LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
So, it’s the end of May. Ideally we try to get these magazines out at the beginning of the month, but then life happens and you’re closer to Memorial Day than you are Mother’s Day. But all in all that seems appropriate for this month’s edition. With Memorial Day on Monday, it’s the unofficial start of Summer and with that blossoming possibilities galore.
In this edition, I talk briefly on what it takes to have an image develop, blossoming before your eyes. Kevin studies No. 9, Kat talks Facade Rebirth, Steven gets an MBA, Amanda enjoy a Spring Night, Jeff gets silky, Alisha sips away, Craig’s grounded, and Nikki jams with babies. A little something for everyone as we make our way into that some kind of summer wonderful. Enjoy the bloom-age.
It’s easy to opine narcissistically on our art, the craft. True, there’s a level of isolation, commitment, skill, dedication and everything else that comes with making something from nothing. Having been called a boarder line narcissist, or full blown depending on who you’re talking to, take it from me, images don’t just happen. Just as lightning doesn’t randomly manifest itself, or flowers bloom from seeds planted just 3o second ago, images take time to develop, they need an environment to bloom.
Contrary to popular believe, I do not know everything, nor would I want to. Curiosity makes the journey that much more rewarding in my opinion. Curious about the craft, images and more importantly people. That’s probably why I’m in the portraiture biz.
No two souls are alike who walk into my studio. There’s a level of chaos that happens before and during the shoot itself… this might be the first time I’m meeting the client in person, they have xyz baggage coming in, I have xyz baggage and nerves coming in. My assistant is stuck in traffic, the lighting isn’t coming together the way I had imagined, the outfits are what they are… and the list goes on. And me? I’m cool and calm on the outside meanwhile, running photo calculus on the inside. And then I stepback, get my hands in the dirt, the ground Earth, I take a breath and talk to my family.
A photo is family. I realize that statement is rather vauge but the gist is it could be the family of your team on set working with you to get the best possible image. It could be your own family family cheering you on in the back of your mind, or in my case mentors and my Father berating/questioning me as to why X, and to just be better. Or even family is your younger self cheering you on, amazed that this is happening in spite of the obstacles of Life.For me, obviously a combination of all that. When push comes to shove though, it’s about who’s on set with me. We’re in it together.
It’s mid 2017 and I’m on set with Paola. Paola had just won a raffle from a gala event for Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and weeks later we were in the studio. We had met the evening of the event, but to say I knew her would have been a gross overstatement. I was nervous. Basically going out of pocket on this shoot, I had a hair and makeup artist, Sam Brown fashion styling, and me. No assistant. No digital tech, and a fussy digital Hasselblad camera.
As with all shoots, my blood is pumping but even more that day. Paola walks on set, makeup makes her last looks, Sam gives the nod and … snap. The first image appears on our screen and the blossom is gorgeous. Paola is gorgeous. We are gorgeous. Sam puts her hand on my shoulder, I exhale and we continue on with the shoot.
Flowers/Images, they take time, minutes, hours, years to come together. They’re a gift borne out of all sorts of conditions, sunny skies and harshest storms, and are not alone in their blossoming journey. They don’t rush the process. Trust in the soil, the family, the craft. The beauty will blossom and life will curiously continue on.
