The Beauty in Others
I’ve been taking photos of other people for over a decade.
My portrait sessions have allowed me to meet so many new people. I’ve shot some of my best work during these moments. It’s a thrill to experience the perfect light, find that amazing angle and create an image that really seems to capture someone’s soul and personality. I’ll get goosebumps during the shoot and excitedly turn my camera to share the shot. I love the look of excitement when my clients see something beautiful: themselves!
But nothing is more devastating to me than hearing someone tear themselves down during a shoot or when they see the final selection. It’s usually said in a joking matter. Comments fly around casually when I’m photographing a group. Women beg me to Photoshop them. All sparked from a photo that, to everyone else, looks magnificent. Beauty that they cannot see.
To be honest, I’ve felf the urge to stop photographing people. Negative talk like that can rub off and I work really hard to love myself. I just want to say thanks to everyone who saw themselves as I saw them: beautiful, strong and epic.
A Consideration
A weekly email where I share things that made me stop and consider. Never sponsored, no affiliate links.
Comments (2)
-
-
I do believe studio shots (especially ones that are photographed quickly) can feel weird. It’s so stuffy and formal and you usually don’t know the photographer that well. When I do portraits, I try to spend 45 minutes with them first and am okay with using most of the session just chatting. It doesn’t take long to get a few good shots and they’re SO much better when someone is relaxed and comfortable.
-
Kate Burgener
This is a really interesting perspective, thanks for sharing! Sometimes it feels so hard to love our physical appearance for a variety of reasons. I’ve only been professionally photographed a few times in my life, but I’ve always found it fascinating to see the results. I can’t help myself from picking on a few things, but mostly (due to the documentary style, I never seem that happy with forced, studio shots) I just love to see myself from someone else’s perspective. A good photographer seems to be able to capture a little bit of what I love about myself in a picture in a way that staring in the mirror, examining eye bags or a crooked tooth excludes.
Only do the work that brings you joy!