SheFeatures: Jules Renahan
Name: Jules Renahan
Camera: Nikon Z7 II and Z6
Favourite type of photography: Performance, dance, events and portraits.
Website: www.julesrphotography.co.uk
Instagram: @julesrphotography
Location: Twickenham, UK
How did you get into photography?
I took a beginners' photography course when I was living in Ljubljana in 2013. I started with landscape photography which was a great way to explore Slovenia and the surrounding countries. This soon developed into more of a passion for capturing connections between people and more candid moments, although I still find landscape photography very enjoyable.
Do you have any photographic qualifications or accolades?
No.
What's the first photograph you remember seeing or shooting?
I remember having a Kodak Instamatic pocket camera for my birthday in the late 1980s and the feeling of excitement when the developed photos were posted through the letterbox - even if most of the were dark and unidentifiable!
What do you love about photography?
That you can totally lose yourself in the process.
What do you wish you'd learned about photography earlier?
There's no logical reason to be terrified of studio lighting!
Where is your favourite place for photography?
A beautiful dance performance in a theatre such as Sadler's Wells.
Do you have a favourite photographic technique?
Not a technique as such, but anticipating a precise moment, such as a dancer at full stretch or a split-second connection between your subjects.
Can you briefly outline your approach to image processing?
I tend to do most of my post-processing in Lightroom and then occasionally make a few final tweaks in Photoshop. Lightroom's Denoise tool has proved very useful for performance & theatre photography.
What's your favourite lens?
My Nikon Nikkor Z 28 - 75 mm f/2.8 tends to be my go to lens, particularly for events.
Read our Guide to Camera Lenses, all those terms explained
Do you have a favourite accessory?
My Peak Design Cuff - it's a great wrist strap that looks good and stops me worrying about accidental drops!
Have you found the perfect camera bag yet?
I'm enjoying my Wandrd Prvke 31, but now I'm hunting for something on wheels for my event photography jobs as it's too heavy when full.
Which photographers have influenced or inspired you, and how or why?
Annie Leibovitz for her ability to capture the essence of her subjects and Rick Guest, who captures the determination and struggle behind the art of ballet. I also love the work of Luka Esenko, my first photography teacher and now my business partner in PhotoHound. His landscapes are so natural and beautifully composed.
Please recommend 2 or 3 female photographers to follow on Instagram.
Scarlet Page (@scarletpage), Annie Leibowitz (@annieleibovitz), Eva Nys (@evanysphotography)
Is there a camera, lens or accessory that you don't have yet but you'd like to buy at some point?
The Nikon Nikkor Z 85mm f/1.2 would be nice!
Is there a genre of photography that you love but you haven't tried yet?
I'd like to try lighting dancers in a studio to capture motion blur.
What's your proudest photographic moment?
Creating PhotoHound, an app and website that helps travel photographers find and get to amazing photo spots.
If you could have one superpower that could help you with photography, what would it be?
Being able to teleport to a venue with all my gear and then back again afterwards would be pretty cool!
Your favourite baked goods are?
A scone with cream and jam (in that order!).
Please tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a former teacher and relative latecomer to photography. I started to work as a freelance photographer in the last 18 months (having done a lot of favours and freebies for friends!) and have discovered a particular passion for performance and dance photography. I cover a range of photography, from local festivals to corporate conferences, dance & theatre photography and headshots. I’m also co-founder of PhotoHound, an app and website which brings travel photographers together to share knowledge of photo locations around the world. It’s been wonderful to see this community grow and to hear about photographers using our product to find and photograph new places. Being open to giving things a go and looking for ways to collaborate with other photographers has led me to some really exciting opportunities and photography jobs.
