It’s been awhile since we’ve done a People Pictures post! My last one was not my favorite…a self-portrait. Those are difficult! This assignment was much easier – working at connecting with the people you are photographing. Chris Orwig, author of People Pictures, and the inspiration for this ‘people’ series, talks about how important your relationship with the subject is. Active listening, expressing interest and enthusiasm for other people’s stories, and investing time in the relationship are all important skills as a photographer. These things can be challenging when meeting with clients for the first time at a shoot. I find that it is easy to get very focused on what I am doing, which can make it difficult to pay attention to what the person in front of the camera is saying! This has gotten easier as I’ve gained more experience, so that the technical side of photography is more second nature.

This assignment was a little easier than it would have been if I had chosen different subjects. I know both of the individuals being photographed; each of them is a good friend of mine. I was a little out of my element with the two of them, however, as I was doing something new with both. For Michael, I had planned a stylized shoot: James Bond. I’d never photographed him before, and found it challenging to direct him, make him feel comfortable, and keep my witty banter going at the same time. For Cheryl, she was my first ‘glamour’ session. Again: something new for me. It was fun, although challenging, to discuss kids, friends, jobs and life while working on new posing! Both of them were so gracious to model for me, though, and I am very grateful for their time and their friendships. And I love how both of the sessions turned out!

Cheryl’s session is not yet published, but if you would like to see Michael’s shoot, it is here. I LOVE how the images turned out – go check them out!