her admirer

 
The main reason for my sharing this particular image is the inside knowledge that the shot wasn’t set up. (Pretty sure I’ve said this about several past images as well, so there‘s a trend worth noting.) I’d been photographing the couple together by a tree when I decided to move the woman to another area and try a few solo shots of her in different lighting. After I’d shot a series of images of her alone I glanced over at her husband who I could see was thoroughly and completely taken by the sight of his pregnant wife. I experienced a kind of rush feeling that I get when something genuine and sweet is happening in front of my eyes and said to myself, “there’s the shot you should be getting”.

I didn’t want either of the two to know that my perspective was now changing, secretly wanting to protect the honesty of the moment. During client shoots with adults these kinds of moments are so precious because I understand that it’s not easy to meet with a complete stranger for an hour or two, stand in front of her camera and allow something intimate to unfold. It takes a large measure of trust that I have to quickly earn.

I go into every maternity shoot with the intention that the session with me truly be a highlight of the couple’s pregnancy. This sounds ambitious but really all it requires is attention and sincere appreciation. I treat the shoot as a celebration, not only for the baby on the way, but for the miracle of finding loving connection, and for human bodies that allow us to express this perfection so beautifully. I consider the shoot a success if the couple leave feeling especially amorous and even a bit frisky. All the better if the photographer vicariously comes away with a touch of these feelings as well!

When it comes down to it, to me the best aspect of being a photographer is not so unlike that of being a lover. It’s seeing from the inside out, and freely letting oneself respond to that seeing in whatever creative way we‘re naturally moved. Attention and appreciation seem like such simple things, but it’s only when we’re fully submerged in them that we have any opportunity to glimpse the divine and momentarily touch ecstasy.

The greatest thing about appreciation is that it’s really catchy stuff when you let it loose. Pouring your whole heart into appreciating anything causes others to notice, and as if by magic, they can’t help but feel it too.

~Cynthia