Let’s Get to Know Each Other - Steven from 7photo

Steven J Allen (Steve) is a Calgary-based portrait, dance and performing arts photographer.

Classic, traditional styling with a hint of the modern.

Describe the moment you decided to pursue photography?

I’m not exactly sure I can give just one definitive moment when I knew I was going to be a photographer; this journey has been winding and full of AHA moments.  One of the first photos I can remember taking that really stuck with me (and has been long gone due to water damage to the photo and the negative) was a photo of an abandoned house near where I grew up.  It made me think about the possibilities of making images and how they keep slices of time frozen for us to reconnect to when we want. Ironic I guess that the photo that triggered that idea has been lost; maybe that’s the point though, how easily we can lose memories like that. So I have wanted to help people keep those memories with photos!  There have been many other moments that have pushed me here…a connection with another photographer here, a friend’s gentle encouragement there…and I always look forward to that next one.

Whose work has influenced you the most?

Another hard question to answer.  There are so many talented and capable photographers from the past to today.  Each has their own style and look, their own ‘secret ingredients’ that make their images stand out.  Annie Leibovitz and Vivian Maier for their portraiture, Rachel Neville and Lois Greenfield for their incredible flowing dance photos, even Art Wolfe for his travel and cultural photos.  Mostly though I find myself inspired by the upcoming talents of today.  I may not always grasp their unique styles, but I always admire their willingness to experiment, to push their ideas out to their viewers.  I have my own style, one I’ve tweaked and modified for decades (privately and as a business), and I think for many artists of all disciplines and levels there is something to be learned from those around us.

What is one thing you wish you knew when you started your career?

I really wish I had known how to connect with my clients more.  It’s such a fine balance of being professional and personal.  The true key to getting great images is to connect with the people in them!  Anyone can click a button and make a photo; it’s getting the people in front of the camera to show their personality, their talent and what makes them who they are.  Without that personal interaction, the photographer is just robot clicking the shutter and hoping that something magical happens.  The true magic happens outside the camera, between the subject and photographer.

Is there a photoshoot you’ve done over the years that stands out?

Each photoshoot has its own personality, if that makes sense, so there are often parts of each one that stand out and feel inspirational.  For me though, it’s usually that one image from a shoot that looked good on the camera screen but turned out GREAT on the monitor and after post-production.  Those photos are magic!  They remind me that there are trillions of images ‘out there’ but that I am lucky enough to capture these gems.  They are often hard-won, both by the effort of the talent in front of the camera, and the luck and skill of the photographer. And yes I believe that luck does play a part, if only as the final ingredient.

Favorite and least favorite camera gear or brands you’ve used?

 I have been a Canon camera user for most of my years.  There will always be debate as to what camera is best; the hard truth is that it’s the one that allows you to forget you’re using it.  For me that’s always been Canon.  I have both Canon and Sigma lenses; Sigma Art primes are THE BEST at this point in time.  I rarely shoot with a rest (tripod or bipod) and use flash only occasionally (for fill or in live performance when needed).  As with most photographers, I’m the proud owner of multiple camera bags, and each has its good and bad points.  My go-to is an ancient Lowepro backpack as it’s the right size and comfort level for most of my work.  I also shoot black and white medium format film with 2 classic cameras:  a 1952 Rolleiflex and a 1972 Hasselblad (these are more for fun than business, but I do offer film-only shoots if you’re interested).  I have both Elinchrom and Strobepro strobes for studio work, which I do enjoy using when I can.  And for post-production it’s Photoshop over Lightroom for me.