An Afternoon with Autumn

Here are the final images from my afternoon with Autumn.

She has many wonderful personality traits, a love of unique toys like an empty water bottle, and some unique tricks like telling you she wants something by chomping her teeth, which can be a frightening experience at first. Oddly, she is extremely shy of men, but once she gets comfortable she is the biggest love.

These were some of personal favorites. I can't wait until I get to shoot with her again. I love this girl.

Dog Days of Winter

The last days of Winter are upon us. As winter comes to a close, opportunities are opening faster than can I finish existing projects, but when I am given an opportunity to fullfil and obligation I jump at the chance. Meet Autumn. Although the above photograph is one of her showing her disdain for the photographic process, she is a dream to photograph. Today was the first pet photography shoot in the new studio and things went stellar. 

Autumn's mom, Leah, is a dear friend of my wife and I. Autumn is the most important person in Leah's life right now. The two are rarely seen without the other at their side and their bond shows through not only in Autumn's attachment to Leah, but in the complete love Leah shows this big-little bundle of joy.

Autumn is 100% sweetheart. When she is happy and excited she shows it in a big way. When Autumn comes over to see me and my wife, she makes little wimpering sounds of excitement and she wags her whole lower half. Yup that's right, she can't wag just her tail but rather wags her whole butt... how can you not love that level exhuberance and unrestrained joy.

I want to Nathan Smith of Smith Fine Art for his help today in getting this session completed so successfully. I also want to thank Leah for bringing Autumn down to the studio for some fun. Finally I want to make sure to thank Autumn for being such a loving, happy and charismatic baby. I love Autumn so dearly; but then again, how could you not?

Importance of Relationships with Subjects

People require time to get comfortable. A repoir needs to be developed between the photographer and the subject. This is especially true when dealing with the male photographer and a female subject, but it is true with all photographer/model relationships.

A relationship, one where the subject feels comfortable and more importantly feels safe, is generally not something that can happen in a few minutes time. It has to develop organically and this doesn't happen without time to pass for trust to be developed. Being the subject of a photograph is a personal risk. Exposing oneself to world is tough, allowing someone else to expose you to the world requires a high level of trust and this level of trust requires a good working relationship.

This type of relationship is best achieved by taking time for the relationship to develop. Rushing this development process can come across as awkward, uncomfortable and can actually prevent the relationship from ever developing right from the get-go. Another way to develop this relationship is to maintain a constant sense of safety and security. You can do this by allowing a friend of the subject, or a member of the same sex to remain within eye sight at all times during the times you work together. You cannot push a subject beyond his or her comfort levels. This requires respect. Respect for their boundries and beliefs. Respect means never asking them to do something they don't want to do.

The only way you can know the subject's boundries is to have open and honest communication. Communicate what the goals of the shoot are. Communicate what your intentions are. Allow the subject to open communicate goals, ideas and concerns. This is a great time for you to shut up and listen. Have compassion and interest in the subject's concerns, interests and ideas. If you are doing all of the talking, the subject will not get these fears, ideas and objections heard and guess what happens then; the relationship isn't going to reach a point where the subject is comfortable and relaxed with the shoot. One last thing you as a photographer can do to help develop the relationship is to progress slowly and show the subject one or two results from each pose. This allows to the subject to see the progression of the shoot and where your vision is going and in return the model becomes more relaxed and supportive of your vision.

If you practice these with each of your subjects, and are sincere about the relationship, the relationship willl blossom and the next time you have a project to work on, there is already a level trust and respect that can be built upon. If you don't, just remembers that maintaining the trust is easier than developing a new relationship and you will end up having to develop a new relationship.