I believe portraiture is like friendship. It's the photographer's job to recognize and translate the essence of the subject. One soul dwelling in two bodies, in front of and behind the camera. It's my duty to put my subject at ease, as I would a friend, so that as I click my camera I'm capturing THEM, not a once-a-year camera pose: the smile you never see except in photographs; the uncomfortable eyes that tell you your subject is self-conscious and ill at ease.
I've found myself reflecting on this the last 18 hours. Six days ago a dear friend passed away after a two year battle with cancer. Her daughter contacted me yesterday afternoon to ask permission to use a photograph I had taken of her mother; she wanted to place the photograph near her mother's casket at the viewing and funeral. Of course I agreed immediately. What struck me most about this request though was what her daughter said: even though she was clearly going through cancer treatment in this photograph, it was "so HER". My friend's beautiful soul is on display in this shot. She was clearly at ease with me in the shots I took that day---unguarded and being herself. As a result, her children feel connected to her through that photograph.
What a compliment; And what an honor. My amazing friend touched my life, and to know her was a privilege. I'm delighted I can pay her friendship back, even just a little, by representing HER to her family and friends.
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