About

Everyone is photogenic once they stop thinking about the camera.

I’m Roland Szabó, a photographer based in Budapest. I most often work with people who tell me in their very first message that they hate being photographed, do not know how to pose or simply do not like themselves in pictures. This means my work begins long before I press the shutter.

Alongside photography, I also design and develop websites. On business projects, I therefore consider how the images will work on the finished website, in a campaign or across other platforms.

How I work View the portfolio
Roland Szabó wearing glasses and a baseball cap in a park at sunset.

Why I do this

I do not know what to do with myself in front of a camera either.

Without a friendly atmosphere and clear guidance, I become just as tense and start wondering what to do with my hands.

The presence of a camera does not automatically make anyone feel natural. I also need guidance, feedback and trust to understand what is expected of me and believe that I am in good hands.

Light, composition, equipment and editing all matter. Technical knowledge alone is not enough, however, when you are busy wondering how you look, what to do with your hands or why the photographer is not saying anything.

This is why I believe it is possible to take a good photograph of anyone. The photographer’s job is to create a situation in which you eventually stop thinking about the camera and can simply be present.

How I work

We meet as people first. The photography comes afterwards.

Feeling comfortable cannot be achieved with a single sentence or a pose learned in advance. I pay attention to how you feel, adapt to your reactions and make sure you always understand what is happening.

  • I give you time to settle in

    At the beginning, we talk, take a walk or look around the location together. You have time to become familiar with the situation before we properly begin taking photographs.

  • I give you specific directions

    I tell you where to look, how to stand, what to do with your hands, when to move and when simply being present is enough. You never have to work out what I want to see.

  • I adapt the pace to you

    The same method does not work for everyone. Some people need more conversation, while others relax through movement, humour or seeing a successful photograph of themselves early in the session.

  • I give you feedback throughout

    I tell you when something is working well, and we make gentle adjustments when a situation feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar. You will always know where we are heading.

The small print

My empathy is generally reliable. I offer fewer guarantees about the quality of my humour, which can occasionally be slightly darker than the situation requires.

Roland Szabó photographs a couple sitting beside the Danube, with Buda Castle in the background.

How it began

I photographed cars first. Portraits showed me why I wanted to do this.

I began exploring photography more seriously in the summer of 2020 with my first compact camera. A few months later, in October, photographing an Audi RS5-R became my first client assignment.

At first, it was the technical side of automotive photography that interested me. I looked for the right light, location and viewpoint, then tried to show the car in the way its owner saw it. The assignment had a clear purpose, and the car was not nervous about being photographed.

In the summer of 2021, a friend invited me to a portrait session. He said it would be fun. At the time, I still felt awkward simply talking to a woman I had never met, let alone photographing her and giving her directions at the same time.

As the session progressed, I could see the model becoming increasingly relaxed. After each important sequence, I showed her a few photographs on the camera, and her expression immediately showed that she liked what she saw. Later, I began hearing the same sentence from more and more people without modelling experience: “You’re the photographer. Tell me what to do.” That was when I understood that directing the session was my responsibility, and that the experience and photographs you take home depend greatly on me.

The technical side can be learned. The real responsibility is making sure the person in front of the camera is not left alone with their uncertainty.

Experience in numbers

The personal approach is supported by a great deal of practical experience.

Every person and every photo shoot is different. After hundreds of different situations, however, I can recognise much more quickly what somebody needs to feel relaxed and fully present.

Since 2021
portrait photography experience
550+
guided portrait sessions
1000+
spontaneous street portraits
128
five-star Google reviews

Companies I have worked with

I have also worked for United Arab Emirates University, iiiMagine, Experience by Terra, Újbuda BartókFeszt’, and Pinceszínház.

Testimonials

What people said after standing in front of my camera

György H.

Portrait photography English translation
5 out of 5 stars

It was my first photoshoot. By the end, the relaxed atmosphere and useful posing guidance had made me feel far more confident, and we created some excellent photos.

Where next?

The photographs and client reviews say more about me.

You now know how I think about photography. From here, you can explore my finished work, read about the complete portrait photography process or see what my clients have said.

Contact

Let’s talk about your photo shoot

Tell me in a few sentences what kind of images you need, or request a callback. You do not need a finished plan; it is enough to have a general idea of how you want to use the photographs.

Prefer to contact me directly?

hi@rolandszabo.photo +36 20 591 4620 @rolandszabo.photo

Request a callback

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