So, I’ve been thinking a lot about the creative process and how that applies to all the photo shoots and editing that I do.  Since I really need to update my blog I said to myself, “I need to put this on my blog.”

As with any art and media there is always a play or a relationship between the ‘artist’ and the people involved.  Whether that be a causal observer or an actual participant, its never just about the ‘artist’.  In photography, especially portrait photography, it couldn’t be more true.  I can’t make a beautiful photo with you!  Its important that both myself and whom I photographing buy into what we’re trying to capture.   Some of my best and most beautiful photos are when a couple, or individual expresses some idea or thought and then we both run with it.  This usually creates stunning photos and also allows the person(s) being photographed to feel apart of the photo rather than just in the photo.

Now, I’ve heard things like this a lot from my clients: “I’m just not creative”, or “I don’t have an artistic bone in my body.”  What I’ll usually tell them and strongly believe is that we are creative in some way, shape, or form.  Being a Christian I firmly believe that we are created in God’s image and are therefore creative in some way.  Now some people are gifted more than others, and some people’s creativity may be ways that are more uncommon, but we can all create!  I think that a lot of people just lack confidence which has built up over time.  I try to encourage any thoughts or ideas at all to come out in the open.  This is how creativity starts.  Trust me, coming from a background in doing many different art forms from Architecture to painting and photography – the best creations come from many thoughts and ideas where many are actually failures.  But its when you keep trying and hit that gold mine that makes everything else worth while.

So, when you come to do a photo session with us don’t expect to be my ‘puppet’ or some kind of bystander in the photo process.  You are as much apart of the creative process as I am!  With both of our ideas and creativity we will have a ton of fun and come away with amazing and personal photos!