‘Making It’ with Unit Stills Photographer Mark Rogers: How to Level Up Your People and Business Skills

Still soirees are monthly online meet-ups, where stills photographer Nicola Dove has conversations with industry guests such as other successful stills photographers, publicists, producers and directors. Here is a taste of the June 2024 Soiree with Mark Rogers.

Aussie stills photographer Mark Rogers is known for having photographed actors like Cate Blanchett, Chris Hemsworth, Ryan Gosling, Nicole Kidman, Miles Teller and Melissa McCarthy, among others. His portfolio of films is equally impressive, with Mark’s specialism being key art and gallery shoots, in addition to unit. 

Originally hailing from a commercial background, Mark shares how his commercial photography skills and experience influence his unit stills work on a practical level; especially in a professional landscape that grows to be more and more competitive. “You’re only as good as your last photograph. The world doesn’t need any more mediocrity.”

Mark and Nicola also discussed the difference of images created during ‘pull asides’ versus key art and gallery shoots. Mark shared his views on how one can navigate the negotiation process with producers; not only for a fair payout to the photographer, but also for the creation of the highest quality poster images.

On set, time is usually not on the unit photographer’s side. A unit photographer is no stranger to working under pressure and sometimes having minutes – or seconds – to capture the needed photographs (Nicola, for example, had a recent job where she had to do an entire poster shoot with an actor in 7 minutes). Mark shares some of his techniques of getting the most out of actors in a short amount of time.

First and foremost, the photographer must convey an ease on set. “The way I approach actors, or anybody I photograph, is very simple. I think the main first job is to help them relax.” Good music and a good vibe go a long way. Secondly, one must know how to direct an actor, or a non-actor, to convey emotional depth within an image.

“I’m fascinated with the ambiguity between character and performance.”

Finally, Mark answers the big questions about success and making it in the industry as a stills photographer. “You can only be successful if you’re good at three things. One is, you gotta be a next-level photographer. Everyone’s got a camera and a lot of people can take good photos, you need to be able to take great photos. Secondly, you gotta be good with people. Thirdly, learn to be good at business. Business and negotiating is actually a creative act. You can do it with grace. Sometimes you’ll get there and sometimes you won’t. And that’s all part of the job.”

To watch the full conversation about conducting key art and gallery shoots, working with actors in a constrained time frame and negotiating rates gracefully – as Mark puts it – see the soiree recording here.

Are you a stills photographer? Create a profile on the specialist Unit Stills Directory, an industry-recognised community of accredited stills photographers from all around the globe. Founded by Nicola Dove, the directory aims to bring photographers and industry leaders together, providing a platform for both new and established talent.