
“Let go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are.”
– Brene Brown
It’s easy to get your head turned – especially when things are quiet. We start looking outwards – even though we know we shouldn’t – instead of focussing inwards. I’ve just come out of one of my quietest months ever and while I’ve put systems in place to make sure I’m prepared for when it happens again (because it will happen), I still had time to make the mistake of looking beyond my bubble. As a photographer, I know to only look forward and back, not sideways. Well… I looked sideways and started to think about how I could/should change to fit in.
I got an idea in my head about family photos in my back yard in the lead up to Christmas so I called on my good friend, Bec for a test shoot. Turns out that while Bec is complete delight to photograph, I’m really not an outdoor photographer and while the photos are lovely, they just don’t do it for me – not like a session in the studio. It was hot and sweaty and setting everything up outside took time and help (that I don’t always have at hand). Also, my cats really do hate dogs (lol). I have never heard one of them growl that loudly before!
Mostly though, when I sat down and looked at the photos, they didn’t look like my work and I really don’t want to try to fit in anywhere that takes me away from who I am. I want to provide an alternative to what’s out there – something personal, valuable and different.
To me, portraiture is an intimate experience and the last thing I want is for my sitter to compete with the noise that an outdoor background can bring. A very big part of my framework is to connect and hold a space for you to be you and it’s virtually impossible to do that outdoors. Faces are infinitely fascinating to me and I’d rather spend time exploring them in beautiful, considered and well-crafted light, without the distraction of life in society.

Lesson well learned for this photographer! Emotive, communicative portraiture in the studio is where it’s at and where it will stay for me.
I hope that this is something you’ll consider when choosing a photographer to work with because you deserve more than someone who is “making do”, you deserve someone who absolutely, positively loves what they do. After all, it’s your vision that they’re bringing to light.
