I feel that she might have been mesmerised by the outcomes of photoshops smoothing tools. A little more restrain in post production might have improved the integrity of this image.
Dave Sharma’s grey and underexposed photo was captured in the shade without a lot of attention to hair.
I think the Liberal Candidate - Dave Sharma should have had the funds to pay for an assistant with a reflector or even a fill flash. His photo was all over the Eastern Suburbs but looked flat and unflattering compared to other candidates in the electorate.
How simple is it to spend half an hour in front of a camera with a professional obtaining images that put you and your team in their best light?
Tim Murry - probably didn’t have a big chance in the blue ribbon Liberal seat of Wentworth but he entered the game with a confidence building photo.
A good portrait is confidence building
Dr Mehreen Faruqi’s photos featured quality lighting and an built environment backdrop.
A little while ago a local council members who was in opposition bought her whole team over for a one hour photo session and in that hour we produced enough material for her to run posters for almost ten years needless to say she is now the Mayor.
So - if your running for office or any kind of office. If your planning on putting your face out there. Take the time to have a professional portrait - in studio or on location - with Crossfire Photography.