Every year The Lawyer magazine butters up a bunch of upwardly mobile solicitors and barristers by including them in its 'Hot 100'. As part of the fun, the chosen few get to enjoy a celeb-style photo-shoot. But something seems to have gone wrong this time around. Several of the snaps, like this one of CBS Outdoor legal director Grainne Brankin, are just plain weird...
Others, like these of Kirkland & Ellis' Dan Oates and Ashurst's Peter Roberts, somehow escaped the cutting room floor and made it into the main feature.
In case you haven't already seen them, the full selection – which has inspired much chortling among members of the legal profession – is here.
All the pictures used above appear courtesy of photographer John Millar.
As a photographer, and one that tends to focus on portraiture I was surprised by this output.
My first thought was head desk as the framing suggested that someone had just used the iPhone Instagram app rather than a professional art director.
In the article there is no consistency of style and some images look like they have been scraped from a corporate website and then quickly cropped. They look out of place as they break up any sense of flow in the article.
Where do you start on composition? Lawyers looking like they are waiting for a bus? Lawyer looking like he is taking his jacket off before starting a fight? Lawyer with eyes closed? Lawyer juggling part of his packed lunch? Lawyer swilling mouthful of listerine? Lawyer can't find his Blackberry? Lawyer doing bunny rabbit impression? Two words come to mind. Neither of which are 'trusted' or 'advisor.'
It is not hard to do a portraiture set up, a bit of planning a few strobes and you are good to go. But what struck me most was how uncomfortable they all looked and that is what makes the difference between a good portrait photographer (that I aspire too) and an average one. A good portrait photographer makes you feel relaxed and comfortable.
And you know what? It is such a shame because the subject matter is interesting and moreso because last years photo's were really, really good. Well styled, good light and setting.
There you go, that's what I think...my opinion from a photographers point of view.
Go on trolls do your worst.
Jon
Oh gosh, law really IS showbiz for ugly people.
... and yes, that was a tongue-in-cheek joke before anybody gets offended!