Photojournalist Elisabeth Blanchet’s best advice: "Take your time with subjects"

"Each situation is peculiar, so remain vigilant and observant," says documentary photographer Elisabeth Blanchet. "Photography is a succession of unique decisive moments."

The French photographer is best known for her long-term projects – in particular, an archive of British post-war prefabricated homes, and her on-going documentation of life on Irish and Romani traveller sites all over the UK.

"Even if the project or the story you are photographing is not long-term – reportage or a portrait – you will need to take the necessary time to meet the people involved, to find a way to connect with them and gain their trust. Never forget that photographing someone is ‘taking’ their picture. They are giving you their image and if you want them to do their best, they will have to trust you.

"Be patient. Sometimes, you might find yourself in tricky situations when your subjects are not in the mood for posing because of personal reasons or unplanned events. In this case, don’t insist. Keep your camera in your bag and if it feels needed, just be a human being, a listener or an adviser, rather than a photographer. If you are offered drinks or food, take the time to sit at the table, to listen to your subjects – they have become your hosts. This is an excellent way to get closer to them, more intimate. Don’t think that not taking pictures is synonymous with wasting time. On the contrary, see it as a necessary step to get better images the next time around."

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