Not long ago, I spoke with a photo client about what’s the best way to photograph a family. Frankly, there is no clear answer to the question, because there are so many possibilities. As a photographer, the most important thing to know is yourself. Although you are never seen in the photograph, some part of your world view shines through. Your own style is undeniable. As so many of my friends know, I may be the furthest thing for organized and uniform. I believe life is the same way. When you frame a subject, the world whirls around him or her and one sparkles within it. I like to chase that sparkle. I like the fact that the world seems to have no edges and your canvas is infinite. I do backdrop work, but I always feel a twinge of longing for what’s really beyond the curtain. Capturing a person in a unique situation captures the essence of life. I took all of these photos today in a short timeframe. As a family, we took a walk through the woods down to rocky water’s edge. Fallen trees where everywhere, there were sticks, rocks and mud to muck through. It was the furthest thing from glamorous. The group didn’t wear white shirts and matching jeans. Rather, kids were half dressed, or fully dressed in the water, No one cared a lick about their appearance. These are the photos I like to take; unassuming, unkempt, and real. When we see a photo on a wall, we like to see life’s quiddity, not a textbook version of oneself. I click the shutter as I sense the moment when the subject is realized or I feel a connection. In the candid portrait, life is better than ever.
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