What makes a great photo? We all want our photo to be the best but what does it take to have a GREAT portrait. It’s not about what camera is used, who is the best looking, most creative, or the clothes we were. It’s about a connection between the photographer and the subject.
I can honestly say most of my favorite photos are not necessarily those in which a person is looking directly at the camera. Yes, direct eye contact makes a wonderful portrait but there is more. It’s the little twinkle in a person’s eye when that special someone walks into a room. A spontaneous moments where all the conservative thought is gone and you just go with the moment. It’s not being afraid to take that extra little step.
Think about actors for a moment. We all have watched movies where the acting has been horrible. Why where they so bad? Did they fit the role, made trying to hard?? On the same thought, why are some actors soooooo goooooood! I always think it’s scary to get so wrapped up in a movie because the actors wer so believable. Gives me goose bumps just thinking about some of those movies for me, for example Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector in Red Dragon, Silence of the Lambs, and Hannibal( and I hate scary movies); Jodie Foster in The Brave One (left me shaking for two days not because it was scary but believable); Charilize Theron in Monster (YIKES!). Did you see Monster? Charlize gain weight and looked horrible, she deserved every right to have the Oscar for that role. She didn’t know when she first started the movie how it would turn out but she gave all of herself and won. They all really put themself out there.
You are probably wondering what any of this has to do with your a photo session. Well, I ask that you think about what you have to bring to the session. Don’t be afraid to go with the moment and really put yourself out there. Don’t be afraid to look silly or serious. If I ask you to scream don’t hold back, let it go like you have never screamed before. If you are asked to look at your child, look at them and think about how much you truly love them and how you would do anything for them. Hold your significant other like you haven’t seen them in weeks. Allow yourself to belly laugh so hard you cry. I want to be able to not only capture you but your emotions too. Your photo shoot is your time to be a model or actor, only you are playing yourself. Most importantly, as much as we both want the session photos to look great, it’s about having fun too!