Beauty in Being Yourself

Photographing women makes me nervous. As a woman, I know we are most critical of ourselves and at times seeing images of ourselves can bring about insecurities. When I shoot, I try to maintain a casual comfortable vibe. I want my subjects to look real.

I have been known to talk a lot during shoots. I know, those of you that know me are thinking, “she talks a lot anyway”! Well friends, this time there is a method to my madness. I get the best images full of expression and emotion when my subject isn’t thinking about posing or being photographed. So, yes, distraction is a tactic I use. People shine when they talk about the things they love in their lives.

Too many times in my life I have had a portrait taken in too much structure: backgrounds, lights, 1,2,3, say cheese…. I know my mind is thinking, “I wonder how my stomach looks?….Is this my good side?…..Should I tilt my head?….How long do I have to hold this smile?….” Needless to say, too many times in my life I have had portraits taken that an awkward shoot produced an unnatural photograph. When the ice is broken and a woman is cool and calm, her beauty shows and her mystery glows. When a woman is comfortable, she is confident. She is radiant and strong.