Most people find it hard to be completely open in front of strangers, let alone a stranger with a camera. As a photographer, it’s my job to make you feel at ease in my presence and help you get over your fear of being photographed. I usually meet you by breaking the ice by talking about something you're passionate about, you family, school, sports, etc. I don't need to start clicking my camera in your face right away because I know how self conscious and awkward that can be. Remember that everyone has the jitters when they first start a session — it’s part of being human. I will start the first shots we take in a practice mode for your sake. They help to ease the tension you feel and relax you a bit. Deep breaths, a little wiggling and dancing can ease jitters, too. I will also ask you to be prepared to embracing your vulnerability — it helps you communicate your emotions, which in turn helps me deliver the best images to you. Authenticity is what we both want from your portraits. I'm a pretty fun and crazy individual so I will try just about anything to make the experience fun and worth your time.
During a senior session last year, I spent a great deal of time talking to TJ about his likes and dislikes and also chose locations based on places he was familiar with to ease the pressure of being in front of the camera. We talked about his previous job when he worked at the building where we shot the first part of his session. No longer in operation, the business now is an empty shell of a former restaurant but also a great location to help him relive some fun times there. Another place we visited for his session was a electrical shop that has old vehicles parked on site. He is interested in working in a trades area so we had plenty to discuss as we moved around the area. I could see the relaxation kick in during the session and some of our best work was when we just were chatting away about life and I continued to work around him with my camera.
Location: Campton Hills, IL
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