Quite a while back I was just starting up my facebook fan page and I called to my few followers ‘did anyone want to have their photo taken for free’ .. only a few got in touch but David followed through. And. A day of fun and photos in London centre ensued :D

Big thanks go to David C. for meeting up with me, having a blast, getting nervous, laughing, relaxing and shooting the breeze while walking and spotting locations to shoot.

First off, I hadn’t lived in London that long at the time of meeting with David and I was (and still am) a total newbie at finding places in London. I still carry a map and get lost regularly .. my trusty phone with GPS locating is a blessing and I love it. However on the day I didn’t need it because David is very familiar with London and guided me around while I guided him in posing for photos and goofing around to get his beautiful smile to show.

We started our time together meeting at Oxford Circus. A nice busy and public place so that both he and I could assure ourselves and each other that we are not secret axe murderers .. no long handles or suspicious axe shaped bulges were showing so I felt safe enough, and so did he.

Hand shakes and smiles and we were ready. We set of down Regent Street, chatting, dodging and weaving around fellow Londoners and tourists. We made our way to St James Park and near the National Police Memorial is a wall full of ivy which we began our shoot at.

I love his smile and nervous body language. Its very true to his feeling of the moment, faced with a photographer and tourists all looking at me, looking and photographing him. Its overwhelming for anyone to suddenly feel like they are under the spotlight as it were!

Well this why I love digital photography, it’s okay to be nervous, it’s okay to screw up, it’s alright to feel uncertain and build your confidence. Nothing is used or kept without consent. Besides it’s in the unguarded moments that you are being authentic. As David was and I’m sure his friend and family will recognise this nervous body language habit and be comforted by it.

We then moved back to the National Police Memorial as the sunshine was at an angle that made the monument a perfect backdrop. With the back filled light highlighting the memorial the stunning turquoise was lit up and I could see a perfect headshot happening here.

We spent quite a while here playing with lights and I screwed up a few times, but that’s okay we had time and equipment can be temperamental in getting precisely the look of light desired. Thanks David for comforting my sudden nerves when my lights played up!

We then went on a longer walk and chat, scouting out other locations which yielded quite a number of different photos .. but to wrap up, we ended up on the South Bank river walk. Ending the day, we were just chatting, when I noticed the light was hitting him rather nicely so I click the shutter and captured a few more.

David, being the perfect gentleman that he is, ensured that I managed to get to the right location to catch my bus home. I enjoyed the afternoon of goofing around and having some silly fun with a client and a new friend.

Cheers me dears David for fun, photography and smiles in London. You can see David’s thoughts here on the photo album page on the CathieGraphy Facebook Fan Page.

– CathieGraphy a London Photographer