How to Shoot Reportage

Book Review

It’s a special honour to be asked to review the work of another photographer. In this case, I have been asked to review the latest e-book from Enzo Dal Verme.

Enzo Del Vermont is a Milan and Paris-based photographer who has shot for a wide variety of very well known magazine. Enzo has been doing this successfully for more than a decade, and his work has taken him all over the world. He writes with the voice of experience.

Based on these experiences, he has written a book called “How to Shoot Reportage.” (North American Shooters would better understand this as Editorial Photography).
Anyone who has worked in this area knows it’s a challenging business, to say the least. As an area I work in as well, so I know what Enzo is discussing.

Enzo writes in a very direct and factual manner that includes a lot of solid practical advice on how to operate in this area of photography. In fact, his style comes across initially as almost too straightforward, even simple. I found that reading the book a second time pointed out the insightfulness of his comments.

The book flows smoothly through the idea stage, trip preparation, shooting, and post-production, but also includes very useful business information along the way. Many of us forget the fundamental fact that we are a business first and photographers second. Ultimately, a successful project must raise enough money to support the photographer or have been supported by the previously successful project. It’s cold hard fact that a photographer who is spending more than they are making cannot be supported by photography alone.

His book is not long, 68 pages including pictures, but well worth the time if you are a professional photographer. In an interesting twist, I think this would be a very useful book for anyone planning a trip to a scenic location, as his travel photography suggestions apply to anyone with a camera.

You can reach Enzo’s website at www.enzodalverme.com

His blog is at: www.enzodalverme/blog

And, of course, the book is available at www.enzodalverme.com/blog/2010/12/how-to-shoot-a-reportage-the-manual/

…or from the front page of his website….

It’s available in:

1) epub format for 4.99 euros ($6.86 USD or $6.71 CDN)
2) PDF format for 8.59 euros ($11.82 USD or $11.43 CDN)
– More photographs included

According to his website, there is a print version coming in the future.

There is also a PDF chapter preview available if you’d like to look a little deeper before your purchase.

I recommend checking out his website and the purchase of this book. It’s a remarkable price for such a wealth of information.