Every so often, I am reminded why I still love it. It being what I do after twenty years. Let’s face it, not many of us can say this. First off, I have always found people remarkably interesting. How moms and dad interact with each other and their children. The relationships between adult siblings during multi-generation family portraits are often interesting. Anybody that knows me knows that I analyze everyone in a positive light. Finding out what makes people ticked. What gets them excited, I enjoy people talking about what they are passionate about. Often during my portrait sessions, I gather some of this information and thoroughly appreciate talking to them about it. As a result, the sessions become more fun.
Engaging is the Key to Portrait Photography
With over 20 years of experience, the technical part of photography has become second nature. The composition, exposures all come naturally, 
and I no longer have to think about them. I Still Love It! This allows me to engage with the people I photograph like few photographers can. Being able to effortlessly engage is the real talent of a portrait photographer. Regardless of the subject’s background, a two-year-old, a high-level executive, what some would call an ordinary Joe, an accomplished photographer, will get to the subject’s intellectual level. If I’m photographing a two-year-old, I must get to the intellectual level of a two-year-old. That’s something I can do without a problem! The same goes with photographing the “funny” age of a thirteen-year-old; you have to play it down a bit and figure out what makes them ticked without them realizing what you are trying to accomplish. Understanding if a person is an introvert or an extrovert and adjusting accordingly is also vitally crucial.
They Become Like Family
Even if it’s a short time, getting in the mix with thousands of families during my career has been an honor. Many of these families have become the type of people that I look forward to seeing.
