We’ve been featuring a great collection of London portrait photographers nominated by our readers. Choosing that special person to photograph your family can be a daunting experience. Hopefully our roundup will help make the decision process a little easier. Check out our recent spotlights here, here, here and here.
Our next two finalists are: Nicola Bensley and Cinzia D’Ambrosi
NICOLA BENSLEY
Nicola Bensley trained as a photojournalist, having started out as assistant to an advertising photographer. In 1998 she joined the London Newspaper Group and worked for some years as their chief photographer. She left LNG to spend more time on portrait commissions and develop a series of art projects.
Unusually for this digital age, Nicola works almost exclusively on black and white film using only natural light.
“I like to think of family portrait shoots with me—usually at home or in a local park—as pretty relaxed affairs. In my experience it is best not to rush things.”
Nicola supplies her portrait clients with contact sheets and from these a selection is made for enlargement prints. All prints are hand-printed on fibre-based paper.
View more here: nicolabensley.com
CINZIA D’AMBROSI
Cinzia D’Ambrosi is a documentary photographer who also does studio, events and portrait photography. Her early background is in fine arts but she switched entirely to photography over 14 years ago, and children are one of her favourite subjects. On top of her fine art degree, she has a masters degree in documentary photography from the London College of Communication. Her work experience encompasses extensive reportages but also working in portrait and fashion studios in central London.
“I see photography as a beautiful and inspirational way to record our lives. It captures our uniqueness, our encounters and special bonds with others. Every time I am taking pictures, I find it an exhilarating experience, that of getting to know my sitter through them.”
Cinzia describes her style of photography overall as reportage, with an emphasis on portraiture, and she often combines the reportage style with posed moments. “I love to let the subject’s personality through in my pictures, so each session varies. You may see me clicking away observing a child that loves sitting and playing quietly or telling jokes with a child that loves funny stories. I love to capture their favourite things, moods, and so on.”
“The images that I create build a narrative around each child, a combination of natural and portrait, which I tend to create by gently directing the child. I don’t rush my commissions but I allow time for spontaneity, playfulness and the unexpected.”
Cinzia is based in west London but available for commissions within London.
View more here: photobrats.co.uk
