A Comment Only about portrait photographers

I just made a comment on a FB notification this morning that I think bears repeating.
Sometimes what comes out of my brain is like water down a well, then other times things spring forth from places in my brain that I know not where they come.

Here is the comment made this morning by a former customer about my portrait photographer father.  Now remember, he has been out of the business for over 30 years, and gone for almost 10..
but this is how his customers remember him., it is simpler now.
She wrote, "He made us all feel really beautiful and special".

And, here is what I said to that comment she made about my father as a portrait photographer.

I replied to this person that yes my father was a good photographer.but.......

"That is what good portrait photographers do...and you don't learn that part from a book."

I continued, "Making any image was the easy part then, and even more so now.
One must learn the HOW and WHAT of your subjects personality. This can be learned by study,observation, and internship, but the basic personality of the photographer is the catalyst.
And, Make the image FOR your client, not OF your client.  You either have the personality, or you don't, period!"

So many portrait photographers feel that if they get a person properly lit with the RIGHT lighting equipment, properly exposed on the latest camera and lenses, and posed. or unposed is some contemporary fashion,  that  their images will sell.  Sorry to disappoint you. 

Nothing more, nothing less.  Understand your subject, get inside the personality, and now be to able to evoke that person's personality, then you will sell images.  Making images is simple with today's technology, and you must still possess the ability to see light quality and direction, but it is the final expression that will tug at the heart strings and move dollars from your customers pocket to yours.
This expose my wife did last year says volumes about what I feel about portrait photography.

Expression and the Experience sells portraits. 

Dad's expression sells this image.  If the pride, and love did not show, it is just another picture of a fella holding a baby.

Learn and focus on capturing personality, not just the image before you.  If it takes a clown, be a clown.  If it takes a teacher, be that teacher, but what ever the subject of your camera and lens requires of you, you must provide.

Have a wonderful weekend, and of course...

Think Spring

B