I read through the most amazing workbook recently, and one of my favorite exercises from it is one I’ve managed to make a part of almost every aspect of my life. It’s called “the airport game.”
The exercise asks that you make a concerted effort to see the beauty of every single human being you see. That the next time you’re in a public place, you look at and study the people around you, seeing each person specifically as someone who is loved. Then your mission is to imagine what this person’s significant other, or family member, or friend loves most about them.
I find myself applying this exercise most when I’m photographing someone, especially for the first time.
Not only that, but I don’t believe in someone being “unphotogenic.” It just doesn’t exist for me.
When I was in high school, I was told that I was “unphotogenic” by a photographer who was shooting my best friend’s senior pictures. Since then, I’ve learned that simply because someone doesn’t know how to capture that certain something that you have doesn’t mean that it’s not there. It certainly has nothing to do with you if the person behind the lens has no eye for beauty, or love. It’s sad for them, but bears no reflection on you.
So, when people come to me, saying that they’re “unphotogenic” or even unattractive, I smile to myself, because I know they’ll soon learn that they’re wrong. And in this instance, their being wrong is the best feeling in the world to me.
Posted by +Raven
Atlanta. Photographer. Weddings. Headshots. Editorial. Photos. +Raven. LeahAndMark.com
🙂
Wow… this is positively brilliant. I always try to look at other people “in the best light possible”, but this takes it to a completely different level! I have a feeling that once my mind works over this for a while, it will completely change not only the way I shoot people, but also the way I look at them.
Exactly.
I love this. So so true.
I think you dancing that day helped so much Raven. By the end of the shoot, I was so much more relaxed.
beautifully put.
Nicely said! Great post!