genuinely imperfect

 
I sell a lot of these kind of images to my clients……genuine but imperfect portraits. I don’t like to consider these “snapshots” or even “candids”, as I think I’ve still maintained some degree of control in the creative process, and would never present downright sloppy work to clients. But while I know it is important to be as technically accurate as one can be in the course of a paid photo session, I’d rather sacrifice a few elements of perfection than miss a moment of real feeling.

We were going for an idyllic portrait of this two year old in the tree swing. I’d metered for the backlight and was ready with camera when her parents placed her in the seat. The swaying of the limb that the swing hangs from sorta freaked her out though, and she wasn’t loving the sensation at all. Her father swooped in to steady the swing and lighten her mood. I quickly took this shot as the swing spun a bit out of the good light, and then he backed away in hopes to finally get the intended portrait.

She would have no part of it, and we never did get a pretty little portrait in the swing. But we got a moment anyway. A genuine but imperfect portrait, that I hope conveys the deep affection shared between this daddy and his little girl. It was real.

 
~Cynthia