What happens in a photo session?

One of the first things that happens once someone has committed to the idea of being photographed is that we sit down and talk. Chief among the topics is finding a suitable location. Sometimes it is entirely the subject’s idea, sometimes mine; more often it is a combination of the two.

In virtually all cases, photo sessions are one-on-one. A common exception is for minor children. Generally, the mother is in the area somewhere, free to wander in if she wants. I always tell her she’s welcome, but to stay in the background to let the child and me have a little space and our own conversation/relationship.

People are kept in front of a camera for no more than a half hour, and frequently less. The people I photograph are not professional models, and it can get exhausting standing in front of the camera. To keep the shots as real as possible, the subjects aren’t told how to pose themselves. Body language is just as important as a facial expression, so I just let people’s personalities emerge. Sessions tend to be fairly casual and involve a conversation about a woman’s own unique, beautiful/tragic story.

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