Wenotme are Anita and Thomas, an Art Director and a photographer both based in London. Wenotme started organically a few years ago from the number of people who asked them to photograph their children, families and weddings. They have expanded into other areas such as card designs and print design as well. Their style is very unique and has an ethereal as well as theatrical quality to it.
How long have you been photographers?
Thomas has been a photographer for well over 10 years now, and Anita has worked in children’s Brand Consultancy and Art Direction for nine years.
What got you both into photography?
Photography has been central to both our lives and careers, and from a very early age Thomas has taken pictures of a wealth of subjects. It all started when he stole his brothers camera at the age of 5, used up all the film, then put it back hoping no-one would notice – until the film was processed! Anita got hooked with photography whilst studying graphic design and working in a commercial photography studio and she has worked with photographers constantly through her career.
Which photographer do you look up to and why?
Obviously we love many photographers who specialise in many different fields but we really like Jonas Petersen for his natural natural style. He is a fantastic photographer from Australia who’s work manages to push wedding and portrait photography to another level and makes it look so effortless and easy.
What do you prefer – film or digital?
Digital – i don’t miss developing film, scanning negs, endless trip to the printers, and the cost (which had to be passed on to the client – although now we spend more time at the computer). Digital has made experimenting with pictures easier because you can view what you have tried instantly, and being in control of the final stages in photoshop has allowed a greater degree of control over the final images, rather than relying on your printer to do that for you.
What should your customers expect during a session?
Fun. We don’t like to put a time limit on our sessions because it can take a while for people to be fully relaxed in front of the camera and we want to make sure we capture the right images. We always travel to the client and shoot in a location that suits them, this way the setting means something to them, and they are far more relaxed. We also encourage them to bring their own props. From there we let the session take its own course, that way the children are more relaxed and happy. We have both always felt that a studio shoot is just far too intimidating and unnatural to really bring out the personality of the children and family, and so often we see children photographed looking like adults, we like to see children as children.
Do you have any tips for capturing the perfect picture?
To capture the perfect picture you need a good eye, constantly watching for when the children are at their most relaxed and natural. I often find that the first few pictures you take never make it into the final set because it takes people a while to relax and get used to the camera. Experience also counts, as does how to get the best from natural light, a skill that only experience can teach you.
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