Why I Love Working with People Who Don’t Love Having Their Picture Taken
One of the things I pride myself on as a portrait photographer is working with people who hate having their picture taken. You know the type—the ones who avoid the camera like the plague. But by the end of our session, they’re usually laughing, relaxed, and loving their photos so much they want to do it again. That’s the magic I live for!
Recently, I had a mom schedule senior portraits for her son. She warned me right away, “He’s very serious and doesn’t smile.” Naturally, I shrugged it off with a laugh, thinking, I’ve got this! Well, I was wrong! No matter what I did, this kid wasn’t smiling. At first, I was a little nervous—it’s not typical for me not to get a grin—but then something clicked. I realized this is just who he is. He’s calm, laid-back, and sees the world in his own unique way. That’s how he enjoys life, and it’s beautiful in its own right.
As we talked more, I learned about his hobbies, his interests, and saw little glimpses of his personality. It turned out to be a really fun session despite the lack of smiles, and honestly, it was a refreshing change.
Sometimes, you have to let go of your expectations and embrace the true essence of who someone is. That’s what I love about photography—it’s not just about the perfect smile or pose, it’s about capturing people as they are. And for this session, that meant a strong, serious expression that was totally authentic to him.
To this day, he’s the only person who’s never smiled for me during a session. And you know what? I love that. It reminds me that the best photos aren’t always what we expect—they’re the ones that tell the real story.
