In memory of Audrey Boniwell.
When I sat down with Audrey for In the Limelight, she had her sister and partner cheering her on in the comments, a favourite print hanging on the wall behind her, and a laugh that came easily. She spoke openly about doubting herself, about being fussy, and about the joy of handing someone a print of themselves. What she shared is some of the most practical advice I have heard on photographing people, and it deserves to be read again.
Video: Interview with Audrey Boniwell, CameraStuff In the Limelight, CameraStuff Shop.
TL;DR
Audrey went from hobbyist to full-time portrait and conceptual photographer in 2018. Her approach: make people comfortable through real conversation and confidence, plan concepts down to the last detail, pose people by showing them yourself, look after clients before and after the shoot, step away from the camera when you are stuck, and never stop learning.
From Hobby to Full Time
Audrey had always loved art, and photography felt close to it. She bought her first DSLR, a Canon 1000D, in 2008, started shooting open days around 2010, and kept photographing as a hobby until 2018, when she left the corporate world after 15 years and started her own business.
The biggest challenge, she said, was not feeling as good as everyone else. As a hobbyist she loved her work; once people started paying her, she doubted every image and often over-edited. Learning what is "just enough" in editing was one of her biggest lessons.
She hardly advertised. Most of her clients, many of them corporate headshot clients, came through word of mouth, which she took as a compliment.
Conrad's Advice: "Word of mouth is still king. If you're providing good work and providing the client with an all-round experience, that is something that sells itself."
Making People Comfortable
For Audrey, it started with conversation. Find out about the person in your studio, model or client, and what makes them tick. Showing interest relaxes people. So does your own confidence: she said she felt confident the moment the camera was in her hand, and that came across to her clients.
Before the shoot was another matter. She admitted she was nervous before every single session, and that it never went away.
Conrad's Advice: "A bit of nerves ahead of anything means that you're on the right track."
"It also means you care, and once you care, anything you do is good."Audrey Boniwell
She also believed in being a little bit nutty. A photo shoot is not the place for a serious, intimidating mood, so bring the energy and the fun, and people will meet you there.
Planning a Concept, Down to the Last Detail
Ideas came from anywhere, an outfit or a venue. From there, Audrey chose models who suited the concept, sat down with them to discuss looks, makeup, and location, and built mood boards on Pinterest. Sometimes a model brought the idea, and she loved that too. Anything with tulle was good, and anything that glittered was even better.
If the lighting, venue, makeup, or outfit was not what she pictured, she would never be happy with the image, so she made sure every piece was right, including choosing people who would actually turn up.
That fussiness led her to make her own outfits. After falling in love with a venue while shooting birthdays there, she planned a Bridgerton-style shoot, started making the dresses, and took sewing lessons so she could create what she could not find. I may be partial, because my niece was one of her models, but those images were beautiful. She also preferred to create effects in camera: for one of her gel-lit shoots, she insisted the colour and glitter be done for real, not added in Photoshop.
Bringing Out Real Expressions
Once someone is relaxed, Audrey said, they give you their true self. Talk about their partner or their children, and the smile reaches their eyes. Compliment them, but mean it. Play music. Keep talking while you pose them. And leave your own bad mood at the door, because a client will feel it.
She also thought about who was in the room. With teenagers, she would ask the parent to wait nearby, outside the studio, so the teen could relax while still feeling safe. And she always asked before adjusting anything on a client, even a strand of hair.
Posing: Show, Don't Just Tell
Audrey learned posing from tutorials and from people around her, but her core rule was simple: work with the body in front of you, and be able to do the pose yourself. As a fuller person herself, she knew how to pose fuller clients flatteringly, and she showed them each pose rather than describing it.
Her tips for faces and hands:
- Use soft, relaxed hands, and place them deliberately. A hand near the eyes draws attention to the eyes; near the nose or mouth, it draws attention there.
- Avoid too much white in the eyes by not letting the person look too far to the side.
- Look at the lens, not the light, unless you have asked them to look elsewhere.
- Put a mirror behind you so the person can see their own pose while facing the camera.
And her favourite measure of success: if your client is sore the next day, you posed them properly.
Looking After Clients After the Shoot
Audrey showed people a few good frames during the session, enough to build their confidence without showing anything unedited. Afterwards she sent contact sheets so clients could choose their favourites, and encouraged them to narrow it down. If she could not fix something a client was unhappy with, she reshot it.
She was also realistic: you are not everyone's photographer. Most of the time you can sense that before the shoot, which is why setting expectations early matters.
Creative Blocks and Gear
When she was stuck, Audrey put the camera down and watched a good movie, often horror, which she loved for the way it breaks visual rules.
"It is amazing how many ideas and how many things you see when you're not looking for things."Audrey Boniwell
Her camera bag held a Canon 6D, which remained her favourite for its rich colour, and a Canon R6, which she valued for its two card slots. She preferred shooting with a battery grip because it made her steadier. Her gear advice was refreshingly honest: start with a camera that is easy to use and a comfortable lens, and learn exactly what you need before buying expensive gear. She said she made that mistake early on.
Her Advice to New Photographers
"Don't think you're the bee's knees. Always be open to learning."Audrey Boniwell
Be confident in what you do. If you really want it, you will get there. Find a mentor whose work inspires you and ask them for help; most photographers, she said, are happy to teach someone who is willing to learn. And one of her proudest moments, the one she said she wanted to do forever, was simply watching someone's face when they saw themselves in print.
Audrey Boniwell
Audrey was a South African portrait and conceptual photographer, known for corporate headshots, styled concept shoots with handmade outfits, and her love of tulle, glitter, and anything a little bit theatrical. You can still see her work on Instagram at @audrey_boniwell.
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People Photography FAQs
How do you make non-models comfortable in front of the camera?
Audrey started every shoot with a real conversation, asking about the person's life, partner, or children. She paired that with sincere compliments, music, clear posing direction, and showing people a few good frames on the back of the camera.
Who should be in the studio during a portrait shoot?
Someone who helps the person relax, not someone watching the clock. Audrey often asked parents of teens to wait nearby but outside the studio, so the teen could relax while still feeling safe.
What should you do if a client is unhappy with their photos?
Audrey sent contact sheets so clients could choose their own favourites, offered to reshoot when she could not fix an image, and believed in setting clear expectations before the shoot.
Conrad Knuist
Head of Marketing and Photography Specialist
Conrad Knuist is Head of Marketing and Photography Specialist at CameraStuff, South Africa's specialist camera and lighting retailer. With over 18 years of hands-on experience across portrait, event, and commercial photography, Conrad hosts CameraStuff's In the Limelight conversations with South African photographers.
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