Tatum Mangus

What inspired your series ‘Love is Love’ and how did you go about choosing your subjects?
The project ‘Love is Love’ originally started as an exercise for me to shoot more than one person together, since I typically shoot portraits of lone subjects. I wanted something intimate, so I chose to photograph couples in their homes. I wanted the couples to be as diverse as possible, to show that love comes in all shapes, sizes, & colors; to show that love is beautiful in all forms. It is still an ongoing project I plan to continue, with even more diversity.
I recruited friends & reached out through Instagram to find subjects who were willing to sit for me.

What difficulties did you encounter when you began to photograph more than one subject? What have you learned from the process and what steps helped you become better at approaching a portrait with multiple subjects?
Directing two subjects together is a bit challenging, especially because of the camera I am working with. For this project I wanted to use the Mamiya RZ67, which allows for a more intimate capture. It can focus in very close range & the fall-off isolates the subjects, but that means they have to be in a very similar plane to one another so one doesn’t fall out of focus.

Directing one couple is one thing, but I really had to start planning for each shoot by researching a variation of possible poses. Each location is different from the next, with considerations of the space & light (I used window light & a reflector, if needed, for all of the shots), so I had to be flexible. I made sure there was enough time during each shoot to take time to work out how the subjects would sit in a number of different ways.

I think the thing that helped the most was having images of posing possibilities on hand to refer back to & shooting enough (since I was shooting film) to make sure I had good images of both subjects together. It was also important to be cognizant of the fact that I was entering into a sort of sacred space; to tread softly & respectfully.

What has your camera taught you throughout the years?
I’ve had this particular camera for only about a year or so, but I have been shooting with medium & large format cameras for about 15 years. It slows you down considerably & is a more meditative way of shooting portraiture; it requires patience from both the photographer & the subjects. Obviously, it’s not right for every situation, but it’s really special when it works out. I find it forces you to be more present & more thoughtful, though it may not be the most efficient.

What has photography taught you throughout the years? In what ways has it challenged you or helped you grow? How has it made an impact on your life
My approach to photography has changed throughout the years, it grows with me. I used to be very introverted with my photography, shooting self portraits & tinkering around at home. Then, I started photographing friends, then models, then strangers in the street spontaneously. Photography takes me out of my comfort zone & takes me places I would not otherwise have access to. It gives me an excuse to step into people's lives, get to know them. I love that every assignment or job is a new adventure with new people & new places, to keep me on my toes & open for new relationships.

How do you go about getting assignments? Can you share what your path after graduating from school has been like? When was it difficult to stay on a creative path, or did it come easy to navigate your career post graduation?
Getting assignments is still something I struggle with a great deal. Going out & getting jobs has never been something I've ever been good at (photo or otherwise) & it is by far the hardest part of being a freelance photographer, in my opinion. After graduating from art school, I held all kinds of jobs while squeezing in whatever freelance jobs I managed to land for quite a few years. I'm still supplementing my income with assisting, retouching, & odd jobs here & there.

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