Wait Staff, California

Photograph by Penny De Los Santos

Context

When I’m on an assignment I’m always thinking about sense of place and how I can put my subject into context by giving an idea of location. The best way to ensure you have the opportunity to capture context is to show up early and stay late with your subject. It gets you, the photographer, more mentally prepared for the experience of the subject. It also helps you anticipate where your photographs might be. Whenever I get an assignment to profile a chef, for instance, I always head to the location early, get to know the staff, and ask questions.

These types of photographs can be the some of the hardest to make—you have to look beyond clichés and obvious shots for something more interesting and illustrative of your subject. —Penny De Los Santos

Photo Tip: When shooting an assignment, arrive early to give yourself time to get a feel for the overall context of the situation or subject you’ll be photographing