I just finished up a session with a mom and her two daughters, ages eleven and eight. The mother, from Romania, still very young and stunningly beautiful. Her daughters are artistic and obviously intelligent. It's a wonderful little family, as close as a family can be.
The older daughter, Alexandra, is going into seventh grade, and is experiencing the normal battle with self-esteem. All very typical, except that beautiful Alexandra has a large scar on her face, running between her nose and her lip, and it makes it that much more difficult for her. I got the impression that she is used to people asking her about her scar, and was waiting for me to comment on it.
Really, I didn't notice the scar right away, because her eyes and her demeanor are so stunning. But it is there, and it's part of her. She was a bit aloof, ducking her chin when we first started the session, trying to hide a bit behind her younger sister.
So, I put the camera down and we just talked for a few minutes, about school, hobbies, whatever. Nothing. Her sister got bored, and so I gave her a five minute break. After a few minutes, I told Alexandra (truthfully) that she had such a beautifully expressive face that I'd really like to photograph her alone for a few minutes if she didn't mind. She was taken completely off guard, and then agreed. So we did.
Taking those few minutes made all the difference. Her confidence came out. She lifted her chin and gazed directly into the camera, and challenged it. She had an almost defiant beauty. We talked all the while, and she told me how most photographers have been in such a hurry to get through, and it made her feel ugly and like she wasn't special. I saw her mom tear up a little out of the corner of my eye, and she quickly slipped into the house as we finished up. In talking with her mother afterward, I found myself getting a bit emotional as she told me how much it meant to her to see her daughter "come out" with me.
It's not about having a productive session, or a smooth one. It's not a beautiful location, or even the perfect lighting/pose/background.
In fact, it's not about photography at all.
It's about taking the time to help people feel their own beauty and uniqueness. It's about taking the time to find that connection and exchanging little pieces of yourselves. It's about..... taking the time.
And I'll say it again -- it's not about what they look like, but who they are.
I have no images to post yet, and they almost don't matter.
Anyway, enough from me. Just consider it affirmation for those of us who sometimes wonder if we take too long, shoot too much, or get too personal. We don't. Keep it up.
- CJ
The older daughter, Alexandra, is going into seventh grade, and is experiencing the normal battle with self-esteem. All very typical, except that beautiful Alexandra has a large scar on her face, running between her nose and her lip, and it makes it that much more difficult for her. I got the impression that she is used to people asking her about her scar, and was waiting for me to comment on it.
Really, I didn't notice the scar right away, because her eyes and her demeanor are so stunning. But it is there, and it's part of her. She was a bit aloof, ducking her chin when we first started the session, trying to hide a bit behind her younger sister.
So, I put the camera down and we just talked for a few minutes, about school, hobbies, whatever. Nothing. Her sister got bored, and so I gave her a five minute break. After a few minutes, I told Alexandra (truthfully) that she had such a beautifully expressive face that I'd really like to photograph her alone for a few minutes if she didn't mind. She was taken completely off guard, and then agreed. So we did.
Taking those few minutes made all the difference. Her confidence came out. She lifted her chin and gazed directly into the camera, and challenged it. She had an almost defiant beauty. We talked all the while, and she told me how most photographers have been in such a hurry to get through, and it made her feel ugly and like she wasn't special. I saw her mom tear up a little out of the corner of my eye, and she quickly slipped into the house as we finished up. In talking with her mother afterward, I found myself getting a bit emotional as she told me how much it meant to her to see her daughter "come out" with me.
It's not about having a productive session, or a smooth one. It's not a beautiful location, or even the perfect lighting/pose/background.
In fact, it's not about photography at all.
It's about taking the time to help people feel their own beauty and uniqueness. It's about taking the time to find that connection and exchanging little pieces of yourselves. It's about..... taking the time.
And I'll say it again -- it's not about what they look like, but who they are.
I have no images to post yet, and they almost don't matter.
Anyway, enough from me. Just consider it affirmation for those of us who sometimes wonder if we take too long, shoot too much, or get too personal. We don't. Keep it up.
- CJ
